Design and Access Statement
Land Adjacent to Empress Way, Ludgershall, Wiltshire February 2013 121120 - P11
1 BLANK PAGE Contents
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
1.0 Assessment Fowler Architecture and Planning Ltd have been 1.1 Site Location instructed by Mr S H Crook to submit an Outline 1.2 Site Context Planning Application to Wiltshire Council for 1.3 Townscape Character residential development on the land adjacent to 1.4 Site Constraints & Opportunities Empress Way, Ludgershall, Wiltshire. 2.0 Consultation 2.1 Involvement This Statement meets the requirements of 2.2 The Response Articles 4 and 8 of the Town and Country Planning 3.0 Evaluation (Development Management Procedure) 3.1 Urban Design Concept (England) Order 2010 (as amended) and 4.0 Proposal ‘Guidance on Information Requirements and 4.1 Use Validation’ published March 2010 and provides 4.2 Amount a Design & Access Statement to illustrate 4.3 Layout the process that has led to the development 4.4 Movement proposal in accordance with the site context, 4.5 Scale community involvement, site constraints, 4.6 Landscape site opportunities and planning policies. The 5.0 Character Areas Statement establishes the parameters which 5.1 ‘The Square’ reflect the Applicant’s vision for the proposed 5.2 ‘Wiltshire Copse’ development which will guide the submission 5.2 Woodland Pasture of the Reserved Matters – Appearance, Internal 6.0 Sustainability Access, Landscaping, Layout and Scale. 6.1 Sustainability & Secure by Design 7.0 Access The scheme offers an excellent opportunity to 8.0 Conclusion provide a sustainable residential extension to Ludgershall comprising up to 109 high quality new homes, an extension to Empress Way, public open space, play areas, improved movement linkages and landscaping.
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1.1 Site Location
Ludgershall is located on the eastern edge of Wiltshire and adjoins the boundary with Test Valley Borough Council to the south east. According to the 2011 Census, Ludgershall has a population of 4,427 comprising 1,860 households, which has increased from 3,775 persons in 2001. 1. Site from SE corner Ludgershall was originally called Litlegarsele meaning ‘small grazing area’ or ‘little grass heath’ and the settlement grew around Ludgershall Castle, which was turned into a hunting lodge by Henry III, but fell into disuse by the 15th century. Ludgershall developed around the junction with Andover Road and Castle Street and gradually extended as ribbon development along the main road network, now comprising the A3026 and the A342.
The land to the south of Ludgershall was formerly the southern park associated with Ludgershall 3 2. View of site from main access Castle, which was in existence by the late thirteenth century and know to be still stocked with deer in 1549. By the late eighteenth century 4 the majority of the land in Ludgershall lay within 2 three farms, including South Park Farm.
While the proximity to Tidworth means residents can easily access services nearby, Ludgershall retains its own character and identity, benefitting from a variety of local services and facilities to meet the day-to-day needs of local residents. Ludgershall town centre provides a varied retail offering of local shops and national chains and 3. Empress Way two supermarkets. Primary school provision is available at Castle Primary School on Short Street while secondary education is provided at the Wellington Academy. In terms of employment, the first phase of the Castledown Business Park on Tidworth Road and Ludgershall Business Park on New Drove provide key employment allocations. 1
4. Main site access Aerial Photograph of Ludgershall showing site boundary
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1.2 Site Context
The application site is located at the south- MARLBOROUGH eastern edge of the town of Ludgershall, to the east of Empress Way and the housing estate formed by Camomile Drive, Orchid DEVIZES Drive and Cornflower Way. The site extends to approximately 4.8 hectares in area and is directly to the south of the railway line that runs parallel to Andover Road. The site is bounded to the north by the railway line and mixed hedgerow; to the east and south by open fields; and to the west by existing residential properties, a 3 metre field margin and an area of poor quality open space accessed off Cornflower Way.
The site benefits from an existing vehicular access point at the eastern end of Empress CASTLE PRIMARY SCHOOL Way. This road was designed to be capable of being extended to the east, with the long- term aim of crossing the railway line to join the A342 on Andover Road, thereby providing an EMPRESS WAY alternative route south of the town centre. A Public Right of Way – reference LUDG2 – runs east / west across the northern edge of the site and parallel to the railway line from Empress Way, before turning to follow a route due south THE WELLINGTON on the eastern side of the east boundary. ACADEMY
The site is roughly rectangular in shape measuring 205 metres from east to west and 5 M T TRAIN LINE IN EN UTE HM 268 metres from north to south along the eastern WALKING CATC boundary; and comprises open agricultural land. ANDOVER The existing ground contours show the site forms a local high point roughly halfway down from the northern boundary and adjacent to the existing residential properties at 50.02 AOD. TIDWORTH Site area The levels gently fall in a north and southern directions reducing to around 44.81 AOD on the Roads northern, 49.11 AOD on the western and 47.86 Built up area of Ludgershall AOD on the southern boundary. High Street Context Plan Tesco
The Co-op
Schools
Bus Stops
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1.3 Townscape Character
Ludgershall Town Centre has an attractive historic core which has been designated as a Conservation Area. The remains of Ludgershall Castle are at the northern end of the town centre, St. James’ Church is positioned at the western edge, and the historic medieval core centred around the War Memorial, High Street, Castle Street and Andover Road, which forms Traditional Detailing New homes on the High Street Corner details, Crown Lane the commercial centre. The character of this historic core is of brick and flint two storey cottages interspaced with two and a half and Site of South three storey commercial properties, some Park farm barn converted to residential. The core is relatively low density where the landscaping, open space and variety of frontages and setbacks are Fig. 2 Part of the parish of important characteristics. Ludgershall showing
The town expanded in the 20th century owing South Park (VCH Wiltshire) to an influx of military presence in the area. Ludgershall expanded to the east in the form of ribbon development along Andover Road to Front gardens Local vernacular in the town centre Brick & Flint detail in Ludgershall Faberstown and the current boundary with Test Valley. This outward spread of housing doesn’t present an appropriate entrance into the historic core, or reference the local vernacular.
Throughout the late 20th century housing has been developed to the south of the historic core and railway line served by the principle routes of Astor Crescent, Empress Way and Simonds Road. This area is characterised by a suburban style of detached and semi-detached housing, however there remain few developments in this area which reinforce the local vernacular exhibited in the historic core. Developments Building rhythm, Castle Street along Empress Way turn their back to the street resulting in a poor quality streetscape.
An Outline Planning Application has been approved subject to the completion of an s106 Agreement for a western expansion of Ludgershall at Drummond Park for around 450 dwellings. If implemented, this proposal would significantly alter the character of the north west of Ludgershall, which is relatively isolated and severed by the railway and highway network.
Traditional materials, brick & flint Historical map of Ludgershall, 1773 Site of South 6 Fowler Architecture Park& Planning Ltd. farm barn
Fig. 3 South Park area from Andrews and Dury’s Map of Wiltshire 1773
8 Empress Way Andover Road access route
slope
pedestrian links view out
SWOT view out
1.0 Assessment Neighbouring housing
Frontage 1.4 Site Contraints and Opportunities Major Asset
The site is not considered to be of significantly Train line forming severance impacted by environmental, flooding, between site and town heritage, ecological or landscape constraints. 1901 Original Route Consequently, the site is not a location where development should be restricted. Concepts
An assessment of the context of the site, its surroundings and planning policies resulted Empress Way in the following opportunities and principles Andover Road for a proposed residential development being formed. The development should: access route
• Provide an active frontage to the eastern extension of Empress Way; • Be truly landscape-led, building in response to the local topography; • Plan the site as an extension to existing slope development and create a central point for movement, activities and scale; Green space • Deliver improvements to the existing public open space off Cornflower Way; • Meet the open space needs on-site through the provision of a green spine; and pedestrian links • Create a legible and permeable hierarchy view out of streets, providing linkages with the existing developments and footway networks.
public right of Cycle routes way
SWOT view out
Existing pedestrian route to town centre NeighbouringSWOT Analysis housing Rural pedestrian routes
Frontage
Major Asset Fowler Architecture & Planning Ltd. 7
Train line forming severance between site and town
1901 Original Route 2.0 Consultation
2.1 Involvement
The participation of consultees in pre-application discussions has enabled early consideration of all the fundamental issues. In addition to informal discussions with Mr R Parker (Area Team Leader – East Development Management) and Mr M Pearson (Senior Planner – Economy and Regeneration) the scoping of the relevant issues has involved discussions with Mr M Wiltshire (Highways), Mr S May (Principal Development Officer New Housing), Mr A Mead (Land Adoptions Team) and Ms S Ashton (Senior School Places Officer). The relevant sections of this Design & Access Statement and accompanying Planning Statement address the R matters raised. [
[ R An integral part of the development of the [ R [ Q R Q R scheme has been engagement with the local [ community. R \ A meeting with Ludgershall Town Council
was held on 29th January 2013 to present
the proposals and discuss the opportunity of
bringing the scheme to a Public Exhibition for
wider community participation. Q R
The applicant held a Public Exhibition on Wednesday 13th February 2013 at the Memorial
Hall, Andover Road, Ludgershall between 4 and 7pm. The exhibition was publicised by the Q R erection of site notices, an advert in the Andover Advertiser (dated 8th February 2013) and by the Town Council on their notice board. Consultation Board No.1 - The Context Consultation Board No.2 - Linkages Consultation Board No.3 - The Vision Consultation Board No.4 - Character On display at the exhibition were four display boards outlining the site context, connections and movement, site concept and character areas. The scheme presented was for approximately 120 dwellings. Members of the design team were present to explain the proposal and answer any questions. Members of the public were invited to answer a questionnaire listing nine questions and to provide any further comments on the proposal.
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