5304 Study of Land Surrounding Key
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Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District: Update Additional Sites 2015: Final Report to Cotswold District Council November 2015 Tel: 029 2043 7841 Email: [email protected] Web: www.whiteconsultants.co.uk Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update CONTENTS page PART 1 1 Introduction 3 2 Summary of findings 4 Tables Table 1 Additional sites landscape sensitivity: Housing/small scale mixed development PART 2 3 Site sensitivities Sites are considered in turn in settlement order with associated figures Andoversford 7 Down Ampney 10 Fairford 13 Lechlade 15 Mickleton 18 Moreton-in-Marsh 20 Northleach 22 Siddington 24 South Cerney 27 Stow-on-the-Wold 31 Tetbury 33 Willersey 36 Cover photo- Field adjacent to a development site north of Cirencester Road, Tetbury White Consultants 1 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update PART 1 White Consultants 2 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update 1. Introduction 1.1. White Consultants were appointed by Cotswold District Council in April 2014 to undertake an update of the landscape assessment around key settlements1 undertaken in 2000. 1.2. The scope of the study was to update the assessment taking into account the impact of any physical change since 2000, any revised assessments, policies and up-to-date guidance and focussing on the strategic housing land availability assessment (SHLAA) sites coming forward. The sites considered in this report are new sites that have been put forward for inclusion into the update of the SHLAA that is currently being carried out by Cotswold District Council. 1.3. The report should be considered as an annex of a study of deliverable sites dated May 2014 which explains the method for assessment, the landscape context for the district and considers each settlement and its relationship with the surrounding landscape. This report does not repeat this information but the assessments of the sites works within its context. The study is intended to form part of the evidence base which will inform the emerging Cotswold District Local Plan (2011-2031). 1.4. The report is divided into two parts. In Part 1, we introduce the assessment (1.0) and briefly set out a summary of the site assessments [2.0]. The sensitivity assessments for each identified site are set out in Part 2 in settlement alphabetical order. 1 Study of Land Surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District, White Consultants, June 2000 White Consultants 3 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update 2. Summary of Findings 2.1. The landscape sensitivities of each site are summarised in Table 1. Table 1 Additional sites landscape sensitivity- Housing HOUSING SITES Settlement Site Ref Sensitivity Andoversford A_10 High/medium Andoversford A_9 High/medium Down Ampney DA_11 Medium Down Ampney DA_9B Medium Fairford F_50 High/medium Lechlade L_31 Medium + high/medium Lechlade L_32 High/medium Mickleton MK_10 Medium Moreton in Marsh, M_61 High/medium Northleach N_18 High Siddington SD_9D High/medium Siddington SD_15 High/medium South Cerney SC_30 High/medium South Cerney SC_31 Medium South Cerney SC_32 High/medium Stow on the Wold STW_E10* High Tetbury T_39 Medium/low Tetbury T_71 Medium Willersey W_11 Medium/low and medium *site considered as housing which also covers small scale mixed development (see Main Report May 2014 Paragraph 2.11. White Consultants 4 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update PART 2 White Consultants 5 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update 3. Site Sensitivities 3.1. The context of each settlement and sensitivity of each site is set out in the following pages. Below, an explanation of the purpose of each section is set out. 3.2. The assessment of each site is concise, picking out the main characteristics and factors which influence sensitivity. Site Description 3.3. This section summarises the description of the site and its context drawing from desk study and site visits. Site Sensitivity Summary 3.4. This section summarises the overall landscape sensitivity of the site for housing development. The method used to arrive at this judgement is explained in the method section. Landscape context 3.5. The relevant national character area, landscape character type and landscape character area are noted. The Historic Landscape Character description covering the site is also set out. Landscape Designations 3.6. Landscape designations covering the site are listed in this section and comments made as to the specific features. Designations can indicate that the area is sensitive. Biodiversity Designations 3.7. Nature conservation designations covering the site are listed in this section and comments made as to the specific features. Designations can indicate that the area is sensitive. Historic Designations 3.8. Historic conservation designations covering the site are listed in this section and comments made as to the specific features. Designations can indicate that the area is sensitive. Other constraints 3.9. Other factors such as the presence of Flood Zone 3 on the site and public rights of way (PROW) are noted. The former can act as a very serious constraint whilst PROWs indicate the presence of sensitive receptors who may have views of the site or use it for recreational enjoyment and visual amenity. White Consultants 6 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update 4. Andoversford White Consultants 7 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update Site Reference: A_9 Settlement: Andoversford DESCRIPTION: The site lies on the southern edge of the settlement with a small part of its northern boundary adjoining Gloucester Road. It lies on the valley slopes falling from west to east. It comprises two horse paddocks to the east, part of a third paddock and the middle section of a field to the west with no boundaries on two sides. This effectively steps the site away from the Gloucester Road but has no apparent logic. The eastern boundary is a formal mature beech avenue, with some birch, which forms the access to the listed Owdeswell Manor to the south east, and is also a public right of way. The Manor itself is partially obscured by agricultural buildings to the north. Beyond the stream to the east is an industrial estate which is well screened by a tree belt. The paddocks are bounded by fences in rectilinear pattern with relatively recently planted trees, and a distinctive copse to the south, all of which reinforce the formality of the area. The field to the west is rectilinear and pastoral with a strong outgrown hedge boundary to the west. Two 20c houses, a utilities building and high conifer hedge on the Gloucester Road abut the site. On the other side of the road there is the primary school, listed dwelling, playing field, and housing estate at Templefields/Crossfields which lies on the edge of the village. The western boundary of the latter roughly aligns with the western boundary of this site. The site is apparent from the Gloucester Road over a low hedge and from the public right of way to the east, and the upper slopes are visible from the south. The site has limited tranquillity due to its location adjacent to housing albeit in a rural location. It lies within the Cotswolds AONB. LANDSCAPE SENSITIVITY: Evaluation: High/medium Justification: The site has susceptibility to housing as it is on a valley side in open countryside. Development would extend the built form where there is only currently a small amount of linear development. Its eastern part would adversely affect the public right of way and the formal driveway to Owdeswell Manor which forms part of the experience of the listed Manor and is part of its setting although not directly intervisible with the Manor. The part of the site which includes part of the field to the west is more potentially prominent within the landscape being higher up the slope and having no northern or southern boundary. This would also be visible as extending the settlement up the slopes in views from Gloucestershire Way to the south near the A436/A40 junction. The value of the site is that it lies within the AONB, is within the setting of Owdeswell Manor and opposite a listed building on Gloucester Road. LANDSCAPE CONTEXT National Character Area: Cotswolds Landscape Character Type: 7. High Wold Landscape Character Area: Cotswolds High Wold Plateau Historic Landscape Character: Riverine pasture, probably meadows now largely enclosed (does not apply to site) CONSTRAINTS/DESIGNATIONS Landscape: within Cotswolds AONB Historic: The Mount, Grade II listed building on the opposite side of the A436 Biodiversity: none Other (floodplain, PROWs): PROW runs along the eastern boundary White Consultants 8 Additional sites 2015 final/021115 Cotswold District Council Study of land surrounding Key Settlements in Cotswold District Update Site Reference: A_10 Settlement: Andoversford DESCRIPTION: The site lies on the southern edge of the settlement with its northern boundary adjoining Gloucester Road. It lies on the valley slopes falling from west to east. It comprises of the northern parts of two adjoining grass fields. It therefore has no tangible southern boundary. The western boundary is a strong outgrown hedge. To the east is a utilities building, which, with two 20c houses, is the only development on this side of the Gloucester Road outside the village core. On the other side of the road there is the village playing field and housing estate at Templefields/ Crossfields which lies on the edge of the village.