05/00723/FUL NEW VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE FROM SHERWOOD DRIVE TO SERVE BLETCHLEY PARK INCLUDING DETAILS OF SITING, LAYOUT AND ASSOCIATED LANDSCAPE WORKS 05/00584/TPO TREE PRESERVATION ORDER CONSENT TO FELL AND REMOVE ONE POPULUS ALBA TREE, ONE CEDRUS ATLANTICA GLAUCA, TWELVE ACER PSEUDOPLANTANUS TREES, ONE POPULUS NIGRA TREE AND SIX FRAXINUS EXCELSIOR TREES AT Bletchley Park, Wilton , Bletchley FOR English Partnerships

INTRODUCTION

The current access to Bletchley Park is from Wilton Avenue, a residential , but the plans to develop the site for a museum and heritage centre, together with employment and residential uses, requires a new vehicular access from Sherwood Drive.

A separate application for the upgrading of internal was received on 26 May 2005, ref 05/00840/FUL.

CURRENT APPLICATIONS

Application 05/00723/FUL proposes a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance from Sherwood Drive.

Application 05/00/584/TPO seeks Tree Preservation Order consent to fell 21 trees within the site, in order for the access to be laid out.

The proposed new access would be a 35 metre stretch of road, with a footway on one side, and a verge on the other. Sherwood Drive would need to be widened to accommodate islands in the centre of the road, and this will require relocation of the on the railway side of Sherwood Drive.

The position of the new access road is influenced by two main factors:

(i) the requirement for a single access to serve both the Bletchley Park Museum and development land to the south;

(ii) the presence of a badger sett.

MAIN ISSUES

1. Layout of access and alterations to Sherwood Drive. 2. Impact on protected species and ecology. 3. Impact on TPO trees. 4. Impact on Conservation Area.

CONSULTATIONS

Observations are awaited from: The Highway Engineer, Development Control Design and Conservation Manager English Heritage Mr Frewin, local badger consultant, has commented:-

The badger sett may decline in use as a result of the activity. If the existing sett is not interfered with, the artificial sett now being constructed may not be essential. If the current scheme is given planning permission, it would be most favourable to maintain a 30 metre distance between the sett and the new access road. The application puts forward mitigation measures for road calming which should help with badger survival. A further suggested measure would be a under Sherwood Drive.

English Nature is satisfied with the application in respect of the local badger population and has no further comments.

The Transport Policy Manager has no comments.

Development and Design comment that the application is in line with the draft Masterplan and discussions held within the working group.

The Landscape Manager has commented:-

05/00584/TPO No objections in principle, as the access is important for the success of Bletchley Park, however a small adjustment should enable the retention of the best tree, the Blue Atlantic Cedar. If the road width can be reduced and only a footway provided on one side, it could give a reasonable chance for the tree to be retained. The footpath could be of the no-dig construction to further minimise roof damage. He also recommends measures to protect the trees during construction.

05/00723/FUL He is concerned about the amount of mature and semi-mature trees that will be lost. The nature of Sherwood Drive is one of arboreal leafyness and the road is very well screened. The loss of these trees will open up the east aspect from the road and have a negative impact. He would like to see an accurate tree survey and a landscape plan detailing new tree and shrub planting.

West Bletchley Council objects to the felling of the TPO trees.

PLANNING HISTORY

99/01196/MK Change of use to educational and training for temporary period of four years at block E. granted 1999. 00/1397/OUT Part heritage park/museum together with A1, A2, A3, B1, C1, C2 and D1 use, part residential (approximately 180 dwellings), car parking, service and access roads. Not proceeded with. 00/01399/CON Conservation area consent for partial demolition of block C and for redevelopment of block C comprising enterprise house/innovation centre, visitors centre with car parking and landscaping. Not proceeded with. 01/01069/FUL Integrated Heritage Park including innovation centre - enterprise hub, heritage/museum uses and ancillary uses, conference, residential, education and community uses were granted in 2002. 02/01385/FUL Change of use from education (use class D1) to business (use class B1), block E granted in 2002. 04/00309/FUL Change of use from B1 to heritage museum (use class D1), block A and B granted 2004. 04/01964/FUL Change of use: revised museum plan and internal demolition of partitions, at blocks A and B. Granted 03.05.05. 04/02203/FUL Change of use from museum (use class D1) to business (use class B1), part block A granted January 2005. 04/02204/FUL Renewal of planning permission for change of use from museum (use class D1) to business (use class B1), granted January 2005. 05/00137/LBC Listed building consent for demolition of internal non- structural partitions to enable completion of phase 2 of museum plans in accordance with condition 5 attached to 04/00309/FUL, permitted 03.05.05. 05/00222/FUL Continued use of block H as museum and use of blocks C and D as museum, permitted 03.05.05. 05/00840/FUL Upgrade internal roads, received 26/05/05. Undetermined.

PLANNING POLICY

The most relevant policies from the Adopted Local Plan are:

DC1 Impact of Development on Locality DC2 Impact of Development on Site DC13 Development Affecting Listed Buildings DC14 Development Affecting the Setting of a Listed Building DC15 Conservation Area AM9 Access and Layout Arrangements

The most relevant Policies within the Local Plan Second Deposit Version 2002 are:

D1 Impact of Development on Locality D2A Design of New Development D2 Design of Buildings HE2 Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Listed Buildings) HE5 Development Affecting the Setting of a Listed Building HE6 Conservation Area T9 The

Also relevant are:

PPG15 Planning and the historic environment PPG16 Archaeology and planning

Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG)

Bletchley Park Development Framework (BPDF) adopted December 2001. Published by Milton Keynes Council and provided guidance on new development within the Bletchley Park area.

Central Bletchley Regeneration Framework (CBRF) adopted by the Council in July 2004. Published by EDAW in association with English Partnerships, SEEDA and the Bletchley Development Board. Provides guidance on the regeneration of Bletchley through the use of projects to act as regeneration catalyst.

Bletchley Park Conservation Management Plan (CMP) consultation with stakeholders carried out 10 December 2004 to 12 January 2005 following Cabinet endorsement. The document was published by Feilden and Mawson for EDAW, who were instructed by EP, MKC and English Heritage. Although not SPG, the document informs the Bletchley Park Masterplan which will form comprehensive SPG for the Bletchley Park area.

Bletchley Park Area Masterplan and Supplementary Planning Guidance (BPMP). Draft document published November 2004 by EDAW on behalf of English Heritage and MKC. Public consultation took place during January 2005. Once adopted it will form comprehensive SPG for the Bletchley Park area.

CONSIDERATIONS

The Bletchley Park Development Framework and the draft Bletchley Park Area Masterplan both propose that the development of Bletchley Park needs a new vehicular access from Sherwood Drive. Existing planning permissions for the museum uses also require a new access off Sherwood Drive to be provided by January 2007. The current application for the new access is therefore welcomed as essential enabling development to allow Bletchley Park to progress. The access will be implemented by EP with the financial support of a £3 million grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The expenditure of this grant and the timing of the works around the badger sett are key reasons why these applications are being reported to the first available Committee without the benefit of some critical consultation responses.

The access, its position, geometry and alignment has been the subject of pre- application discussions with the Highway Engineer and English Nature. Rather than propose a straight road alignment to meet highway standards, the alignment incorporates a slight bend that prevents a clear view of the Park's buildings and landscape setting when viewed from Sherwood Drive, to ensure that the 'secrecy' of Bletchley Park is not lost. A single access, rather than a proliferation of entrances, will also minimise the impacts upon the ecology and landscape structure of the woodland strip along Sherwood Drive. The positioning of the access has been pushed southwards in order to increase the separation distance and minimise disturbance to a badger sett within the woodland, yet maintaining the arrival point of the new road opposite to an important internal roadway which will serve as the entry point into the museum core. The reconfiguration of Sherwood Drive to accommodate the new junction will require the widening of the road, and realignment of the footpath on the opposite side of Sherwood Drive. This will involve the loss of some trees in the verge and will eliminate the current parking along the road used by people using Bletchley Station. The views of the Highway Engineer, Development Control, on the access arrangement will be reported verbally at the meeting.

The planning application is accompanied by supporting documents, comprising:

1. A summary of ecological works undertaken to date. 2. Bat summary report. 3. Badger strategy. 4. Artificial badger sett proposals

A habitat survey was carried out in June 2004, with further surveys of badgers, bats and reptiles later in 2004 and early 2005. In addition to the badger setts, evidence of bat foraging and roosting was found around the buildings, but no roosts were found in trees. No reptiles, water voles or great crested newts were found. In the light of these findings, and the close proximity of a badger sett to the proposed new entrance, a badger strategy and artificial sett have been proposed and discussed with English Nature, who have no objections. Subject to the granting of planning permission, a licence will be needed to carry out these works and this can only be sought and issued after planning permission is obtained.

The proposed new access will require the felling of 21 trees within the park which are covered by a TPO. A tree inspection report accompanies the applications and only one of the trees to be felled is considered to be of good quality. The majority are classed as poor quality, with two as poor to medium. The planning application is accompanied by planting schedule, proposing replacement trees and shrub planting both sides of the proposed access. The Landscape and Countryside Manager seeks to retain the good specimen cedar tree on site, and this has been raised with the applicants to see if this is feasible. However, it is considered that the felling of one good tree and 20 others should not prejudice the future development of Bletchley Park. The re- alignment of Sherwood Drive and its footpath will also involve the loss of trees on the opposite side of Sherwood Drive, and further information is awaited on their number and quality. These trees are not covered by a TPO or protected in any way. If they have to be removed for the highway improvements, a landscaping condition to require replacement planting should be imposed.

The new access will have some impact upon the Conservation Area. This has to be balanced against the benefits to the Conservation Area and listed buildings within Bletchley Park of securing a long term viable future for the Park, and the benefits of closing off the existing access on to Wilton Avenue. The views of the Design and Conservation Manager and English Heritage are awaited and will be verbally reported.

CONCLUSION

These entrance proposals are an essential requirement for the conservation led regeneration of Bletchley Park. Provided that the new entrance meets highway requirements, and is sensitively detailed in terms of its appearance and landscaping, and has acceptable impacts upon the badger sett, then this proposal is to be strongly supported. Without the benefit of detailed consultation responses, it is difficult to judge the acceptability of the submitted details.

RECOMMENDATION

A recommendation on both applications will be made verbally at the Committee meeting, when consultation responses are known.