NEATHAM DOWN Large Development Site INFORMATION PACK Produced by Troy Planning + Design Contents Introduction & Site Promotion Team 1 Map of Neatham Down Large Development Site & Site 2 Considerations Proposed Development Opportunities 3 Understanding Constraints and Considerations to Identify 4 Proposed Development Opportunities & Delivery Timescales Meeting Identified Needs in a Sustainable Way 6 Local Communities 16 Introduction & Site Promotion Team Neatham Down We are grateful for the opportunity to share with you, through this Information Pack, key facts and Neatham Down is a proposed new community. opportunities, the benefits of Neatham Down and our It takes its name from the nearby Roman-British working Vision. We envision some 600 new homes, settlement and medieval manor of Neatham and the new and improved walking, cycling and public field known as Neatham Down. Forming part of the transportation and junction access to Alton and the market town of Alton, the new community would be surrounding areas. A new primary school, village enclosed by the ridgeline which provides a natural green, village shop/pub, village hall, open space and boundary for the site to the north, east and south. pub should be at the heart of the new development to build a thriving community. Our proposal is to realise the unique opportunity to create a genuinely quality place, which brings together the best built environment traditions of rural Genuine Community Engagement Hampshire with the sustainability of living in Alton. As We have a working Vision of the key elements that a compact, walkable market town with a full range of we think will make Neatham Down a great place services, mainline train connection and existing local to live. However, we want to develop a shared public transportation network, Alton is ideally situated Vision with the community through a process of for an integrated community at Neatham Down. genuine community engagement with residents and stakeholders, so that they can help to shape and What makes a great place? influence the new development at each stage. This The answer to this question depends on who is co-design approach to masterplannning will result in asked but we think there are key ingredients such a development grounded in an inclusive process. as: plenty of green space; access to good schools; well-designed and affordable homes; a village green; Site Promotion Team diverse wildlife; nearby employment opportunities; Our site is held in a single land ownership, by a local and a range of sustainable travel options including landowner who is committed to a high quality and attractive and safe walking and cycling routes. Whilst environmentally sustainable development. The site all of these things are incredibly important, a place is promotion team is led by Troy Planning + Design, ultimately about community and the people who live an independent planning and design firm based in there. Petersfield. We believe that a new approach to designing and We look forward to working with the Council, Town delivering development can realise a place that truly and Parish Councils and other key stakeholders as meets local needs in East Hampshire and is resilient part of this consultation and the wider Local Plan to our changing climate. The new approach involves process. a landscape-led and co-design process which puts the sustainability of Alton and East Hampshire first. 1 Map of Neatham Down Large Development Site Site Considerations Neatham Down is located within the parish of • Ancient Woodland – the closest is Monk Wood Binsted, east of Alton, the A31 and Lynch Hill. The (over 0.5km south-east). site is south of Holybourne village and west of Wyck, • Registered Parks & Gardens – Chawton House situated within a prominent ridgeline which runs to (3.2km south). the north, east and south. This ridgeline provides natural enclosure and a development boundary Heritage which contains the proposed development. Distances from the centre of the site are detailed below: There are no major constraints to the development • Conservation Area (CA) – Holybourne CA (over of Neatham Down. This is confirmed by an initial 0.9km north), Anstey CA (approximately 0.9km analysis of the site and surroundings. west), Alton CA (approximately 1.5km south-west). • Listed Buildings – no listed buildings on site. Flood Risk Nearest listed building (Anstey Mill, Grade II) is The site is located outside flood zones 2 and 3. over 0.7km west of the centre of the site. • Scheduled Monuments - the closest is Cuckoo’s Nature Conservation Designations Corner Roman settlement, located over 1.2km Distances from the centre of the site to the closest north of the centre of the site. nature conservation designations are listed below: • Special Protection Area (SPA) – Wealden Heaths Neighbouring Land Uses Phase II (approximately 5.5km east). The site is located east of the proposed Lynch Hill • Special Area of Conservation (SAC) – East employment site. Agricultural land lies to the north, Hampshire Hangers (over 2.3km south-east). east and south. • Site of Special Scientific Interests (SSSI) – Wick Wood and Worldham Hangers District Boundaries (2.5km south-east). The South Downs National Park boundary is • Site of Important Nature Conservation (SINC) approximately 2km to the east. Monk Wood (over 0.5km east). 2 Proposed Development Opportunities Indicative Development Framework Uses Amount Residential 600 new homes (18 hectares) Employment (B Use Class) 1 hectare of B use class employment (office, industrial, distribution) Other (including open space, shop/pub, 9 hectares school and streets) The site could in principle accommodate a number of gypsy and traveller Gypsy Traveller accommodation (pitches) pitches and travelling showpeople plots, but further investigation is required to determine a suitable location for the pitches and plots within the site boundaries; and discussions with East Hampshire District Travelling Show People accommodation Council are required to determine the scale of the need for each type of (plots) accommodation in this area. 3 Understanding constraints and considerations to identify proposed development opportunities Our land use budgeting estimates have been led create an attractive public realm. by the site’s existing landscape, landform and • Including Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) green infrastructure (a landscape-led approach) and temporary rainwater retention areas as to help determine the most suitable locations for attractive landscape features. housing, open space, employment and community • Ensuring the orientation of development helps infrastructure. The approach has also determined control and capture solar gain and enables alignment of routes for walking, cycling, car and south-facing gardens. public infrastructure throughout the site. The design • Making best use of ‘gateway’ opportunities to utilises and improves on the connectivity the site has provide a new employment area accessed off with Alton, Holybourne and the wider, surrounding the A31 roundabout - an attractive location with countryside. excellent visibility, easy accessibility to the labour market of Alton and direct access to the strategic This landscape-led approach to designing Neatham highway network. Down respects the site’s landscape character and • Creating a linked movement network within the unique qualities. Key considerations include: site to connect and integrate with the existing • Respecting natural contour lines to inform the highway network, Public Rights of Way and wider road layout and orientation of housing to mitigate walking routes. against potential landscape visual impact. • Establishing green links throughout the site to • Retaining historic field boundaries to define the provide safe, attractive walking routes to and from extent of the development and to conserve and the school and the employment area enabling enhance existing hedgerow as wildlife corridors. sustainable, active travel choices. • Transforming agricultural land to landscape • Creating a running/dog walking loop to promote features that mitigate against climate change, active and healthy lifestyle options. nitrate pollution and soil erosion. • Enhancing existing green areas of hedgerows and trees to increase woodland buffers along the A31 and in the south east corner of the site. Delivery & • Locating communal open and green spaces throughout the scheme to promote the health and Timescales well-being. It is anticipated that Neatham Down could • Locating the primary school, village green, village commence immediately, subject to planning shop and pub in the centre of the site to promote permission, and be completed within 10 years. an inclusive environment and social interaction. • Retaining an open area to the south east as a We anticipate that approximately 200 dwellings, reserve for the introduction of semi-rich grassland, associated infrastructure and site access points to lessen nitrates, produce a net biodiversity gain could be delivered within the first 5 years, allowing and create natural capital. for residents to begin shaping the community. The • Including rainwater gardens and other functional remaining 400 homes, employment area, primary landscape features within the street scene to school, village hall and the local shop/pub and would enable soil retention, absorb rainwater run-off and be delivered in the 6-10-year period. 4 Map lillustrating constraints and considerations to identify proposed development opportunities 5 Meeting identified needs in a