18 February 2013 130218 Longstanton Village Framework.docx

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Keith Miles Planning Policy Manager South Cambridgeshire District Council Hollie Howe South Cambridgeshire Hall E: [email protected] Cambourne Business Park DL: +44 (0) 1223 347 267 Cambourne F: +44 (0) 1223 347 100 Cambridge CB23 6EA Unex House 132-134 Hills Road Cambridge CB2 8PA T: +44 (0) 1223 347 000 savills.com

Dear Sir,

SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE LOCAL PLAN: LONGSTANTON VILLAGE FRAMEWORK

Savills (UK) Ltd is instructed by our client, Mr and Mrs Fanshawe, to make representations to the Council regarding the Longstanton Village Framework. Whilst the Council is not currently consulting on any changes to the Longstanton village framework, our clients have recently purchased property in the village and are taking the opportunity, before the local plan is finalised for submission, to request that the Council amends the village framework to include the property. This letter sets out the justification for such a change.

The Local Plan Issues and Options 2 Report Part 2, paragraph 5.5, states that “Village Frameworks are defined to take into account the present extent of the built-up area plus development committed by planning permissions and other proposals in the Development Plan. They exclude buildings associated with countryside uses (e.g. farm buildings, houses with agricultural occupancy conditions or affordable housing schemes permitted as ‘exceptions’ to policy).

In addition, small clusters of houses or areas of scattered development isolated in open countryside or detached from the main concentration of buildings within a village are also excluded. Boundaries may also cut across large gardens where the scale and character of the land relates more to the surrounding countryside than the built-up area.”

Our clients property, Melrose House, is located on a large plot of 1.27 hectares in the village of Longstanton, South Cambridgeshire (see appendix 1; site location plan). The site consists of a large Victorian property with a level lawned area to the south of the house, with formal gardens, tennis court and paved terrace area immediately adjacent the house. The rest of the garden is more informal, although is contiguous with the formal garden and clearly within the curtilage of the house. Access is achieved from Woodside. To the north the property is bounded by School Lane. To the west the site is screened from wider views from the countryside by a substantial boundary of trees and hedges.

According to the Core Strategy Village Inset Proposals Map (January 2010) the site falls within the Longstanton Conservation Area (policy CH/5). The house and grounds abut the Development Framework boundary for the northern part of Longstanton (historically known as Longstanton All Saints).

The site lies adjacent to the High Street, opposite to All Saints Church and the Old School. On approach to the village along School Lane from the west, the area appears residential in nature, and the village to be entered on passing the tree/hedged boundary on the west side of the property and the high density development to the north of the site on Stokes Lane, as shown in Appendix 2, pictures 1 and 2. Travelling northwards along Woodside there is no apparent break between land within the defined village framework (to the south) and the site. Whilst the area is lower in density than that to the south the area does not have the “feel” of countryside. Travelling southwards along High Street, the site is approached from continuous built

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Savills (UK) Limited. Chartered Surveyors. Regulated by RICS. A subsidiary of Savills plc. Registered in England No. 2605138. Registered office: 20 Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3HQ a development and the site reads as part of the built up area. To the south west and west of the site, there is a clear distinction between open agricultural land and the garden to Melrose House, and a single carriage, traffic calmed road runs adjacent to the garden (see picture 3). The site is served by local public transport, with a bus shelter adjacent to the neighbouring ‘The Stables’ property, and is within minutes walk of the various facilities located on the High Street.

Melrose House and its associated grounds are not associated with any countryside use, being used purely for residential purposes. The property has gained various planning permissions for extensions and alterations, with application S/1362/96/F – “Change of use from Paddock to Tennis Court” confirming that the property no longer has any countryside use.

The house and grounds lie within the built up area of Longstanton and are seen as such – the site lies opposite All Saints Church and The Manor House. Historic maps of Longstanton show the site as part of the historic core of Longstanton All Saints.

Given the surrounding uses, built up nature of the area, residential nature of the property and its location within the heart of the village the site is read with, and falls in the built up area and is a clearly part of the village. As a result, the village framework should be revised to include Melrose House and its grounds within the Village Framework as shown on the attached map (appendix 3).

We look forward to continued engagement in the process and in the meantime should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Hollie Howe BA (Hons) MSc Planner

Page 2

Appendix 1 – Site Location Plan

Appendix 2 – Site photos

Picture 1 – Properties on Stokes Close, adjacent to site

Picture 2 – Properties bounding School Lane and site edge

Picture 3 – Agricultural land bounding western edge of site

Photo 4 – Melrose House and associated garden

Photo 5 – Properties surrounding the site along School Lane

Photo 5 – Properties on Thatchers Wood

Appendix 3 – Proposed Revision to Village Framework

Existing framework (black dashed line)

Proposed extension (red solid line)