Joint Waste Site Allocations Site Survey Report Appendix B – Site Report 76 Joint Waste Site Allocations Site Survey Report 77 Joint Waste Site Allocations Site Survey Report B.1 North Wiltshire B.1.1 Parkgate Farm, Purton (Site Ref N1) B.1.1.1 Introduction The site extends to 43.5 ha and is located approximately 1 km to the north of Purton. A railway line runs immediately adjacent to the northern boundary. The site is currently accessed via Mopes Lane utilising an existing accommodation bridge on the north side of the site. Mopes Lane is a single carriageway off Cricklade Road. The surrounding land uses include a restored landfill to the north east. The town of Purton overlooks the site from high ground to the south. To the south of the site the land rises to Paven Hill, with a handful of residential properties and agricultural fields scattered on the overlooking northern hillside. A newly planted woodland shelter belt has been established on the north slope of Paven Hill to screen views to the adjacent landfill. The site is currently flat pasture land (grade 4) with associated farm buildings some of which are derelict. The site comprises medium scale fields with a strong hedgerow pattern interspersed with mature hedgerow trees including Oak. River Key forms the north western boundary of the site and the Gloucester to Swindon railway line forms the north eastern boundary of the site beyond which is the restored Purton landfill (hazardous, commercial and industrial wastes). A number of Public Right of Way runs through the site. The site borders flood zone 2 and 3 areas and is located within a community forest area. A SAM is located approx 700m to the south of the site and Red Lodge Wood Wildlife site is approx 700m to the North West of the site The site is not allocated in the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan although there is an existing Employment allocation a short distance to the west of the site, on the north side of the railway line. The emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy does not propose any land use designations in this area. A number of planning consents have been granted within 500m of this site since 2006. These relate only to intensification of existing uses, such as extensions to existing dwellings, and change of use. B.1.1.2 Landscape and Visual Impact Baseline Landscape Character and Designations: Desk Survey Countryside Character Volume 8 South West (Countryside Agency): Landscape Character Area: Upper Thames Clay Vales Key characteristics relevant to the site: • Gently undulating clay lowland farmland with regular and well-ordered field patterns defined by thick hedgerows, however intensification of agricultural activities have resulted in the removal of hedgerows, enlarged fields and new farm buildings. • Open floodplain landscapes displaying gravel workings and flooded pits. • Brick built buildings reflect the widespread use of the local clay as a building material with plain tiled roofs. Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment (Wiltshire County Council (WCC)): Landscape Type: Rolling Clay Lowland Landscape Character Area: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland Key characteristics relevant to the site: • Gently rolling lowland based on clay. • Medium to large fields, mainly pastoral land use with pasture concentrated around the water courses. • Variable field pattern with network of hedgerows in good conditions and mature hedgerow trees. • Presence of streams marked by lines of willows and crossed by modest bridges. 78 Joint Waste Site Allocations Site Survey Report • Scattered settlement of towns, small villages and farmsteads, many using vernacular materials of brick, half timber, stone, tiles and thatch. • Roads largely minor and rural with a few trunk roads and sections of motorway. • A largely peaceful, rural landscape. Generally the condition of the landscape character area is considered by WCC to be ‘moderate’, with a ‘moderate’ strength of character. The strategy for the area is to conserve the elements that contribute to the landscape character and enhance areas that are becoming degraded, such as the urban fringes. North Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment (North Wiltshire Borough Council) Landscape Character Area: Thames Valley Lowland: Key characteristics relevant to the site: • Low, level or undulating ground • Continuous hedges with many mature oak and ash • Field sizes vary from small and irregular to medium sized and regular shaped, predominantly pasture • Dispersed or nucleated settlement on higher ground using vernacular materials of stone and local brick • Generally contained views, but with some longer views and a sense of containment over the Thames floodplain Landscape Designations and Rights of Way: • There are public rights of way along the boundaries of the site to the south, east and west, as well as one crossing the centre of the site running north – south Baseline Landscape Character and Features: Site Survey The proposed site is well managed, flat pasture land in a rural location within the Rural Buffer. The site comprises medium scale fields with a strong hedgerow pattern interspersed with mature hedgerow trees including Oak. There are however several dead Elm trees within the hedgerows. There are occasion clumps of mature deciduous trees located in the field corners. There is a slight rise to the east of the site and the adjacent landfill is visible over the railway cutting planting. To the south of the site the land rises to Paven Hill, predominantly wooded with a handful of residential properties and agricultural fields scattered on the overlooking north hillside. A newly planted woodland shelter belt has been established on the north slope of Paven Hill to screen views to the adjacent landfill. The outer edge of Purton also overlooks the site. The River Key runs along the northern edge of the site. Landscape Quality, Condition and Capacity to Accommodate Change: Site Survey Landscape Quality and Condition of site: Ordinary Capacity to Accept Change: Low - Medium Although the site is in keeping with the wider peaceful, rural landscape setting, the presences of the adjacent railway, and more significantly the existing landfill, have eroded the landscape character within the local area, giving the site a moderate landscape quality. Due to the previous layout of the site, with the location of the former farm buildings and well established screening, the site has a moderate capacity to accommodate change, provided facilities they are sensitively located to reduce intrusion into the existing field pattern and in keeping with the local agricultural style. Potential Landscape Mitigation Measures • Sensitive site planning –facilities to be located to utilise the surrounding topography to prevent intrusion into the rural character. • Facilities to be in keeping with the local vernacular/agricultural style. 79 Joint Waste Site Allocations Site Survey Report • Use of native and evergreen hedgerows and trees and native woodland planting to site boundaries to strengthen the rural character. • The following ‘Broad Management Objectives’ for the Rolling Clay Lowlands in the Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment are relevant to the site: o Retaining and managing hedgerow network and nurturing new hedgerow trees o Strengthening the enclosed character of the landscape and screening views to urban edges through nurturing existing and planting new woodland. • The following Enhancement Priorities proposed for the Thames Valley Lowland landscape character area in the North Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment are relevant to the site: o Conserve hedgerows and mature trees, including planting new trees in existing hedges and planting specimen trees in field corners o Encourage planting of new woodland copses o Discourage development which would detract from the tranquil rural character Table B.1.1.2.1 - Visual Impact and Mitigation Visual Receptor Sensitivity Potential Potential Visual Mitigation of Residual Impact Measures Receptor on Receptor Residential Properties High Moderate adverse Facilities to be in keeping with the on Paven Hill local vernacular / agricultural style Residential Properties High Moderate adverse Use of native hedgerows and on the northwest fringe trees and native woodland of Purton planting to site boundaries to screen views into the site Public Footpath Users High Moderate adverse Railway Users Low Negligible Structure planting around site boundary Adjacent Landfill Low Negligible Summary: Residual Landscape and Visual Impacts Due to the existing significant landscape and visual detractor of the adjacent landfill, and the relatively visually and physically isolation of the site, sensitive development within the site would minimize the adverse impact on the local and surrounding character and visual receptors. Therefore the site has a moderate ability to accommodate change. However, the main visual impacts on surrounding residences and farms and from the elevated vantage of Purton would be difficult to fully mitigated through sensitive site planning and screen planting. Recommended further landscape and visual surveys • Night-time visual surveys. B.1.1.3 Air Quality and Odour Introduction Parkgate Farm is located to the north of Purton and is currently pasture land (grade 4). The River Key runs along the northern edge of the site. The site is adjacent to the restored Purton landfill (hazardous, commercial and industrial wastes). 80 Joint Waste Site Allocations Site Survey Report Potential uses include materials recovery facility, local recycling, treatment and inert