D E S I G N S T a T E M E
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Roger Coy Partnership Ltd D E S I G N S T A T E M E N T Full Planning Application for an innovative exceptional dwelling Land at Main Street, Church Stowe 13Th December 2017 Bricknells Barn 32 Lime Avenue Eydon Northamptonshire NN11 3PG CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Site and Context 3.0 Landscape Character 4.0 Planning Policy 5.0 Design Statement 6.0 General Arrangement 7.0 Sustainability 8.0 Waste Audit 9.0 Opun Review East Midlands 10.0 Conclusion 1.00 Introduction We have prepared this planning statement to support a planning application for a proposed dwelling of exceptional architectural, landscape and environmental quality. Since our appointment we have developed various design scheme proposals, reviewed by the Opun Review East Midlands panel on two separate occasions leading us to the current proposal. The proposals seek to develop architecture that is site specific, materially sympathetic to the landscape and does not harm the natural environment. The proposed dwelling will be of a truly exceptional quality delivering a dwelling that meets the standards required by Paragraph 55 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Brief objectives: - Landscape led architecture that reflects its context - To create a strong sense of identity and place - To form a dwelling to Code 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes - To create a safe and attractive environment - To be innovative and to meet the exacting standards of Paragraph 55 2.00 The Site and Context Church Stowe is a village in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. It is the largest settlement in the civil parish of Stowe Nine Churches. St Michael's church is notable for the tomb of Elizabeth Danvers and the tower built in Anglo Saxon times. The rest of the church was built in 1639 but includes remains of the medieval church. The east end was rebuilt in 1860. Although Church Stowe does not have any village amenities, it is a very well connected village, with the A5 passing to the east of the village with direct connections to the M1. It is equidistant to Northampton and Daventry with the well serviced village of Weedon Beck 6 miles north. The site is 0.81 hectares, within the village confines as set out by the highway to the south-east and residential development to the north and south-west. The image below labelled View 1 shows the application site on the RHS and residential development further along the highway. View 1 The image below labelled View 2 shows the application site viewed south-westerly on the RHS of the highway beyond the 2 dwelling houses. View 2 The aerial photograph on this page marks the position and direction from which Views 1 & 2 are orientated. The area shaded red, indicates an obvious line which can be considered the village confine, within which the application site is found. The red line indicates the application site. The site is currently in agricultural use. There are some single storey timber frame agricultural sheds for livestock. The image below is looking down the existing access drive orientated SW. One can clearly see the level differences within the site topography. The site topography drove the decision to design an earth house. The image below is looking North West at the existing timber clad agricultural buildings. The site is well screened from the highways as seen in Views 1, 2 and 3. It is very rural in nature and we have strived to maintain this with our earth house design. We believe that the proposed design will improve the landscape character. Please refer to reports appended to this application prepared by IS Heritage for detailed analysis of the site and context. 3.0 Landscape character The Natural England / Countryside Agency’s National Character Areas (NCA) places the landscape around Church Stowe within the National Character Area 95 Northamptonshire Uplands NCA and National Character Area 89 Northamptonshire Vales. At a County scale the landscape and countryside surrounding the village of Church Stowe, including the site, is described in the Northamptonshire Current Landscape Character Assessment (NCLCA) as Landscape Character Type 13 - Undulating Hills and Valleys and Landscape Character Area 13b Bugbroke and Daventry. (A summary description of the Undulating Hills and Valleys and subsection 13b is attached as Annex 1). The Key Characteristics of the Landscape Character Type are listed as: ‘The Undulating Hills and Valleys represent an extensive and complex rural landscape character type that occupies almost a third of the county. The key characteristics are: Extensive undulating and productive rural landscape stretching across the west of the county. Cohesive and recognisable unity of character despite scale and extent. Variations in the underlying geology influence local landform. Watercourses form part of three principal river catchments of the Cherwell, Nene and Welland. Reservoirs and man-made lakes are conspicuous features in the local landscape displaying a wide range of size, function and age. Navigable canals are an important visual component of the landscape and linear wildlife and recreational asset. Mixed farming predominates across the landscape although local land use and field patterns are strongly influenced by changing landform. Numerous small deciduous woodlands, copses and shelter belts punctuate the rural landscape. Hedgerow trees within the strong hedgerow network, contribute to the perception of a well treed landscape and combine with other landscape and landform features to create an intimate human scale landscape. Strong historic character underlies this deeply rural landscape. Numerous villages linked by winding country lanes contribute to rural character. Communication routes and urban influences and infrastructure where present, have eroded local rural landscape character. In the section on Local Distinctiveness, Landscape Condition and Landscape Change the study goes on to explain: ‘The Undulating Hills and Valleys are widespread and occupy a significant portion of the west of the county. Local variations in landform, geology, soils and land use history, have an impact on local landscape character. The mixed farming economy has necessitated the retention and maintenance of the hedgerow network and as such field boundaries are generally in good condition and add much to the perceived intactness and good condition of the landscape. These are an integral part of the landscape as they limit views and add to the well treed character of the rural scene and the sense of intimacy and human scale of the landscape. Hedgerow patterns also follow landform features and emphasis its undulating character.’ Then according to the description of the Local Character Area type 13b Bugbroke and Daventry: ‘Smaller settlements have both a linear and clustered form, for example, Preston Capes and Badby are clustered, nucleated villages whilst Everdon, Farthingstone and Church Stowe have a typical linear form, often extending across the upper slopes and on occasions down the valley sides. Between the villages, the settlement pattern includes scattered farmsteads and dwellings located both adjacent to roadsides, and set back from the road and accessed via minor tracks.’ ‘Landmarks are varied in the character areas, including radio masts and a transmitting station around Borough Hill and a telecommunication mast south of Barby. Newnham Windmill is also a prominent landmark along with notable church spires and towers at Newnham, Bugbroke and Church Stowe.’ The proposed development has regard to the description of landscape character and no features of particular character or local distinctiveness will be lost or harmed. It also has regard to its location on the south east side of the village settlement where the site is contained by Main Street and the residential development to the southwest, northwest and northeast (part). The proposed development will minimize its impact on the rural landscape by retaining the existing trees, keeping the profile of the built form low and largely confined to the same location as the existing agricultural buildings. New planting will be introduced to reinforce and add to the tree and hedgerow screen along the site boundaries. The tower of St Michael’s Church is recognised as a distinctive feature at the historic heart of the village and the low profile of the Earth House will not obstruct or intrude in any way to views of the church. Section 3 Extract from Landscape and Visual Impact prepared by Sacha Barnes, please refer to the appended document for additional information. 4.00 Planning Policy The village of Church Stowe and Stowe IX Churches Parish is within a Special Landscape Area EN1. However, we believe that a strong and exciting case can be brought forward to justify why that this application can be supported. Daventry District Council Planning Policies Policy GN1 A. The scheme does safeguard the natural resources district; to our understanding there would be no loss. B. The scheme takes every opportunity to safeguard the environment; this dwelling will be low carbon. C. The existing buildings will soon be left redundant and fall into disrepair D. The development is within the village envelope and major towns are easily accessible. E. The proposal limits development in a village, we are applying for a single dwelling on a 0.81 hectare site. F. Again, as point ‘E’ the site is within the village, and is very low density. G. The nearest bus stop is in the adjacent village Nether Heyford Policy GN2 A. The building fits into the landscape, formed from local vernacular materials and replaces less aesthetic buildings. B. The existing access and parking meet with the requirements and regulations C. There would be no adverse impact on the road network D. The nearest bus stop is an adjacent village Nether Heyford E. The proposed building would not affect the setting of any of the listed buildings within the local context.