Middlerigg Farm, Reddingmuirhead Welcome Thank You for Coming Today

Middlerigg Farm, Reddingmuirhead Welcome Thank you for coming today

INTRODUCTION

This exhibition has been arranged to engage and inform the local community of the emerging proposals for Middlerigg Farm, Reddingmuirhead.

A Proposal of Application Notice was submitted to Falkirk Council on 7th December 2018 for residential development. The intention is to submit an application for Planning Permission in Principle to the Council for the site later in 2019.

Members of the design team are here today to present the proposals to you and answer any questions that you may have. As local residents, this is your opportunity to influence this masterplan and the emerging proposals. We would welcome your thoughts on the information presented to you today.

REDDINGMUIRHEAD

BRAES HIGH SCHOOL

SHIELDHILL ROAD

APPLICATION SITE

WALLACESTONE BRAE

WALLACESTONE

SURROUNDING CORE PATH NETWORK

THE SITE

The site consists of two distinct parcels located to the east and west of Fairhaven Terrace on the southern side of Reddingmuirhead.

The eastern parcel which incorporates the existing complex of buildings at Middlerigg Farm is bounded to the north by Epworth Gardens and by properties on Shieldhill Road; to the east by an existing play area and Hollybank Care Home on Wallacestone VIEW TOWARDS SITEFROM WALLACESTONE POLMONT BURN. FAIRHAVEN TERRACE Brae; to the south by the Polmont Burn corridor and to the west by properties on Fairhaven Terrace.

The western parcel of land is bounded to the north by properties on Shieldhill Road; to the east by properties on Fairhaven Terrace; and to the south and west by agricultural land.

Reddingmuirhead, is one of a cluster of localities to the south of Falkirk and to the south west of Polmont. VIEW TOWARDS SITEFROM EPWORTH GARDENS

Applicant Taylor Wimpey Architect / Masterplanner EMA Architects + Masterplanners Engineering Consultant Peter Brett Associates Landscape Consultant Ian White Landscape Architect Archaeological Consultant AOC Archaeology Planning / Project Management Derek Scott Planning Middlerigg Farm, Reddingmuirhead

CONTEXT AND CONSTRAINTS

REDDINGMUIRHEAD BRAES HIGH SCHOOL

EXISTING HOUSES

EPWORTH GARDENS

GN18 EXISTING HOUSES

GN18

B810 / WALLACESTONE SHIELDHILL BRAE

ROAD FAIRHAVEN TERRACE FAIRHAVEN

POLMONT BURN

POTENTIAL EXTENSION KEY TO GN18 OPEN SPACE NETWORK / NEW MIDDLERIGG PARK

EXISTING CORE PATH

POLMONT BURN WALLACESTONE POTENTIAL ACCESS POINTS

POTENTIAL FOOTPATH EXTENSION TO GREEN NETWORK

POTENTIAL TRIM TRAIL EXISTING CORE PATH NETWORK POTENTIAL VIEWS/ LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY

POTENTIAL LANDSCAPE FRONTAGE

WOODLAND PLANTING

EXISTING FARMHOUSE

POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

The site is constrained by important features along each of its edges which have informed the design process. The proposals have also been informed by the existing landscape and topography.

The Polmont Burn is located within a corridor EXISTING FARM BUILDINGS WITHIN LANDSCAPE VIEW EAST ALONG B810 / SHIELDHILL ROAD which is bounded by existing back garden fences. There is an opportunity to reinforce this edge with more appropriate and attractive woodland planting. As part of the development the area could become a new park for the existing and new community providing more access to the burn and the surrounding footpath network. This would also provide a defensible edge to the settlement and avoid any future issues with coalescence.

Wallacestone Brae contains the site to the VIEW FROM SITE ACROSS THE FIRTH OF FORTH LOCAL TESCO SUPERSTORE east and to the west is open countryside and agricultural land.

Access to the site would be provided from the surrounding road network from the West at Shieldhill Road, Centrally along Fairhaven Terrace and from the East at Epworth Gardens.

There are a number of opportunities to improve the existing surrounding footpath network and the landscape quality of the Polmont Burn Corridor. The local authority also has a desire to improve their green network which currently runs into the site but not through it.

There are also opportunities to improve the VIEW NORTH WEST FROM EXISTING FOOTPATH NETWORK local road network and footpath connections.

BACKGROUND / TECHNICAL INFORMATION

LANDSCAPE

A landscape appraisal has been carried out in order to assess the development potential of the site. The document refers to the surrounding context, character and connection, landscape history, the Polmont Burn corridor, surrounding greenspace, trees and hedgerows, existing buildings and views of the Forth from the existing surrounding public path network.

The aim of the Landscape Strategy is to ensure that any development of the site will enhance the setting of Reddingmuirhead and improve the greenspace network by extending the network of opportunities for recreation.

It has been concluded that the site offers potential for development and will improve the network of opportunities for casual recreation (ie. walking and cycling). The application will also be supported by a formal Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.

WALKING AND CYCLING

The site is well served by the surrounding footpath and cycleway network.

Within walking distance of the site there are a number of local amenities including a secondary school (Braes High), childrens play park and convenience store on Shieldhill Road.

The nearest food superstore is Tesco which is north of the canal and takes access from Colliery Road (just under 1km from the site). The site is bounded on four sides by Core Paths with Shieldhill Road, Wallacestone Brae and Fairhaven Terrace all forming part of the Core Path network (see Falkirk Council diagram top right).

National Cycle Network (NCN) 754 is within 500 metres of the site and provides a, generally off-road route, between Falkirk and Linlithgow, including linking closely to Polmont and Falkirk High Train Stations. The emerging Local Development Plan also proposes to strengthen the existing green networks throughout the local area with the possibility of connection through the Polmont Burn corridor (see Falkirk Council diagram opposite).

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Polmont train station is located approximately 1.5km from the site. The station has a free car park containing 186 parking spaces and 14 cycle parking spaces.

The station is serviced by three separate train services to the following stations; Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Queen Street and Dunblane respectively. The Edinburgh Waverley service runs 4 services per hour with an approximate journey time of 28 minutes Monday to Saturday with 2 services per hour on Sundays. The Glasgow Queen Street train runs two train services per hour Monday to Saturday and with a single train service per hour on Sunday with a journey time of 24 minutes. A further two train services per hour to Dunblane all week with a journey time of 34 minutes.

ECOLOGY

A preliminary ecological assessment has been carried out and will be submitted in support of any planning application for the site. The Polmont Burn corridor is an important nature conservation area and should be protected throughout any design / construction process. The area has the potential to support species such as otters, badgers and bats and the intention to create a new park along this edge will ensure that these important habitats are EXTRACT FROM FALKIRK LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2 - WITH APPLICATION SITE HIGHLIGHTED protected.

Overall, there are no significant ecological constraints preventing the development of the site and appropriate mitigation and enhancement measures can be provided, to ensure the proposed development maintains and enriches the biodiversity interest of the site.

DRAINAGE AND FLOODING

Preliminary drainage and flood risk assessments have been carried out and will be submitted in suport of any application. The Polmont Burn flows east through the application site. The site is also served by a network of drains and ditches that feed into the burn. Previous hydraulic study of these watercourses has suggested a relatively low risk of flooding, with the flood plain of the Polmont Burn remaining close to the channel.

Appropriate surface water management and engineering HISTORICAL OS MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF OLD MILL EXTRACT FROM ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT interventions to address any small areas of local flooding should be incorporated as necessary to ensure that the development does not cause an increase in flood risk elsewhere and is adequately protected from flooding itself.

ARCHAEOLOGY

A preliminary archaeological assessment has found that the only feature of interest within the site is Middlerigg Mill, which lies to the south east of the buildings at Middlerigg Farm (shown on tthe OS map opposite).

Although the mill buildings were demolished some time ago, the water courses and the wheel setting will have been preserved due to their depth below ground. Potential mitigation measures that may have to be considered in any development proposals for the site include the retention of the feature as an area of public open space, archaeological excavation, or providing a vertical buffer.

There are no listed buildings on or adjacent to Middlerigg Farm. The nearest listed building is the Category ‘C’ Listed Reddingmuirhead and Wallacestone Community Centre building which is located on the northern side of Shieldhill Road.

POLMONT BURN CORRIDOR POLMONT TRAIN STATION

CONCEPT / VISION / PROPOSALS

KEY

APPLICATION BOUNDARY

OPEN SPACE NETWORK / NEW MIDDLERIGG PARK

CORE PATH

POLMONT BURN

ACCESS POINTS

FOOTPATH EXTENSION POTENTIAL TO GREEN NETWORK EXTENSION TO GREEN NETWORK POLMONT BURN FRONTAGE TO PARK

AVENUE PLANTING

WOODLAND PLANTING

EXISTING FARMHOUSE POTENTIAL PARK

POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA

POTENTIAL PARKING AREA

CONCEPT

The concept builds upon the existing landscape, topography and built environment of the site and the opportunities which these elements provide.

The primary benefits of the new houses at Reddingmuirhead will be:

1. A new reinforced edge to the existing settlement which will be more appropriate and attractive and enhance the quality and character of the Polmont Burn Corridor EXISTING HOUSING 2. An improved Polmont Burn Corridor including new landscape, tree planting, open space / park

3. An improved network of footpaths and cycleways which will increase access to the area for all of the new and existing houses

4. A new neighbourhood integrated within the existing community OVERVIEW FROM SHIELDHILL ROAD LOOKING SOUTH which will provide a range of private and affordable housing and bring new people and investment to the area

CONNECTION

The site provides an excellent opportunity to develop an area which is located close to strategic transport links such as the M9 Motorway and the Edinburgh / Glasgow Rail Link from Polmont Station or Falkirk High.

It also offers the potential to improve connections on a more local scale. The improvement of the Polmont Burn Corridor and the reinforcement of the settlement edge provides opportunities to improve access to and throughout the surrounding area. The emerging local development plan has also identified the area as having the potential to improve the surrounding connectivity / green network. POTENTIAL FOR NEW PARK ALONG POLMONT BURN CORRIDOR

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

POSITIVE FRONTAGE

STREET TREES

STREET TREES NODE / SQUARE

POSITIVE BOUNDARY TREATMENTS

NEW REINFORCED FOOTPATH WOODLAND ENCLOSURE

PROPOSED OPEN SPACE

REINFORCED WOODLAND ENCLOSURE

CONNECTION TO SURROUNDING FOOTPATH NETWORK

Opportunity for Involvement:

We would welcome your comments on what you have seen and heard at this event and would be grateful if you could complete the questionnaire provided. The questionnaires can be filled out and submitted in the box here. Alternatively, should you wish more time to consider your response, please feel free to take the questionnaire away with you, and return it to Derek Scott Planning by post or by email at:

Derek Scott Planning 21 Lansdowne Crescent Edinburgh EH12 5EH [email protected]

Notwithstanding this consultation event, you will also have the opportunity to make further comment on our proposals at the application stage, as part of the formal consultation process.

Deadline of 19th Feb 2019 for comments.

What Happens Next?

We will consider all of the views expressed at this public consultation event, as the proposals are further developed. As part of the planning application a report will be prepared and submitted in response to the public consultation exercise. It is intended to submit an application for Planning Permission in Principle later in 2019.