Application Reference: DC/063049 Location: Land Within and North of Woodbank Memorial Park, Turncroft Lane, Stockport, SK1 4JR
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Application Reference: DC/063049 Location: Land Within And North Of Woodbank Memorial Park, Turncroft Lane, Stockport, SK1 4JR. Proposal: The laying out and construction of a proposed new bridleway/cycleway between Stockport Road West and Dark Lane, a new footbridge across the River Goyt and a new cycleway/ footway within Woodbank Park, including landscaping. Type of Full Planning Permission Application: Registration Date: 25/08/2016 Expiry Date: 24/11/2016 Case Officer: Karyn Clarke Applicant: Transport Policy, SMBC Agent : AECOM COMMITTEE STATUS Planning and Highways Regulation Committee. The application site straddles the boundaries of Central Stockport Area Committee and Werneth Area Committee and is placed on both area committee agendas. DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT The application proposes: the construction of a foot/cycle bridge across the River Goyt providing a link into Woodbank Memorial Park from the north of the river; A new bridleway/cycleway to the north of the River Goyt linking Stockport Road West with Dark Lane in Bredbury and the new foot/cycle bridge; A new shared cycleway /footway to the south of the River Goyt through Woodbank Park linking the new foot/cycle bridge with existing pathways within the Park; A ramp to the south easterly end of Annable Road incorporating a proposed gabion basket wall; Timber post and four rail fencing at various points along the new bridleway/cycleway/footway; Two speed reduction barrier systems on the new shared cycleway/footway within Woodbank Memorial Park Proposed mitigation planting will look to replace any trees that would be removed to facilitate the proposed scheme, in agreement with the Council’s own landscape team. The application was accompanied by the following documents: Planning Statement including a Design and Access Statement; Heritage Statement; Arboricultural Assessment; Ecology Appraisal; Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy; Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Report; Badger Survey; Tree Survey The applicant states that the proposed development is required in order to provide a quiet and attractive commuter and leisure route pedestrians, cyclists and partially for equestrians. The predominantly off carriageway cycle route will extend the current designated cycle route between the town centre and Vernon Park to Woodley avoiding the sometimes congested distributor (Stockport Road West). Furthermore, the proposed development will provide links into Romiley via Clapgate and Otterspool/Chadkirk and Marple via Otterspool and the Connect 2 cycle route. The extended cycle routes will allow cyclists to avoid Stockport Road West, Marple Road, Offerton Lane and Hall Street. Each of these cycle routes will provide safer routes off main carriageways and potential travel planning benefits to companies based in Pear and Welkin Mills, as well as supplying leisure opportunities to businesses in the local area including Bredbury Hall staff and patrons and the wider community. There is currently a missing link in the National Cycle Network (NCN) between routes 55 and 62 (the Trans Pennine Trail). The proposed development will connect these two routes. NCN Route 55 (Ironbridge to Preston) currently ends at Dark Lane and restarts at Penny Lane/Lancashire Hill. The proposed development provides an off road connection for this national route, as well as linking with NCN 62. Using the bridge proposed over the River Goyt to enter Woodbank Park will also provide links to Stockport Civic Centre via the St Mary’s Way Bridge and also link to the south of the town centre. It will also provide a link to the existing cycle route through the park which provides connectivity towards Offerton. The proposed development will contribute towards overcoming severance of the walking, cycling and equestrian networks in and around the Goyt Valley. Also, residential area in and around the proposed development will be connected to each other and to Stockport town centre through the enhancement of sustainable transport measures. The proposed development will also encourage a modal shift in terms of encouraging the use of sustainable transport measures, which should help to reduce the general traffic congestion in the area. More people will be able to access significant areas greenspace as part of the proposed development through providing access to Woodbank Park from the north of the River Goyt. SITE AND SURROUNDINGS The application site comprises an area of approx. 5ha, including land within Woodbank Memorial Park and in particular Cow Lane, a surfaced track bounded by tree which lies to the east of Woodbank Hall (a Grade II* Listed Building) and slopes down towards the meadow fields. To the north lies the River Goyt separated from the meadow field by a line of mature woodland. Mature trees line the river embankments to both sides and to the edges of the meadow. Two 18th century tunnels run below the park and open out into the river bank. Beyond the river, to the north lies an electricity substation and Pear Mill and its car park is located to the west accessed from Stockport Road East. This area of land is currently private and there is no public access from the eastern edge of Pear Mill as far as the public footpath at Annable Road. To the north east lie residential development and a public footpath runs from the south eastern end of Annable Road and Doric Avenue (cul-de-sacs) in an easterly direction along the western boundary with Bredbury Hall leading out along the edge of Daisyfield Recreation Ground and Dark Lane further east. The proposed scheme passes through Woodbank Park which is designated as a Grade B Site of Biological Interest (SBI) and a Local Nature Reserve (LNR). It is also located approximately 15m from Vernon Road Wood SBI (which is the other side of Dark Lane, at the eastern extent of the scheme boundary. POLICY BACKGROUND Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires applications/appeals to be determined in accordance with the Statutory Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The site lies in the green belt and within a Landscape Character Area as shown on the proposal map of the UDP Review. Woodbank Park is designated as a Grade B Site of Biological Interest (SBI) and a Local Nature Reserve (LNR). A small portion of the application site is also allocated as Local Open Space (Dairyfield Recreation Ground). The Statutory Development Plan includes:- Policies set out in the Stockport Unitary Development Plan Review (SUDP) adopted 31st May 2006 which have been saved by direction under paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 8 to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; & Policies set out in the Stockport Local Development Framework Core Strategy Development Plan Document (CS) adopted 17th March 2011. N.B. Due weight should be given to relevant SUDP and CS policies according to their degree of consistency with the National Planning Policy Framework (‘NPPF’) issued on 27th March 2012 (the closer the policies in the plan to the policies in the NPPF, the greater the weight that may be given); and how the policies are expected to be applied is outlined within the Planning Practice Guidance (‘PPG’) launched on 6th March 2014. Saved Policies of the SUDP Review GBA1.1 - Extent of Green Belt; GBA1.2 - Control of Development in the Green Belt UOS1.3 - Protection of Local Open Space; NE1.1 – Sites of special Nature Conservation Importance; NE1.2 - Sites of Nature Conservation Importance; NE1.3 - Protection and Enhancement of Green Chains; L1.7 – Recreation Routes: Maintenance and Expansion of Network; L1.8 – Strategic Recreation Routes; L1.11 – Development Related to Recreation Routes; LCR1.1 -Landscape Character Areas; LCR1.1a – The Urban Fringe Including the River Valleys; EP1.7 – Development and Flood Risk; LDF Core Strategy/Development Management policies CS5 Core Policy ‘Access to Services; CS6 Core Policy ‘Safeguarding and Strengthening the Service Centre Hierarchy’; Development Management Policy SIE-1 ‘Quality Places’; Development Management Policy SIE-3 "Protecting Safeguarding and Enhancing the Environment"; CS8 Core Policy ‘Safeguarding and Improving the Environment’; Development Management Policy AS1 ‘The Vitality and Viability of Stockport’s Service Centres’; CS10 Core Policy ‘An Effective and Sustainable Transport Network’; Development Management Policy T-1 ‘Transport and Development’; National Planning Policy Framework Conformity The Planning Advisory Services’ National Planning Policy Framework Compatibility Self-Assessment Checklist has been undertaken on Stockport’s adopted Core Strategy. This document assesses the conformity of Stockport’s adopted Core Strategy with the more recently published NPPF and takes account of saved policies from the Unitary Development Plan where applicable. No significant differences were identified. Supplementary Planning Guidance Supplementary Planning Guidance (Saved SPG’s & SPD’s) does not form part of the Statutory Development Plan; nevertheless it does provide non-statutory Council approved guidance that is a material consideration when determining planning applications. National Planning Policy Framework Paragraph 6 states: “The purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”. Paragraph 7 states: “There are three dimensions to sustainable development: economic, social and environmental”. Paragraph 11 states: “Planning law requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless