LAND AT MARSKE ROAD

DRAFT & CLEVELAND LOCAL PLAN PREFERRED OPTIONS

INTRODUCTION

This document is prepared by England & Lyle Ltd on behalf of Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd to accompany representations to the Redcar and Cleveland Draft Local Plan (November 2013) in respect of land at Marske Road, Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

The is a clear need for the Council to secure the provision of a broad range of deliverable housing sites across the plan period in order to deliver the Council’s key objectives to grow the economy, develop great places to live and improve the quality of life for its residents. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires Local Planning Authorities to “boost significantly the supply of housing” and to ensure that the Local Plan “meets the full, objectively assessed needs for market and affordable housing in the housing market area.”

As this document, and the overarching representations set out, the Council have not made provision in the emerging plan for a sufficient supply of deliverable housing sites to meet the objectively assessed needs of the Borough. In order to meet their housing needs and local plan objectives, a larger supply of deliverable housing allocations should be identified to come forward throughout the plan period.

This submission recognises, having assessed the economic, social and environmental context of the site, that the land at Marske Road, Saltburn-on-Sea, is a site which is sustainable and deliverable. It provides an opportunity to deliver the affordable and market housing needs of the Borough and in particular Saltburn-on-Sea. It also provides an opportunity create a highly attractive ‘gateway’ development at this key approach to Saltburn and associated landscape improvement.

THE SITE & SURROUNDINGS

SITE CONTEXT

The site is formed by two distinct areas of relatively low-lying, open, arable farmland, split by Marske Road situated on the coastal plain between Saltburn and Marske. The northern part of the site extends to approximately 2.8 hectares (gross) and the southern part 5.7 hectares (gross).

The site lies directly adjacent to urban area of Saltburn, on the west side of the settlement and is fragmented laterally by Marske Road. The site is adjacent to the Saltburn Riding School and Livery Yard and is bordered directly to the east by the established residential properties of Marton Gill, Whin and Wilton Bank. To the south and west of the site are open fields currently worked for agriculture.

The site is located outside of, but adjacent to, the existing defined development limits of Saltburn-on-Sea as set out in the current Proposals Map. At present the Council proposes to retain the Development Limits of Saltburn in this location as per the 1999 Local Plan.

The site forms part of a wider Landscape Restoration Area under Policy CS22 of the Core Strategy where the “land has lost a greater or lesser degree of Figure 1. Adopted Proposals Map Extract landscape structure and would benefit from measures to restore that structure and character.” This is the least sensitive of the 2 landscape designations across the Borough.

The site is not subject to any statutory ecological or heritage designations in the adopted Development Plan or in the emerging Local Plan.

The site is located within a sustainable and accessible location within reach of a range of employment, education, retail and recreational facilities by walking, cycling and public transport as demonstrated in the following section.

SUSTAINABILITY

Saltburn is a coastal settlement with a population of around 6000. In total it covers an area of no more than one square mile, ensuring all local facilities and services are within a relatively short distance of all parts of the town. Saltburn consists mainly of residential land uses which are supported by a town centre. It benefits from its own train station which sits on the Tees Valley Line, around which many of the local facilities and services are located.

The site is split into two parcels of land by Marske Road, lies to the west of Saltburn. Both parts of the site are likely to take access directly from Marske Road which would provide the most direct route for journeys on foot, by bike and on public transport.

Sustainable Travel Network

Pedestrian & Cycle Routes

The largely residential nature of Saltburn is reflected in the local highway network design, which for the most part benefits from footpaths to both sides of the highway and suitable pedestrian crossing facilities.

The primary site accesses to both parts of the site will be located on Marske Road (as detailed in subsequent section), which in turn provides the most direct pedestrian and cycle route to all key local destinations. Marske Road benefits for a large part of its length from wide grass verges to either side of the highway making it an attractive and safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

The route of the key local pedestrian links can be found on the plan at the end of this section, whilst the key local cycle links can be seen on the extract below from the Redcar and Cleveland cycle map. As is illustrated Saltburn benefits from number of local cycle routes, the key one of which in relation to this proposed development runs along the north of the railway line into Milton Street (forming part of the National Cycle Network Route 1). Whilst Marske Road provides the most direct route between the site and the centre of Saltburn, this route is likely to provide the most attractive and convenient option for most cyclists.

Figure 1: Redcar and Cleveland cycle map (extract)

Bus Services

Saltburn is served by three primary bus services, each of which are summarised below, and illustrated on a plan which can be found at the end of this section. These services are complemented by a number of additional local services which operate infrequently throughout the week and on an evening. Each of the services identified below travel between Saltburn and Marske, stopping directly outside of the proposed development on Marske Road.

The nearest bus stops on Marske Road are conveniently located along what would be the site frontage. Whilst these stops may need to be moved to allow for the site access, they will continue to be ideally located for residents at the site and would be within an acceptable walking distance of all dwellings.

Arriva X4: Operates every 30 minutes throughout the day (Monday – Saturday) between Middlesbrough, Redcar, Marske, Saltburn, and Loftus.

Arriva 22a: Operates every 60 minutes throughout the day on a Sunday and Bank Holiday only, between Middlesbrough, Redcar, Marske, Saltburn, Brotton and Loftus.

Arriva 4/4A: Operates every 30 minutes throughout the day (Monday – Saturday) between Redcar, Marske, Saltburn, Skelton and .

Rail Services

Saltburn benefits from its own railway station, which is located on Station Road around 1.5km from the site. It is the terminus of the Tees Valley Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services. There is a half-hourly service (Mondays to Saturdays) from the station to Redcar, Middlesbrough and Darlington, with certain trains continuing to Bishop Auckland (every two hours, increasing to hourly at peak times). There is an hourly service on Sundays (two hourly to Bishop Auckland).

These rail services therefore provide an attractive sustainable travel link to key local employment destinations, as well as to the key local retail and service centres.

Local Accessibility

As noted earlier, the site is on the western side of Saltburn. The town provides many vital services for residents within a compact area, and can be considered as highly accessible thanks to the various transport options described above.

A plan