Halbeath Development Framework Report
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Halbeath Development Framework Report December 2014 Halbeath Development Framework Report This Document Was prepared by Geddes Consulting on behalf of: Taylor Wimpey Geddes Consulting | The Quadrant | 17 Bernard Street | Leith | Edinburgh | EH6 6PW [t] 0131 553 3639 [e] [email protected] [w] www.geddesconsulting.com Contents Introduction 1 1. FIFEplan Proposed Plan 3 2. Site Appraisal 7 3. Sustainability of Location 9 4. Infrastructure Impact 11 5. Proposal 13 6. Recommendation to Council 15 HALBEATH | DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK REPORT DUN 043 1 Site Location immediately adjacent to the urban edge INTRODUCTION Introduction Taylor Wimpey is promoting 79.5 hectares of land in This Development Framework Report is part of the This Report supports the allocation of this site for the Dunfermline, known in the FIFEplan Proposed Plan Representations to the FIFEplan Proposed Plan by following reasons: as Halbeath (DUN 043). Taylor Wimpey and is supported by a Statement of Site Effectiveness. • the site is immediately effective and will be The Council has allocated a slightly small site of 77.2 developed over the LDP period to 2024; hectares. These appraisals together confi rm that this proposal • the proposal is in accord with the Council’s fully meets the Council’s requirements to be allocated Sustainability Checklist SPG; The site lies in the North Dunfermline Strategic in the LDP. • there are no signifi cant adverse impacts which Development Area (SDA) of FIFEplan Proposed will arise from the development of this proposed Plan. The site can accommodate circa 1,400 homes The Council requires all allocations in the SESplan allocation; of which 25% will be affordable together with a area of FIFEplan to meet the housing land • the site has the landscape capacity to community hub (comprising locations for a primary requirement in full. accommodate the scale of development school, medical practice, and shops) as well as a proposed; and site for economic development. This site will contribute to the Council meeting its • the proposed allocation of DUN 043 will deliver housing land requirement to 2019 and 2024 as set in conjunction with other proposed allocations This is allocated as part of the Council’s proposed by SESplan Strategic Development Plan (SDP). the Northern Link Road (DUN 067). development strategy. It also contributes to maintaining a 5 year effective The allocation of Halbeath will contribute to Scottish As part of the Main Issues Report (MIR), the housing land supply as required by SESplan and Government’s principle aim of delivering sustainable Council prepared a Site Assessment for all the sites Scottish Ministers. economic growth. submitted during the Call for Sites stage of the Local Development Plan. The Council also needs to ensure its proposed It is expected that the proposal will build 72 homes allocations are sustainable development. per annum with two house builders on site and These Site Assessment for the Proposed Plan could potentially to 108 completions per annum if ispresented in Table 10 of the Council’s Strategic three house builders are on site. Environmental Assessment Report – Enviromental Report. It will support up to 270 direct and indirect construction jobs annually over its development period based on three house builders working concurrently to deliver much needed homes. 2 HALBEATH | DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK REPORT 3 Extract of FIFEplan Proposed Plan FIFEPLAN PROPOSED PLAN 1. FIFEplan Proposed Plan The Council’s development strategy for North The plan opposite is an extract from the Proposals Taylor Wimpey supports the development strategy Dunfermline SDA is to promote eight sites as Map of the FIFEplan Proposed Plan. for North Dunfermline SDA as shown in the FIFEplan allocations. Proposed Plan. Halbeath is one of the proposed allocations required The total scale of development for this SDA is 3,000 to provide a site for anew primary school and it will homes. safeguard part of the route of the Northern Link Road through the site. Halbeath (DUN 043) is one of these eight sites and is allocated for 1,400 homes. 4 HALBEATH | DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK REPORT 5 The Council has set out the brief and mitigation Taylor Wimpey has reviewed its proposals at The requirements for the Northern Link Road (DUN measures for this expansion in the Dunfermline Halbeath to take account of the requirements set out 067) between western edge of Dunfermline and Settlement Plan. An extract of this briefi ng is shown in the briefi ng outlined in the table opposite, including Halbeath is set out in the table opposite. in the table opposite for Halbeath. the feedback from community consultation. The route through Halbeath will cross the railway Taylor Wimpey confi rms that the proposals and In particular, the Development Framework now line, and join Kingseat Road. mitigation measures set out in FIFEplan Proposed accommodates the following: Plan for 1,400 homes on this site (DUN 043) can be Taylor Wimpey has factored this route into the delivered. • Employment land is provided on the site Development Framework for Halbeath. Consultation with the local community has highlighted • Development will stand off the Buckie Burn the need for further engagement to explain in greater running through the site. A woodland and detail the emerging proposals for Halbeath. wetland habitat will be created along this riparian corridor. This is supported by Taylor Wimpey. • An appropriate landscape setting for the There is also a need to update the assessments development, and the B912, will be provided and which have been undertaken over the last few years defi ne the northern boundary of Dunfermline. to support the promotion of the site through the This boundary treatment will avoid any perceived emerging development plan process. coalescence with Kingseat. The other measures highlighted in the Dunfermline Settlement Plan continue to be a core element of the proposals at Halbeath. 6 HALBEATH | DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK REPORT 7 Site Appraisal SITE APPRAISAL 2. Site Appraisal The following team has been appointed by Taylor Landscape Designations Flooding Wimpey to explore the opportunities and constraints There are no landscape designations which affect An assessment of the possible fl ood risk on the associated with this site and to prepare the the site and the site is not located within the Green site has been carried out with reference to SEPA’s submission for consideration by the Council. Belt. indicative 1:200 fl ood event mapping, together with a visual on-site appraisal of the watercourses by Project Management: Geddes Consulting A Landscape Capacity Appraisal has been carried Fairhurst. out by Geddes Consulting. The Special Landscape Planning: Geddes Consulting Area and Green Belt are located to the west of Surface water from the site would be collected and Dunfermline. Halbeath is not located in an area of treated and attenuated through appropriate SUDS Engineer: Fairhurst and Mason Evans sensitive landscape character. techniques prior to discharge to the watercourses in and around the site. Landscape Architect: Geddes Consulting Ecology Ecological assessments have been undertaken. The Cultural Heritage Transport Consultant: SKM Colin Buchanan ecological study included that there are minor local A Cultural Heritage Assessment, conducted by impacts. Vegetation surveys found no international Headland Archaeology, confi rms that there are no Technical appraisals have been prepared to inform or nationally important habitats of any signifi cance. designated cultural assets on the site that should be this proposal retained. Native woodlands with a rich ground fl ora occur Physical Assets and Characteristics along the Buckie Burn, but there will not be any The recorded cultural heritage assets within the site A Geological Appraisal, conducted by Mason Evans, signifi cant impact on these habitats. are restricted to post-medieval and later structures. confi rms that the underlying strata are capable of There is no indication that they may be of greater development. This has been reviewed by Fairhurst. Development across the site provides an opportunity than local value. to establish a high quality linear ‘wetland’ green There is evidence of mineral extraction and mining infrastructure along the route of the Buckie Burn and across the site which is typical of the north and former railway line. This greenspace infrastructure northwest of Dunfermline. Further site investigations will aim to integrate SUDS to enhance biodiversity. will be necessary to clarify the extent of land affected by mining. This greenspace infrastructure will establish a network of open spaces with play areas as an integral These areas will be subject to treatment and part of the wider green network. It will also enhance stabilisation by drilling and pressure injection of the landscape setting and habitat value along the cementatious grout. core path route that runs east west through the site. 8 HALBEATH | DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK REPORT 9 Sustainability of Location SUSTAINABILITY OF LOCATION 3. Sustainability of Location Proximity to services and amenities Connections to the surrounding area Accessibility to public transport There are a number of amenities located within The area around the site contains an extensive Dunfermline Queen Margaret Railway Station is approximately 1km of the site, including Queen network of Core Paths and Rights of Way. A core path located 400m to the south of the site. Margaret District Hospital and Lynebank Hospital, crosses the site, linking the amenities in the Halbeath Halbeath Retail Park and Fife Leisure Park. area, into green networks across Dunfermline and There are a number of bus stops located on Halbeath surrounding countryside. Road within walking distance of the south of the site. Townhill Primary School is located a 10 minute walk from the site (approximately 800m). There are a The proposed pedestrian routes within the site will There is one bus stop located adjacent to the eastern further two primary schools located within 1600m: connect into the established path network. There is boundary of the site on Kingseat Road.