Sketchley Brook Welcome
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Sketchley Brook Welcome In considering its forward planning priorities for the next 15-20 years Hinckley The Core Strategy sets the scene for the prospect of a comprehensive and Bosworth Borough Council has prepared a “Core Strategy” which was mixed use scheme on a site of about 45 hectares of land between Ashby Canal and Hinckley railway station centred around Sketchley Brook from adopted in its final form in December 2009 following a Public Examination. which it takes it name. This is an important well-located area of land in close proximity both to strategic access from the M69/A5 as well as Hinckley town centre. It has an interesting mixture of existing assets, derelict land and prospective regenerative advantages. Based firmly on the Borough Council’s policies and priorities together with ongoing dialogue with key participants such as the Environment Agency, Highways Agency and County Council, a draft Masterplan has been produced. In addition a set of shared objectives have been agreed; + to improve the environment through sensitive development, retaining and restoring natural features + to create a linear park along the Sketchley Brook Corridor as part of the Borough Council’s proposed “strategic access corridor” linking Ashby Canal to Burbage Common Before + to provide a viable range of new homes + to provide a range of employment uses and premises, creating up to 2000 jobs + to promote public transport, cycling and walking and to limit access and movement by car + to make the ground safe for development and to improve drainage in the area + to provide new services and facilities as a focal point at Rugby Road + to improve the Rugby Road area around the park + to agree long-term maintenance and management responsibilities for key elements of the public realm including; - the Rugby Road Park A significant opportunity exists - the Rugby Road Corridor to transform this area in a - the Sketchley Brook Park and Corridor - the Ashby Canal Park successful and sustainable way. - the Ashby Wharf and Water Activities Training Centre Proposed About Goodman - who are we? Goodman is an integrated property group that owns, develops and manages industrial and business space globally. Goodman primarily invests in business parks, office parks, industrial estates and distribution centres. It also has a strong record in delivering mixed use proposals incorporating new and improved infrastructure and facilities. Sketchley BrookSite and Setting 01 The “Nelson Burgess” site A former major employer which significantly reduced its Ashby Canal activities over the last decade or so and relocated much of the operations overseas. The site has been cleared Jericho Farm and is available for redevelopment as part of a comprehensive scheme. Undeveloped land surrounded by urban uses lying between Ashby Canal, the Leicester-Birmingham rail Railway Station line, Sketchley Brook and sewage works and the employment uses served by Brookfield Road. The “Johnson’s” site and landholdings This longstanding Burbage based employer (previously Woodland Sketchley’s) has rationalised its activities and has established a new facility at Logix Park. Newly planted - implemented in conjunction with the development at Logix Park. Ashby Canal The extensive ‘old’ site has now been demolished and A5 is ready for new beneficial uses. The Johnson estate Sketchley Brook Rugby Road also included; Existing stretch with established planting - the brook + two lagoons previously associated with the cleaning disappears into a culvert under the former operations and allocated for development for Johnsons site. employment purposes under Policy EMP3 of the 2001 Local Plan Logix Park (formerly known as Grass Plots) + the Rugby Road Park which is managed and Now fully developed for mixed employment uses maintained by Burbage Parish Council incorporating good quality built form and landscaping. Access arrangements allow for the development of the Ashby Canal + the former Hinckley Wharf off Ashby Canal and adjoining Jericho Farm area as required by adjacent flooded clay pit (the former brick works) longstanding Local Plan Policy and the “Grass Plots A5 incorporating Hinckley Boat Club, Sea Cadets, Planning Brief”. Hinckley Water Activities Training Centre and a fishing club (see site edged blue). Sketchley BrookThe Borough Council’s “Core Strategy” 02 Over the last 5 years or so Hinckley and Bosworth What then does the Core Strategy say specifically about Burbage and what does its Borough Council has been preparing a Core Strategy policies propose? which provides the framework for planning and Against the background of the above studies the Core Strategy says; development decisions during the period “4.23 Existing areas of undeveloped land along the railway line and down to Ashby Canal provide an opportunity to connect the urban areas and south Hinckley to Burbage Common and the surrounding countryside, providing both recreational and environmental to 2026. benefits. 4.24 In functional terms, Burbage acts largely as an extension to the Hinckley urban area, with the northern part of the village being within The Core Strategy has been informed, close proximity to Hinckley railway station and the town centre. Development in this area therefore provides an important opportunity progressed and refined through a full set to support Hinckleyʼs role as a sub-regional centre, whilst recognising that Burbage is a settlement in its own right with individual characteristics and needs” of documents and consultation exercises. During 2009 an independent Inspector Policy 4 of the Core Strategy is entitled; held a Public Examination to listen to “Development in Burbage” representations. In November 2009 he and proposes (as relevant to the Sketchley Brook scheme); submitted his final report to the Borough Council. “To address the small pockets of deprivation in Burbage, support + address the existing deficiencies in the quality, quantity and the Burbage local centre and support Hinckleyʼs role as Sub- accessibility of green space and play provision Regional Centre, the Council will: The Borough Council adopted the Core Strategy in its + deliver the strategic green infrastructure network detailed in Policy + allocate land for the development of a minimum of 295 new 206. To achieve this, strategic interventions involving the Sketchley final form in December 2009 - the first of its kind to be residential dwellings, focused primarily to the north of Burbage, Brook Corridor and Burbage Allotments will be implemented adjacent to the Hinckley settlement boundary to support the produced in the whole of the East Midlands. Hinckley Sub-Regional Centre. In particular the Council will seek + deliver safe, high quality cycling routes as detailed in Policy 55with to diversify the existing housing stock to cater for a range of particular focus on routes to Burbage local centre and schools, house types as supported by Policy 151 and Policy 162 existing and proposed residential and employment areas, Now that the Core Strategy has been finalised it can be community and leisure facilities, the Hinckley town centre, railway + allocate land for the development of 10 hectares of B8 station and bus station and into the countryside to provide an used to guide the location and detail of proposals for employment land3 and 4 hectares of B2 employment land4 alternative to car travel and encourage physical exercise adjacent to the railway line as an extension to Logix Park. A development and regeneration. proportion of the B2 employment should be for start up +require development to be of the highest environmental businesses as supported by the Burbage Parish Plan standards in line with Policy 24”7 What are the Borough Council’s Planning Priorities as set out in its Core Strategy? + ensure there is a range of employment opportunities within 1 Policy 15: Affordable Housing Burbage and in close proximity to Hinckley 2 Policy 16: Housing Density, Mix and Design 3 The Borough Council’s Vision for the Borough, guided by its Community Plan is; land for storage and distribution premises + require transport improvements in line with Policy 55 4 land for industrial premises 5 Policy 5: Transport Infrastructure in the Sub-Regional Centre “… one of keeping and improving whatʼs good about the area and embracing the positive things that development can bring, 6 Policy 20: Green Infrastructure helping the entire Boroughʼs communities share in the good quality of life it offers” To ensure development contributes to Burbageʼs character and 7 Policy 24: Sustainable Design and Technology sense of place and that the villageʼs infrastructure can accommodate the new development, the Council will: The priorities are; + “A Green Infrastructure Strategy Strategic Green Infrastructure Map for Hinckley and Bosworth” was + to focus on the potential of the main urban area re-using commissioned by the Borough “brownfield” land wherever possible Council in 2008. It proposes “strategic access routes” in order + to provide a linked network of “green infrastructure” which to improve recreation and Has the Borough Council given any other guidelines about this location and the sort of secures improvements to recreation, access to open space and biodiversity assets in the Borough. increased biodiversity One such route is relevant to the scheme and improvements that it would wish to see? Sketchley Brook proposals in + to provide sufficient good quality employment land and premises particular; In tandem with progressing its Core Strategy the Borough Council has also published for consultation in the right location both for businesses and the workforce a “draft preferred options report” entitled; + to provide a range of new housing close to jobs and facilities “Site Allocations and Generic Development Control Policies” “An important and strategic potential route bisects the two towns of + to reduce the reliance on car travel and to promote public Hinckley and Burbage. This route would enable access from the transport, cycling and walking wherever possible centre of the town to either of the areaʼs major recreational assets This draft document also examined the potential of this part of +“asmall retail element” of the Ashby Canal and Burbage Common.