Design and Access Report Statement GVA 3 Brindleyplace Birmingham B1 2JB Army Basing Programme Garrison ‘Main Works’ - Larkhill Design and Access Statement July 2015 gva.co.uk Should you require any further information, please contact: Nick Harrison Director T 0121 609 8722 E [email protected] Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement CONTENTS 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 2. The Site and Surroundings ............................................................................................ 3 3. Planning Policy Framework .......................................................................................... 9 4. Consultation ................................................................................................................ 10 5. Design Approach ........................................................................................................ 12 6. The Proposed Development ...................................................................................... 16 7. Conclusions ................................................................................................................. 31 Appendices Appendix I Schedule of Materials May 2015 I gva.co.uk Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement 1. Introduction Purpose 1.1 This Design and Access Statement (DAS) has been prepared by GVA and Aspire Defence 1 new build Workshop (LA0689); and Capital Works (‘Aspire’) in support of a Hybrid Planning Application (HPA) at Alanbrooke, 1 new Washdown facility. Stirling, Roberts and Horne Barracks, Larkhill Garrison. Its purpose is to explain how a proposed development is a suitable response to the site and its setting, and demonstrate that the development can be adequately accessed by prospective users. 1.3 Associated hardstanding, car parking and landscaping is also proposed. 1.2 The HPA seeks detailed planning permission for some assets, and outline planning 1.4 In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management permission for others, as follows: Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Order 2013, this DAS: Detailed: Explains the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development; 22 new build Junior Ranks SLA blocks (LA0636-653, LA0655-657 and LA0694); Demonstrates the steps taken to appraise the context of the development and how 1 new build Junior Ranks Dining Centre (LA0654); the design of the development takes that context into account; 1 new build Office/Stores building (LA0663); Details the policy adopted as to access, and how policies relating to access in 1 new build Training facility (LA0665/LA0688); relevant local development documents have been taken into account; 3 new build Office building (LA0667, LA0668 and LA0669); States what consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to access to the 1 new Parade Ground (LXP002); development and what account has been taken of the outcome of such consultation; and 1 new Education building (LA0670) Explains how any specific issues which might affect access to the development have New entrance and VCP at Ross Road; been addressed. 2 new Tennis Courts; and 2 new all-weather, flood-lit football pitches and 1 new grass pitch. Report Structure Outline: 1.5 Following this introduction, the remainder of this DAS is structured as follows: 1 new build Physical and Recreational Training Facility (P&RTF) (LA0671); Section 2 describes the application site and its surroundings; 1 new build Education building (LA0672); Section 3 provides a summary of relevant planning policies, and public consultation 4 new build Garage buildings (LA0681, LA0683, LA0685 and LA0691); undertaken in connection with the Salisbury Plain Masterplan; 4 new Office buildings (LA0682, LA0684, LA0686 and LA0693); Section 4 outlines the design approach underpinning the proposed development; 4 new Stores buildings (LA0687, LA0690, LA0698 and LA0699); Section 5 provides a description of the proposed development; July 2015 I gva.co.uk 1 Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement Section 6 considers the Landscape Character and Setting; and Section 7 concludes the report. July 2015 I gva.co.uk 2 Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement 2. The Site and Surroundings Figure 2.2: Larkhill Garrison Location 2.1 Salisbury Plain Training Area is the largest military training area in the UK comprising around 390 square km of land owned by the MoD. The Plain is a protected habitat of international value and renowned as an historic landscape encompassing numerous designated heritage assets. The area in and around Salisbury Plain hosts several established military camps, with the nearby garrison towns of Tidworth and Ludgershall forming the two most substantial areas of built form within the locality. 2.2 Larkhill Garrison is situated on the southern edge of Salisbury Plain, approximately 2km to the north of the A303 and Stonehenge in the County of Wiltshire. The nearest settlement is the village of Durrington approximately 3km to the east. Figure 2.1: Salisbury Plain Training Area 2.4 An artillery range had been established at Larkhill by 1901, but no permanent buildings were constructed until the relocation of the School of Gunnery for Horse and Field Artillery to the site in 1915. 2.5 In common with other camps on Salisbury Plain, it is likely that the early Camp comprised Larkhill Garrison timber huts, which began to be replaced by more permanent structures during the 1920s, and was later subject to an intense period of redevelopment in the late 1930s prior to the 2.3 Larkhill Garrison comprises 4 barracks – Alanbrooke, Stirling, Roberts and Horne. It is is outbreak of war in 1939. accessed off The Packway, which bisects the site east to west. The Camp covers an area 2.6 The site was again significantly rebuilt in the early post-war period, with buildings erected of approximately 155 hectares, and comprises a mix of living, office, technical and training during the 1930s replaced in a series of building programmes between 1955 and 1962. accommodation, together with other ancillary buildings, hardstanding, parking and sports facilities. July 2015 I gva.co.uk 3 Defence Infrastructure Organisation Design and Access Statement 2.7 Expansion continued throughout the late 1960s and into the 1970s, and there continued to 2.13 The surrounding area contains a complex mix of development including other military be new buildings erected on the site throughout the 1990s and into the present. Most establishments, small to medium sized towns, nucleated villages and some scattered recently, the Camp was substantially redeveloped and modernised under the Project isolated farmsteads. The majority of built development in proximity to the Camp comprises Allenby Connaught (PAC) PFI. Service Families Accommodation (SFA), with the exception of a small number of civilian properties located 1km to the southeast along Fargo Road. There are no public rights of Surroundings way within the secure Camp, but it is bisected by The Packway, and Byway 29 follows the perimeter to the north. 2.8 The Camp lies within the sensitive, predominantly rural landscape of Salisbury Plain, which is 2.14 Substantial mixed woodland blocks and belts are arranged around the perimeter of the dominated by extensive areas of unenclosed rough grassland and open arable fields, criss- Camp and form an effective screen from much of the surrounding area. Within the Camp crossed by army tracks. The built development at Bulford village and Bulford Camp is there are well maintained tree avenues, copses and small woodlands, which assist in located 3-4km to the east of the Camp, as is Durrington. Amesbury is located 4km to the reducing visibility and provide a mature setting to the existing buildings. These enclosed south-east along the A345. areas open out into extensive open and intensively managed amenity grassland areas. 2.9 Salisbury Plain is designated as both a Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under European legislation, notably for the populations of stone Site Analysis curlew, common quail and hen harrier, and for the chalk grassland habitat, one of the largest remaining areas of calcareous grassland in north-western Europe. The SAC is also Topography designated for juniper formations on heaths, semi-natural dry grassland and scrubland 2.15 The Camp occupies an elevated position on the southern flank of a hill within the sensitive, facies and the marsh fritillary butterfly. Much of the natural environment is also protected open rolling landscape of Salisbury Plain, which is characterised by arable fields and through its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its populations of rare calcareous grassland with scattered hilltop beech and conifer woodlands. The northern bumblebee species, and many rare birds, plants and invertebrates. boundary lies along the summit (at some 147m AOD) with the ground falling to a low point 2.10 The Cranbourne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) lies some 9km to the of approximately 110m AOD toward the southern boundary. south-west and the North Wessex Downs AONB lies to the north, over 10km from the Camp’s northern boundary. The River Avon is situated approximately 2km to the east. 2.16 The topography around the Camp is typical of that found across Salisbury Plain, and comprises dissected dry valleys