Tidworth Community Area - Core Policy 17
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Responses to Question 17 – Tidworth Community Area - Core Policy 17 Cross ID Comments Officer Comments Issue Reference The North Wessex Downs AONB supports reference to the AONB but this has not been fully explained within the policy. There are issues over impact on the setting of the AONB from the Drummond Park Noted. The site area for the allocation does extend beyond development (which have led to changes of the planning application). Reference to the AONB should the current application site. Further consideration will be 149 SO5 AONB be included in the Drummond Park section. The inset map with map 5.16 is also questioned as it given on how the impact on the setting of the AONB can be appears to show Drummond Park extending across the main road and towards the AONB to the north, better referenced and mitigated against which does not accord with the existing application site area and takes in a greenfield site. I am content with the general principles of a strategy. I will, however, limit my comments to the Tidworth Community Area. I am concerned at the lack of highway infrastructure improvements for Ludgershall and believe that more flexibility is required in terms of the housing and employment allocations for the area. Ludgershall’s Memorial Junction is nearing capacity but the financial contributions that have been and will be set aside for highway solutions will not even scratch the surface. The only way to resolve the problem is to provide a second road that runs parallel with the existing A342 or a bypass for the town. This can only be achieved through further development over and above the developments planned at Granby Gardens and Drummond Park. I am not necessarily saying that we should include another 1000 Noted. The future of the vehicle depot is still to be clarified. plans in the strategy, which would provide a bypass, but allow for a windfall site or sites that would allow These comments will be passed to the highways team and Highway 201 for highway infrastructure improvements for Ludgershall. However, any such windfall site should only be a further assessment of the traffic situation in Ludgershall infrastructure allowed if the MOD sells the old vehicle depot for development. This would allow for a potential bypass will be included in the next round of the core strategy. to be built. The old vehicle depot should be an industrial park and housing with the land beyond Empress Way leading to the A342 beyond Faberstown being allocated for housing which would provide the remainder of the bypass. The old vehicle depot is potentially very important for the local economy as Castledown Business Park will not sustain the local employment needs on its own if the land beyond Empress Way and the vehicle depot were to be sold for housing. It must, therefore, be at least a mixed development or just industrial. Both areas can only be looked at as a joint venture as singularly they will worsen Ludgershall’s road problems. Moving to Tidworth itself, if the MOD does not require site 19 for housing, this should be a reserve housing site for civilian growth in the town. Ludgershall could take a lot more housing but will need a bypass on NE. quadrant to tke traffic to 303. The current application does included detailed proposals Highway 980 Zog should contribute more money in the implementation of this strategy. I could also open up more on NE site for a bypass. infrastructure prospect for the vehicle depot. We support the recognition of the land at Drummond Park (MSA Depot) as capable for accommodating 550 dwellings and as a key development priority for the Tidworth Community Area. We broadly support the issues to be addressed in the planning for the Tidworth Community Area - subject to the following comments: Whilst we note the reference to the low concentration of employment sites, it should also be noted that the Castledown Business Park is significantly under utilised and has capacity to accommodate substantial growth. Residential development at Drummond Park will help support improvements to Castledown Business Park, by providing new homes to support a future workforce. Hence, there should be policy support to new development which will help support the future phases of employment development at Castledown Business Park; We agree that Ludgershall offers only limited Support Noted. Comment regarding employment and CiL Drummond 1002 retail development (and that this is somewhat fragmented). In our view, policy should encourage new CP3 and developer contributions will passed on to the relevant Park Strategic development within Ludgershall (which will draw in new residents and investment) which can stimulate officer. Site an improvement in facilities; We recognise that there has been disparity between the military and civilian employment within the area. We consider that the development of the Castledown Business Park is a positive non-military employment provider and will encourage a greater civilian base to the area, thus addressing the imbalance. Furthermore the redevelopment of Drummond Park will provide significant housing opportunities to encourage a non-military population to the area; We agree that the settlements of Tidworth and Ludgershall have the potential for new growth on previously developed land, particularly on sites which are well related to the town centres. We consider that Drummond Park is prime example of an appropriate brownfield development which provides good links (pedestrian, Cross ID Comments Officer Comments Issue Reference cycling and via public transport improvements) to the town centre. Whilst we note support the list of ‘essential infrastructure requirements' for the Tidworth community area, however it is fundamental that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in accordance with the CIL Regulations 2011, strikes a balance between securing additional investment for infrastructure to support development and the potential economic effect of imposing CIL upon development across their area. It is vital that the Council identifies the total cost of the ‘essential infrastructure requirements' that it desires to fun from CIL. In order to do this, Wiltshire will need to consider what additional infrastructure is needed in its area to support development. It is vital that future policy relating to developer contributions is flexible and recognises the need to encourage rather than restrain development. When establishing the scope and scale of developer contributions required to support new development, the Council should also take into account individual sites costs, scheme viability and other scheme requirements. Given the current economic climate, it may not be possible for developers/developments to provide the full contributions sought. Accordingly, the Council should encourage developers/applicants to submit an ‘open-book' viability assessment to demonstrate the maximum level of contribution which could be supported. If the level of growth envisaged/required is to be delivered, in accordance with the emerging National Planning Policy Framework, policy should ensure that the scale of obligations should not burden the sites ability to be developed, viably. To ensure viability, the costs of any requirements likely to be applied to development, such as requirements for affordable housing, local standards, infrastructure contributions or other requirements should, when taking account of the normal cost of development and on-site mitigation, provide acceptable returns to a willing land owner and willing developer to enable the development to be deliverable. There is no mention in the Core Policy of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Noted. Consideration will be given to improving references 1032 (AONB). Any development must have due regard to the AONB, including an assessment of the likely to AONB and the setting of AONB in regards to the AONB impact of proposed development on the AONB. allocated site. Tidworth. We note that the Site Selection topic paper states that the only strategic allocation in this Noted. The site boundary has not been extended beyond Community Area is 550 dwellings on brownfield land on land at Drummond Park, Ludgershall. However, that set out in the Site Selection topic paper. The land to we also note that the strategic allocation includes land to the north east of the A342. Whilst detailed the north of the A342 has been assessed alongside the rest work (not submitted as part of this consultation) has established that, subject to suitable landscaping, of the site, there is no greenfield land to the south east of the land to the south west of the A342 could be developed without unacceptable impact on the North 1103 the allocation although this may refer to land to the south AONB Wessex Downs AONB, there is no evidence to demonstrate that the land to the north east of the A342 west. Consideration will be given to the impact of these would have an acceptable impact. It also includes greenfield land to the South East of Drummond Park, greenfield sections of the allocation on areas that might be which we regard as a valuable (albeit non designated) landscape asset. We are thus not clear why the considered valuable landscape assets or likely to affect the boundaries of the allocation extend beyond that stated in the Site Selection topic paper, and advise that, setting of the AONB. to be justified, they are adjusted to that given in the Site Selection topic paper. Consultation on emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy Development Plan Document Ludgershall Town Council broadly accepts the above document, however listed below are their comments which relate to Ludgershall. The housing developments proposed at Drummond Park, Granby Gardens and possible Empress Way will provide approximately 1,000 new dwellings in the area. The lack of major highway infrastructure work needs to be addressed urgently with a bypass or link road to alleviate traffic from High Street, Castle Street and Butt Street, part of the conservation area of Ludgershall, this area must be protected.