Key Agency Consultation Responses
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Longmore House Salisbury Place Edinburgh Planning Officer EH9 1SH North Ayrshire Council Cunninghame House Enquiry Line: 0131-668-8716 IRVINE [email protected] KA12 8EE Our ref: LDP/NAYR Our Case ID: 201603731 02 November 2016 Dear Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 North Ayrshire – Local Development Plan 2 - Call for Sites Consultation Thank you for consulting Historic Environment Scotland on those sites under consideration for inclusion within the North Ayrshire Council Local Development Plan 2. These sites have been identified following a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise undertaken in preparation of the new LDP. In reviewing these sites, we have indicated below where we consider that impacts on our historic environment interests are likely to be the most significant. We have focused our comments toward those sites where we have a role in the consequential planning decisions falling from the plan, should they be taken forward as preferred sites. Our remit covers scheduled monuments and their settings, category A-listed buildings and their setting, Inventory gardens and designed landscapes, Inventory battlefields and world heritage sites. Our detailed comments in relation to each site with the potential to impact on our historic environment interests are provided in the attached annex. Please be advised that development of the following sites in their current form is likely to have an impact on our historic environment interests such that we would not support the inclusion of these within the emerging Local Development Plan 2. • CFS66 – Main Road, Fairlie • CFS67 – Shore Lodge and Walled Garden We also note that a number of sites submitted as part of this consultation (CFS56, CFS57, CFS58) propose development in the vicinity of the Category A listed Law Castle (LB14279). Law Castle was built c. 1468 for Princess Mary, sister of James III, and stands as an oblong castle on high ground overlooking the surrounding towns and villages. While there is scope for development on these sites, we consider that this should be sensitively designed to protect and retain the castle’s setting. This is likely to involve positioning development on the lower ground away from the Castle. We would welcome involvement in the preparation of any site development briefs/developer requirements for these potential allocations. I hope that the information provided here is helpful to you. We would also recommend seeking further advice in relation to the potential allocations from your Council’s Historic Environment Scotland – Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH Scottish Charity No. SC045925 VAT No. GB 221 8680 15 archaeology and conservation advisory service. They will also be able to advise on historic environment issues including likely impacts on unscheduled archaeology, conservation areas, and on B and C listed buildings. Should you wish to discuss any issue raised in this response please do not hesitate to contact me on Yours sincerely, Annex: Site Specific Comments CFS07 – Old Toll House This site is located in the vicinity of the scheduled monument known as Lawthorn Mount, mound (Index no. 3422). This comprises an artificial mound of earth and stones. While its original function is unclear, the monument’s position affords good outward views in all directions, as well as making the monument a visible feature in the landscape. These views are important elements in the setting of the monument and should be considered as part of any forthcoming proposals in this area. We do not consider, however, that development on this site would significantly impact on views from and towards the monument. CFS14 – Kerelaw This large site is located in the vicinity of the scheduled monument known as Kerelaw Castle (Index no. 7864). This comprises the remains of a 16th century castle on the site of an earlier dwelling, which was modified in the 19th century to form a folly. The monument is presently situated beside a modern housing development to the east and a belt of mature trees to the west. The site is located just to the west of the mature trees, and we consider that development of this nature in this location has the potential to impact on the setting of the castle. However, this could be mitigated through the provision of a buffer around the castle and Kerelaw Glen which would serve to retain open space in its immediate vicinity. This may involve amending the boundaries of the potential development area and the provision of detailed developer requirements. CFS36 – Rockfield & CFS47 – Greenfield, Isle of Arran Two scheduled monuments are located in the vicinity of these housing sites: Doon, fort and standing stones (Index no. 4415), an Iron Age hillfort and a late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age standing stone situated on a commanding position on Drumadoon Point, and Torr Righ Mor, hut circles and cultivation remains S of (Index no. 4414) which comprises one of the best surviving Bronze Age settlement sites on Arran. The sites are located between 560 to 800m to the south-east of the monuments. However, given their location among existing housing development and the distance to the monuments, we do not consider that development in either location would significantly impact on the setting of the monuments. CFS41 – Merkland Bridge Site This site is located within the Brodick Castle Inventory Designed Landscape (GDL71). While we are content with the principle of development at this existing traveller site, we would recommend that any forthcoming development should take into account the site’s location within the Brodick Castle GDL in its design and landscaping. This should involve retaining the existing trees along the edge of the development site and coast road, and reinforcing these with new planting. CFS54 – Land at Ardmhor This site is located in the vicinity of the scheduled monument known as Giants’ Graves, long cairns, Whiting Bay, Arran (Index no.398). These comprise of two chambered Neolithic Clyde type long cairns which are situated 130m AOD. The monument’s position affords good outward views - especially eastwards to the coast, as well as making the monument a visible feature in the landscape. These views are important elements in the setting of the monument. Forestry plantation in the vicinity of the monument has now been cleared, meaning that views have been opened up. This large housing site is located 450m to the east of the monument. However, as this is on much lower lying ground, we do not consider that development in this location would significantly impact on views from and towards the monument. CFS56 – Site to the North of the Orchards, Law Brae, West Kilbride This site is located in the vicinity of the Category A listed Law Castle (LB14279). While we do not consider that the development of 35 housing units in this location would have a significant impact on the setting of the Castle, we would advise that this development should not be more than two-three storeys in height. CFS57 – Site to the South of Lawoodhead, Springside, West Kilbride This site is located in the vicinity of the Category A listed Law Castle (LB14279). While we consider that a development of five houses, flood amelioration and Equestrian/commercial development could be accommodated in this location, we would advise that this is positioned at the north east corner of the site on lower ground where it would be less detrimental to the setting of the Castle. CFS58 – Former Farmfield Site, North of Ardrossan High Road, West Kilbride This site is located in the vicinity of the Category A listed Law Castle (LB14279). While we consider that there is some scope for development in this location, we have concerns about the 280 residential units as proposed for this site. We would advise that any development in this location should be located in the lower south west part of the site, and not be more than two-three storeys in height. We would not support any development in the north part of the site, abutting Law Castle, as this would have a detrimental impact on the setting of the Category A listed building. CFS59 – Tournament Park, Kilwinning Road, Irvine This site is located in the vicinity of Eglinton Castle Inventory Designed Landscape (GDL170). While we are content with the principle of development in this location, we would advise that any developer requirements for this site should take into account its proximity to the Eglinton Castle GDL. CFS63 – Fairlie This site is located in the vicinity of the scheduled monument known as Southannan Mansionhouse, Fairlie (Index no. 333). It comprises the remains of the previously extensive castle which had a high enclosing courtyard wall, with an arched entrance porch to the west and a range of dwellings. The castle was much enlarged in about 1596 by Robert, 4th Lord Sempill, and was dismantled towards the end of the 18th century. The monument is now situated adjacent to a large country house and is surrounded by mature trees. We note that the site is located approximately 95m south-west of the monument. However, given the presence of the intervening trees, we consider that it unlikely that development in this location would have a significant impact on the setting of the monument. CFS66 – Main Road, Fairlie This site is located adjacent to Kelburn Castle Inventory Designed Landscape (GDL233). We consider that development in this location is likely to have a significant impact on the setting of the Kelburn Castle GDL. The coastal setting on the Firth of Clyde is a key element in the design and setting of the designed landscape, which focuses on the views to the west. The development site is visible in these important views west from the estate and we would therefore not wish to see this site allocated for development.