ST.HELENS COUNCIL GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 ST.HELENS BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2020-2035 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 Parcel REF: GBP_037 Parcel Ref GBP_037 Name Land east of M6 and south of Haydock Park Golf Club Ward Newton Sub-Parcels within N/A Parcel Size (hectares) GBP_037: 31.23ha Description Irregular shaped parcel lying to the south of Haydock Park Golf Club and to the east of the M6. The parcel contains dense woodland, agricultural land, a railway line, a road and some residential properties. 266 | Page 266 1800681 Green Belt Review 2018.indd 267 09/01/2019 11:54 ST.HELENS COUNCIL ST.HELENS BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2020-2035 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 STAGE 1B ASSESSMENT AGAINST GREEN BELT PURPOSES Purpose 1 To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 1 Score GBP_037 The western boundary of the parcel lies approximately Medium 370m from the large built-up area of Newton-le-Willows and the north eastern boundary lies approximately 890m from the large built-up area of Golborne. The parcel is therefore dislocated from the urban area. The parcel is bounded to the north by dense woodland and a brook leading to Haydock Park Golf Club, to the east by a railway line and agricultural land, to the west by Rob Lane and to the south in part by the M6 and A572 Southworth Road. The parcel is therefore relatively well contained. However despite the parcel’s high level of containment, given its dislocation from the urban area and its large size it could lead to unrestricted sprawl. Purpose 2 To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 2 Score GBP_037 The parcel is not adjacent to any large built-up areas and Medium has relatively strong boundaries that are enhanced by the presence of mature trees. A strategic gap between Newton and Golborne could be maintained if this parcel was released from the Green Belt. Purpose 3 To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 3 Score GBP_037 There is some limited residential development along the Low south eastern boundary of the parcel at A573 Golborne Dale Road. The parcel has a limited sense of openness and countryside character given its enclosure by a railway line, motorway and A Road and dense woodland. Overall significance of Comments Score contribution to Green Belt Purposes GBP_037 Despite the parcel’s high level of containment, given its Medium dislocation from the urban area and its large size it could lead to unrestricted sprawl. The parcel has a limited sense of openness and countryside character. Carry forward to Parcel GBP_037 makes only a moderate contribution to the purpose(s) of Stage 2 Assessment? Green Belt land and should be carried forward to the stage 2 assessment. 267 | Page 267 1800681 Green Belt Review 2018.indd 268 09/01/2019 11:54 ST.HELENS COUNCIL GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 ST.HELENS BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2020-2035 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 Parcel REF: GBP_038 Parcel Ref GBP_038 Name Land east of M6 and south of Southworth Road Ward Newton Sub-Parcels within N/A Parcel Size (hectares) GBP_038: 14.8ha Description Parcel lying to the south of A572 Southworth Road Club and to the east of the M6. The parcel contains a garden centre, some small employment land uses (B1 and B2), two railway lines, some agricultural land, a road and some residential properties. 268 | Page 268 1800681 Green Belt Review 2018.indd 269 09/01/2019 11:54 ST.HELENS COUNCIL ST.HELENS BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2020-2035 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 STAGE 1B ASSESSMENT AGAINST GREEN BELT PURPOSES Purpose 1 To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 1 Score GBP_038 The north western/central part of the parcel contains Low residential properties, employment uses and a garden centre that radiate out from the large built-up area of Newton-le-Willows. The parcel is bounded to the north by A572 Southworth Road, to the east and south by railway lines and to the west by woodland and the M6. Parkside Road A573 runs through the parcel. The parcel is therefore well contained. Purpose 2 To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 2 Score GBP_038 The parcel contains residential properties, employment uses Low and a garden centre that radiate out from the large built-up area of Newton-le-Willows. Lane Head in Wigan lies approximately 1.9km east; therefore the parcel does not fall within a strategic gap between two towns. Purpose 3 To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 3 Score GBP_038 The parcel is not adjacent to any large built-up areas and Medium has relatively strong boundaries. A strategic gap between Newton and Golborne could be maintained if this parcel was released from the Green Belt. The parcel has a limited sense of openness and countryside character given its enclosure. Overall significance of Comments Score contribution to Green Belt Purposes GBP_038 The parcel is well contained and has a limited sense of Medium openness and countryside character given its enclosure. Carry forward to Parcel GBP_038 makes only a moderate contribution to the purposes of Green Stage 2 Assessment? Belt land and therefore should be carried forward to the stage 2 assessment. 269 | Page 269 1800681 Green Belt Review 2018.indd 270 09/01/2019 11:54 ST.HELENS COUNCIL GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 ST.HELENS BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2020-2035 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 Parcel REF: GBP_039 Parcel Ref GBP_039 Name Land east of M6 and north of A579 Winwick Lane Ward Newton Sub-Parcels within N/A Parcel Size (hectares) GBP_039: 126.65ha Description Very large parcel lying to the east of the M6 and to the north of A579 Winwick Lane. The A573 Parkside Road and Barrow Lane run through the parcel. The parcel consists of agricultural land and buildings. 270 | Page 270 1800681 Green Belt Review 2018.indd 271 09/01/2019 11:54 ST.HELENS COUNCIL ST.HELENS BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2020-2035 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 STAGE 1B ASSESSMENT AGAINST GREEN BELT PURPOSES Purpose 1 To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 1 Score GBP_039 The north western boundary of the parcel lies approximately High 420m west of the large built-up area of Newton-le-Willows. The parcel is dislocated from the urban area. The parcel is bounded to the north by dense woodland and the Chat Moss railway line, to the east by agricultural land, to the south by the A579 Winwick Lane and to the west by the M6. West of the motorway is the site of the former Parkside Colliery. The parcel is therefore well contained to the north, south and west but is open to the east. Given the significant size of the parcel, its dislocation from the urban area and its lack of enclosure to the east, development of this parcel could lead to unrestricted sprawl. Purpose 2 To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 2 Score GBP_039 The parcel does not fall within a strategic gap between two Low towns. The nearest settlements are: Newton-le-Willows that lies approximately 420m from the north western boundary of the parcel, Lane Head, Wigan that lies approximately 1.4km to the north east and Winwick, Warrington which lies approximately 1km south west of the parcel. Purpose 3 To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment Green Belt Parcel or Findings Green Belt Sub-Parcel Purpose 3 Score GBP_039 The parcel contains very little inappropriate development High and has a strong sense of countryside character and openness, particularly looking eastwards and southwards. The M6 to the west, A579 to the south and A573 have some impact on countryside character, but as you move away from these roads the parcel retains a strong sense of openness. Overall significance of Comments Score contribution to Green Belt Purposes GBP_039 Given the significant size of the parcel and its lack of High+ enclosure to the east, development of this parcel could lead to unrestricted sprawl. The parcel contains very little inappropriate development and has a strong sense of countryside character and openness particularly looking eastwards and southwards. 271 | Page 271 1800681 Green Belt Review 2018.indd 272 09/01/2019 11:54 ST.HELENS COUNCIL GREEN BELT REVIEW ST.HELENS BOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2020-2035 GREEN BELT REVIEW DECEMBER 2018 2018 Carry forward to Parcel GBP_039 continues to make a strong contribution to the purposes of Stage 2 Assessment? Green Belt land. Given the high+ overall parcel scoring, ordinarily the recommendation would be for this parcel not to be carried forward to the Stage 2 assessment. However, the parcel forms part of a wider site (with GBP_041) straddling the M6 known as Parkside Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI). There is a long standing history of developer interest in bringing parcels GBP_039 and GBP_041 - the former Parkside Colliery forward for a SRFI. There have been a number of planning applications for a SRFI, and the area was highlighted as a potential location for inter-modal freight terminal in the now withdrawn North West Regional Spatial Strategy.