WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE Rotherham Local Plan 2013 Draft Sites and Policies Publication
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WENTWORTH WOODHOUSE Rotherham Local Plan 2013 Draft Sites and Policies Publication SITE ALLOCATIONS STUDY July 2013 Wentworth Woodhouse: 2013 Draft Site Allocations Study Contents 1 – Introduction, Scope and Purpose 2 – Definitions and Limitations 3 – Assessment Methodology 4 – Potential Impacts Upon Designed Views and Visual Setting of Wentworth Woodhouse and the Receptors and Allocation Site Considerations 5 – Potential Impacts Upon the Wider Setting of Wentworth Woodhouse and the Registered Park 6 – Views from Hoober Stand and Keppel’s Column 7 – Summary and Conclusions Plans / Photoviewpoints Plan 1 Registered Park Boundary and Photoviewpoint Locations Plan 2 Rotherham Local Plan Site Allocations: Sites of Primary Concern Photoviewpoint 1 A629 Upper Wortley Road, Thorpe Hesley: East of the junction with London Way looking North East Photoviewpoint 2 Rigg lane: At the junction of Rotherham Roundwalk and Back lane looking South Photoviewpoint 3 Cinderbridge Road: Above Glossop Lodge looking South West towards Sites 161, 162 and 793 Photoviewpoint 4 Public footpath North East of Cinderbridge Road above Glossop Lodge looking South West Photoviewpoint 5 Greasbrough Lane: View looking South West towards East Lodge and Cinderbridge Plantation Ideal Dimensions Photoviewpoint 6 Main Street: Views of Cinderbridge Plantation and the Open Countryside looking North east Appendices Appendix A Rotherham Local Plan: 2013 Draft Sites and Policies Publication - the Rotherham Urban Area A – C (North West, Rawmarsh/Parkgate and Aldwarke), Broad Location for Growth: Bassingthorpe Farm and Thorpe Hesley Settlement Wentworth Woodhouse 2 Rotherham Local Plan 2013 Draft Sites and Policies Publication Site Allocations Study 105 2013LDF-R-001_24 July 2013 FINAL Ideal Dimensions 1.0 INTRODUCTION, SCOPE & PURPOSE Introduction Ideal Dimensions Limited were commissioned by the Newbold family in July 2010 to undertake an assessment of the potential landscape and visual impacts of various allocation sites identified in the Rotherham LDF Core Strategy Revised Options Settlement Capacity Report (May 2009). This study was undertaking in recognition that there is a need to ensure the future protection of the important historic landscape and the visual setting associated with both Wentworth Woodhouse and the historic park. In September 2010 and September 2011 this appointment was extended to address issues associated with the Rotherham LDF Core Strategy Revised Options Employment Land Review and the Rotherham Local Development framework Sites and Policies, Issues and Options DPD publications respectively to provide consideration of likely landscape and visual impacts of allocation sites on the heritage asset and the wider landscape setting. The following study represents a further response to additional information produced as part of the Rotherham Local Development Framework (LDF) process. The assessment has been compiled in recognition that, in combination with a need for a strategic approach aimed at the preservation of heritage assets throughout the borough and within Rotherham Town Centre itself, there is a need to ensure the future protection of the landscape associated with Wentworth Woodhouse and the Grade II* Registered Park and Gardens and in particular the contrived views and vistas between the house and various features which are recognised to extend into the wider setting. The study represents a fourth addendum to the Settlement Capacity Allocation Sites Potential Landscape and Visual Impact study previously prepared by Ideal Dimensions Limited and as such should be read in conjunction and cross referenced with this study and the addendums relating to the Employment Land Review and the Wider landscape Setting and the Sites and Policies, Issues and Options DPD all of which have specifically examined the potential landscape and visual impacts of the various allocation sites in the context of the heritage asset. To this extent and for the purpose of understanding the historical context, reference to previous studies, the assessment methodology used and details of the planning background and development requirements associated with the various reports, reference should be made to the following reports: 1 Wentworth Woodhouse Rotherham Local Plan 2013 Draft Sites and Policies Publication Site Allocations Study 105 2013LDF-R-001_24 July 2013 FINAL Ideal Dimensions • (Wentworth Woodhouse: Rotherham Local Development Framework Settlement Capacity Allocations Sites – Study to establish the Likelihood of Adverse Visual Impact on the Historic Asset (August 2010) • Wentworth Woodhouse – Addendum to Settlement Capacity Allocation Sites Study: Study to Establish Likelihood of Adverse Visual Impact of Employment Land Allocations (October 2010); • Wentworth Woodhouse – Addendum to Settlement Capacity Allocation Sites Study: Study to Establish the Likelihood of Adverse Visual Impact of Land Allocations on the Wider Setting (November 2010); and • Wentworth Woodhouse – Rotherham Local development Framework Sites and Policies, Issues and Options DPD: Site Allocations Study Addendum (September 2011) This report makes reference to photoviewpoint locations identified in previous studies as listed above and for the purpose of avoiding repetition it is not intended to illustrate views from these within the current document. However, where additional photoviewpoints are considered appropriate, views from these have been included in the Photoviewpoint section of this study. It should be noted that in order to allow full panoramas from the viewpoints to be appreciated the field of view varies. Previous studies undertaken in relation to the heritage asset are outlined within the Settlement Capacity Allocation Sites Study. Such studies have examined in detail the historical context and significance of Wentworth Woodhouse and its associated visual importance including the impact of inappropriate development, its susceptibility to the continued threat from encroaching urban and industrial development and the need to preserve, protect and enhance the designed historic landscape as a whole as an asset of both regional and national importance. As a designed landscape the historic park incorporates a number of contrived views and vistas between the house and various features set within the park and ‘green corridor’ approaches. It is recognised that many of these views and vistas and approaches extend beyond the Registered Park and Garden into the wider landscape setting. Whilst most of these views and the focal points and features within them still exist today, the landscape within which they are set has experienced considerable change resulting from development pressures. Beyond the historic park, both residential and industrial development has altered the 2 Wentworth Woodhouse Rotherham Local Plan 2013 Draft Sites and Policies Publication Site Allocations Study 105 2013LDF-R-001_24 July 2013 FINAL Ideal Dimensions character of the landscape, degradation that has been further exasperated by changes to land management, the loss of woodland planting and an increase in the amount of land managed for arable agriculture. This not only impacts upon the heritage asset itself but also upon the context within which the heritage asset is set and as such represents an indirect or secondary level of visual harm. A continuation of this degradation of the wider setting will continue to undermine the context and environment which is inexplicitly linked with Wentworth Woodhouse and the Historic Park. It is acknowledged that the landscape setting associated with Wentworth Woodhouse has been degraded and development such as that at Greasbrough, Wingfield, Kimberworth, Upper Haugh, Thorpe Hesley, within the Don Valley and more recently the wind turbines at Penny Hill Lane, Ulley provide clear examples of this. However, with the exception of development to the south east the immediate landscape setting to Wentworth Woodhouse and the Registered Park does still largely remain a predominantly rural and ‘green’ environment. Scope and Purpose As a progressive replacement for Rotherham’s existing Unitary Development Plan (UDP) it is the objective of Rotherham’s LDF to guide future development in the Borough until 2028. The two main components of the Local Plan are the Core Strategy and the Sites and Policies document. The Core Strategy sets the vision and in broad terms where new homes and employment land for each of the Borough’s settlements will be located. All other Local Plan documents must conform with the Core Strategy. The Sites and Policies, Issues and Options document states: “The role of the Sites and Policies Document is to identify specific sites – the Site allocations for each settlement to meet the Core Strategy targets, for new housing and employment land. In doing so, it will define the precise policy boundary for Rotherham’s Green Belt. It also will include draft development management policies to guide determination of planning applications and implementation of the site allocations. These decisions will be 3 Wentworth Woodhouse Rotherham Local Plan 2013 Draft Sites and Policies Publication Site Allocations Study 105 2013LDF-R-001_24 July 2013 FINAL Ideal Dimensions informed by a series of environmental designations, such as local nature conservation sites.” The Council is also promoting changes to current Unitary Development Plan residential and employment allocations. Specifically and with particular reference to this study, the Council is promoting a change in the residential allocation