Army Basing Programme
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Design and Access Report Statement GVA 3 Brindleyplace Birmingham B1 2JB Army Basing Programme Garrison ‘Main Works’ - Perham Down Design and Access Statement March 2015 gva.co.uk Should you require any further information, please contact: Nick Harrison Director T 0121 609 8722 E [email protected] Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement CONTENTS 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 2. The Site and Surroundings ............................................................................................ 2 3. Planning Policy Framework .......................................................................................... 8 4. Consultation .................................................................................................................. 9 5. Design Approach ........................................................................................................ 11 6. The Proposed Development ...................................................................................... 15 7. Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 24 Appendices Appendix I Schedule of Materials March 2015 I gva.co.uk Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement 1. Introduction Purpose 1.1 This Design and Access Statement (DAS) has been prepared by GVA and Aspire Defence 1.3 Associated demolitions and external works, including hardstanding, car parking and Capital Works (‘Aspire’) in support of a Hybrid Planning Application (HPA) at Swinton landscaping are also proposed. Barracks, Perham Down. Its purpose is to explain how a proposed development is a 1.4 In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management suitable response to the site and its setting, and demonstrate that the development can Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Order 2013, this DAS: be adequately accessed by prospective users. Explains the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the 1.2 The HPA seeks detailed planning permission for some assets, and outline planning development; permission for others, as follows: Demonstrates the steps taken to appraise the context of the development and how Detailed: the design of the development takes that context into account; 1 new build Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block (SW0645); Details the policy adopted as to access, and how policies relating to access in 1 new build extension to existing Mess (SWA605); relevant local development documents have been taken into account; 1 new build Office building (SW0647); States what consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to access to the development and what account has been taken of the outcome of such consultation; 1 new build Store (SWC009) and 1 new build Physical and Recreational Training Facility (SW0653); Explains how any specific issues which might affect access to the development have 1 new build Training building extension (SWA632); been addressed. 1 new Obstacle Course (PXO002); 2 new 5-a-side football pitches (PXS013 and PSX014); and Report Structure Partial re-positioning and replacement of the existing boundary security fence. 1.5 Following this introduction, the remainder of this DAS is structured as follows: Outline: 1 new build Sports Pavilion (SW0655); Section 2 describes the application site and its surroundings; 1 new all-weather, flood-lit Football Pitch (PXS011); Section 3 provides a summary of relevant planning policies, and public consultation undertaken in connection with the Salisbury Plain Masterplan; 1 new grass Football Pitch (PXS012); Section 4 outlines the design approach underpinning the proposed development; 2 new Tennis Courts (PXS016 and PXS017); Section 5 provides a description of the proposed development; 1 new build Garage (SW0649); Section 6 considers the landscape character and setting; and 1 new build Technical Storage building (SW0650); and Section 7 concludes the report. 2 new build Office buildings (SW0648 and SW0654). March 2015 I gva.co.uk 1 Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement 2. The Site and Surroundings Location Figure 2.2: Swinton Barracks, Perham Down 2.1 Salisbury Plain Training Area is the largest military training area in the UK comprising around 390 square km. The Plain is a protected habitat of international value and renowned as an historic landscape encompassing numerous designated heritage assets. The area in and around Salisbury Plain hosts several established military camps, with the nearby garrison towns of Tidworth and Ludgershall forming the two most substantial areas of built form within the locality. 2.2 Perham Down is situated on the eastern edge of the Salisbury Plain, approximately 2km east of Tidworth and 1km south-west of Ludgershall in the County of Wiltshire. Figure 2.1: Salisbury Plain Training Area 2.4 The site has been used as a military establishment since 1899, when it was initially a Swinton Barracks temporary military camp. A hutted camp was established in 1915, and expanded quickly. However, by 1961 much of the earlier construction had been replaced by larger brick 2.3 Swinton Barracks covers an area of approximately 35 hectares, and comprises a mix of buildings, and in the early 1970s the Camp was rebuilt and renamed Swinton Barracks. predominantly living, office, technical and training accommodation, together with 2.5 Most recently, the Barracks has been substantially redeveloped and modernised under the ancillary hardstanding, car parking and training facilities. It is accessed off Tidworth Road, Project Allenby Connaught (PAC) PFI. which intersects the site in an east-west direction. March 2015 I gva.co.uk 2 Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement Surroundings Site Analysis 2.6 Swinton Barracks is bounded to the north and west by the site of the former Fowler and Topography Busigny Barracks (demolished in 1982), and to the south and east by existing MoD Service Families Accommodation (SFA). Otherwise the site does not adjoin any wider built-up area, 2.10 The topography is characteristic of the rolling landscape found across much of Salisbury although there are a number of isolated farmsteads, hamlets and small villages located to Plain. The Camp is located on a minor spur that extends from a strong north-south the east and north. The Camp therefore occupies a predominantly rural setting comprising ridgeline, which lies immediately to the west. Ground levels within the site rise from east to a mix of high quality arable and pastoral agricultural fields (to the north and east) and west between approximately 115m and 140m AOD, rising further to the west and the rough downland calcareous grassland (to the west and south) within the sensitive enclosing ridge, which is made up of a series of hills including Windmillhill Down (187m landscape of Salisbury Plain. AOD), Pickpit Hill (175m AOD) and Furze Hill (184m AOD). To the east / south east the ground continues to fall away into the upper valley of the Pinhill Brook catchment. Beyond 2.7 Salisbury Plain is designated as both a Special Protection Area and Special Area of the firing ranges to the south of the Camp the land rises steeply to 175m AOD at Warren Conservation (SAC) under European legislation, notably for the populations of stone Hill, whilst a strong east-west ridge up to 180m AOD runs some 4km to the north. curlew, common quail and hen harrier, and for the chalk grassland habitat, one of the largest remaining areas of calcareous grassland in north-western Europe. The SAC is also Land Quality designated for juniper formations on heaths, semi-natural dry grassland and scrubland facies and the marsh fritillary butterfly. Much of the natural environment is also protected 2.11 A geo-environmental site investigation, which was completed between August and through its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its populations of rare October 2014, confirms that the underlying geology is ‘Upper Chalk of the Cretaceous bumblebee species, and many rare birds, plants and invertebrates. period, overlain by Made Ground’. 2.8 The North Wessex Downs AONB lies to the north and east, just over 2km from the Camp’s 2.12 Elevated levels of lead and asbestos have been identified on the site of a former refuse tip northern boundary. in the area bordering the existing technical area to the north east. Locally, asbestos fibres have also been identified in demolition rubble within the Made Ground, and elevated 2.9 The mature trees and mixed woodland plantations in proximity to the Camp combine to ground gases have been recorded on the site of the former refuse tip and the existing create a strong landscape framework. Substantial areas of woodland also exist to the technical area. However, the site investigation did not identify any significant impact to north of the Camp at Collingbourne Wood, and to the south at Furze Hill. Closer to the controlled waters. Camp, Lambdown Furze and Great Perham Copse serve to largely screen views from the southwest and east. Other notable areas of vegetation include the woodland belt aligning Ecology with the south western boundary (which screens views from Lambdown Terrace) and the strand of planting to the northeast near Somme Road. 2.13 Habitats present within the application site comprise amenity grassland, semi-improved calcareous grassland, broadleaved and mixed