General Area 74 Area (Ha) 538.0 Local Authority South Bucks

General Area 74 Area (ha) 538.0 Local South Bucks Authority Location Plan Description General Area 74 is located to the north and west of Iver Heath and contains land with planning permission for the expanded Pinewood Studios. It is bounded to the west by Black Park Road, Fulmer Common Road, Windmill Road and Fulmer Road, to the south by the A412, to the east by the M25 and to the north by the M40. Parts of the parcel’s eastern and south-eastern boundaries directly adjoin Iver Heath. Purpose Criteria Assessment Score (1) To check (a) Land parcel is at the The land parcel is not at the edge of an identified large built- FAIL the edge of one or more up area. unrestricted distinct large built-up sprawl of areas. large built-up (b) Prevents the outward 0 areas sprawl of a large built- up area into open land, and serves as a barrier at the edge of a large built- up area in the absence of another durable boundary. Purpose 1: Total Score 0/5 (2) To prevent Prevents development The parcel forms part of the wider gap between Gerrards 3 neighbouring that would result in Cross and Iver Heath, and Slough and Iver Heath. The towns from merging of or significant northern and south-western areas of the parcel in particular merging erosion of gap between play a role in maintaining the general scale and openness of neighbouring this gap and preventing the coalescence of the settlements, settlements, including though the south-eastern area is less important for preventing ribbon development coalescence. along transport corridors that link settlements. The parcel also maintains the gaps between Iver Heath and the Green Belt settlements of Fulmer and Wexham Street. In the former case, the parcel prevents further ribbon development along Alderbourne Lane and Fulmer Common Road which may lead to a reduction in the gap in perceptual terms. Purpose 2: Total Score 3/5 (3) Assist in Protects the openness of Overall, although currently less than 5% of the parcel is 3 safeguarding the countryside and is covered by built form, there is significant variation in the the least covered by character of the area. countryside development. from In the east of the parcel, there is substantional existing encroachment encroachment into the countryside around Pinewood Studios; this will likely increase significantly as the expansion of the site progresses, incorporating a significant area of open land between Pinewood Road and Seven Hills Road and diminishing its rural character. Encroachment is also prevelant in the south-east of the parcel at the fringes of Iver Heath, with a number of dwellings along Pinewood Road, Slough Road and Church Road, and an extensive mineral working to the west of Pinewood Road. Residential dwellings are also dispersed across the north of the parcel around Langley Corner and the Green Belt settlement of Fulmer, though these are generally set in large, open grounds and do not inherently diminish the feeling of open character. Set amongst these properties, significant areas of open, rolling countryside remain, consisting of large arable fields, paddocks and patches of dense woodland. The west of the parcel remains almost completely undeveloped, consisting of the dense woodland of the Black Park Country Park. This area feels very rural and remote, despite its proximity to urban areas. Overall, the parcel displays significant variation in character but, on balance, maintains a largely rural open character. Purpose 3: Total Score 3/5 (4) To Protects land which The parcel does not directly abut an identified historic core 0 preserved the provides immediate and and does not meet this Purpose. setting and wider context for special historic settlement, character of including views and historic towns vistas between the settlement and the surrounding countryside. Purpose 4: Total Score 0/5 Site Photos Photograph 1: Alderbourne Lane, looking north-east across General Area 74. Photograph 2: Construction at the expanded Pinewood Studios site, south of Seven Hills Road. Photograph 3: Looking north across General Area 74 from Seven Hills Road. 1:20000 Context Plan .

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