Barton Willmore on Behalf of Taylor Wimpey UK
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B&NES Local Plan 2016 – 2036 Focussed Consultation Land at Chilcompton Road, Midsomer Norton Representations on behalf of Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd Arpil 2019 Mendip District Council Local Plan Part II: Focussed Consultation Land at Chilcompton Road, Midsomer Norton Representations on behalf of Taylor Wimpey April 2019 Mendip District Council Local Plan Part II Focussed Consultation Land at Chilcompton Road, Midsomer Norton Representations on behalf of Taylor Wimpey Project Ref: 26576/A3/ Status: Draft Doc: P1 Date: April 2019 Prepared by: Lawrence Turner Checked by: Authorised: Barton Willmore LLP 101 Victoria Street Bristol BS1 6PU Tel: 0117 929 9677 Ref: 26576/A3/ Date: April 2019 COPYRIGHT The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Barton Willmore LLP. All Barton Willmore stationery is produced using recycled or FSC paper and vegetable oil based inks. FOCUSSED CONSULTATION ON MENDIP LOCAL PLAN PART II Introduction 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 These representations are submitted on behalf of Taylor Wimpey in respect of a cross- boundary site at Chilcompton Road, Midsomer Norton in response to the Mendip District Council Local Plan Part II Focussed Consultation. The representations provide comments in relation to the Proposed Changes Modifications contained at Document SD2a, in light of our previous comments. 1.2 The site comprises farmland immediately to the south of the urban limits of Midsomer Norton, offering an opportunity to provide a logical extension to the town. The total land under Taylor Wimpey’s control measures 12.7ha, of which 5.32ha is proposed for new homes and 7.38 as public open space and green infrastructure. A location plan is enclosed at Appendix A. 1.3 Figure 1 below identifies the proposed 5.32 hectares of land for new homes outlined in red. For reference, the Mendip / BaNES local authority boundary is shown in blue. Figure 1 1.4 As depicted above, the majority of built development (approximately 100 homes) is promoted on land falling within the administrative district of B&NES. 26576/A3/ April 2019 FOCUSSED CONSULTATION ON MENDIP LOCAL PLAN PART II Introduction 1.5 The concept masterplan (enclosed at Appendix 2) for the site is depicted below at Figure 2, which also shows the remaining 7.38 hectares of land within Mendip District Council. This land is promoted for: • the remaining small element of housing (approximately up to 20 homes); • new public open space for the residents of the town; • tree planting; and • supporting local infrastructure potentially including a cemetery (at the request of the Town Council). Figure 2 1.6 The site is separated by Chilcompton Road, with much of the site situated to the east of the road. Two public rights of way transverse the site allowing for pedestrian access to the residential development to the north of the site. 26576/A3/ April 2019 FOCUSSED CONSULTATION ON MENDIP LOCAL PLAN PART II Introduction 1.7 On-going discussions with Midsomer Norton Town Council and B&NES have identified that the site has capacity to deliver in the region of 100-120 homes on the land closest to the town and on land that benefits from being in Flood Zone 1 (low probability of flooding). The town council has requested that additional land also be provided for public open space and other supporting infrastructure on the southern part of the site to meet local needs. 1.8 We made representations to the B&NES Options Consultation for the new Local Plan in January 2019, which set out proposals to deliver B&NES’ non-strategic target of 700 new homes. We supported the Council’s Option 1, which focussed development at Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Timsbury, as sustainable settlements which have capacity to deliver new homes. To this end, we also supported the provision for at least 200 homes at Midsomer Norton, as identified by Diagram 4 of the B&NES Options Consultation document (Option 1), with Taylor Wimpey’s site identified by B&NES by the purple spot to the far south west of the town. An extract is provided at figure 3 below. Figure 3 1.9 Notwithstanding the above, as set out in the Localism Act (2011), local authorities have a legal duty to cooperate and engage constructively to maximise the effectiveness of local plan preparation in the context of strategic cross boundary matters. Mendip will need to demonstrate that they have complied with the duty to cooperate in relation to the Local Plan test of soundness. 1.10 Land at Chilcompton Road can deliver much needed housing, including affordable homes in a sustainable location adjacent to a town that boasts a range of services and amenities. 26576/A3/ April 2019 FOCUSSED CONSULTATION ON MENDIP LOCAL PLAN PART II Introduction The site provides an opportunity to address specific affordable needs in both Mendip and B&NES and promote cross boundary working. 1.11 Land at Chilcompton Road is a sustainable site in the context of Midsomer Norton. It borders existing residential development and is in walking and cycling distance of a range of amenities and facilities within the town. It is a deliverable site with no technical constraints that would prevent development and is therefore considered appropriate for residential development. 1.12 The Local Plan Part II has been produced following the adoption (December 2014) of the Mendip District Local Plan Part I, which covers the period 2006 to 2029. The Local Plan Part I sets out a long-term strategic vision for the future of the District and how it will develop over the next fifteen years. 1.13 The Part II plan allocates additional sites for housing, employment and community facilities across Mendip in line with the intention of the policies in the Part I document. The purpose of the Mendip District Local Plan Part II (Sites and Policies) is stated as being to: • Identify and allocate additional sites for housing to meet the requirements for affordable and market housing set out in Local Plan Part I; • To ensure there are sufficient sites to enable a rolling five-year supply of housing land in the District and to meet the housing delivery test; • To review and allocate additional employment land to support economic development; • To review and update development limits around the towns and villages; • To review and update the open and community space designations; and • To set out additional development management policies to meet objectives in Local Plan Part I and the NPPF. 26576/A3/ April 2019 FOCUSSED CONSULTATION ON MENDIP LOCAL PLAN PART II The Site 2.0 THE SITE 2.1 The site measures approximately 12.7 ha and is located on the south-western boundary of Midsomer Norton. The site is approximately a mile from the town centre which has a range of services and amenities including: • Post office; • Library; • Food store; • Sports facilities; • Public Houses; • A primary school; and • Shops. 2.2 The closest bus stop is immediately north of the site on Chilcompton Road. The bus service runs into Midsomer Norton and in the opposite direction, to Chilcompton which has a post office, library, public house and primary school. 2.3 The site is bordered to the north and in part in the east by existing residential development. To the south is open greenfield land and the River Somer and to the east open greenfield land stretching to Clapton. 2.4 The concept masterplan demonstrates how: • Vehicular, cycle and pedestrian access can be achieved from Chilcompton Road via new junctions; • Public Rights of Way can be maintained on their existing alignments; • New public open space can be created adjacent to the River Somer and along Chilcompton Road; • The provision of children’s play areas and trim trail within public open space; • The ability for new homes to front on to the new open space to improve natural surveillance; • Street hierarchy created with main residential roads providing access to shared surface streets and private drives; • The ability to accommodate drainage attenuation within public open space adjacent to the River Somer; • The retention of most of the existing hedgerows and trees; • Retention of all veteran trees; • New tree planting along boundaries adjacent to existing properties, to screen development; and • The potential to provide a burial ground on land to the south of the River Somer at the request of Midsomer Norton Town Council. 26576/A3/ April 2019 FOCUSSED CONSULTATION ON MENDIP LOCAL PLAN PART II Duty to Cooperate 3.0 DUTY TO COOPERATE 3.1 The duty to cooperate under the Localism Act (2001) places a legal duty on planning authorities to engage constructively and actively on an on-going basis to ensure the effectiveness of their Local Plans. 3.2 There is, therefore, a requirement for Mendip and B&NES councils to make every effort to secure the necessary co-operation on cross-boundary matters before submitting their plans for examination. 3.3 The NPPF (paragraph 35) requires that a local plan is positively prepared to deliver development, and in accordance with the Localism Act this requires co-operation with neighbouring authorities. 3.4 On this basis, there is a legal requirement for Mendip District Council to work with B&NES beyond its own administrative boundaries to help deliver the housing needs of both B&NES and Mendip councils. 3.5 As stated previously, much of the built development promoted at Chilcompton Road is proposed with the administrative district of B&NES. However, an element of housing; public open space; tree planting and supporting local infrastructure is proposed within Mendip’s administrative area. 3.6 In order to meet the housing needs of both B&NES and Mendip, land at Chilcompton Road requires effective joint working between both authorities and land allocated in the Mendip Local Plan Part II as a cross boundary site.