01 Phase 2 -Land Off Mill Road, Cranfield INTRODUCTION THE SITE Site Boundary - 6.59ha Recently Approved Phase 1 Development Bellway Homes Site (under construction) Introduction Gladman Developments Ltd have successfully invested in communities throughout the UK over the past 20 years, developing high quality and sustainable residential, commercial and industrial schemes. A process of public consultation is being undertaken by Gladman Developments Ltd in order to present the emerging development proposals for Phase 2 - Land Off Mill Road, Cranfield to the local community. We are proposing a residential development of approximately 78 homes, together with substantial new open space and potential additional land for the new Doctors Surgery, including access and/or pick-up and drop-off facilities. The purpose of the public consultation process is to outline the details of the draft scheme and seek comments from the local community which will be considered before the outline planning application is lodged with Central Bedfordshire Council. Site Description Why is the site suitable for development? The site is located on the western edge of a recently approved residential scheme. It The proposed development of the site would form a logical extension to the north- is located to the west of Cranfield, to the east of Cranfield Airfield and to the west of Mill west of Cranfield, located close to a good range of local services and facilities. The Road. The site is comprised of one agricultural field covering a total area of 6.59 ha. The site is well connected by road to Milton Keynes to the west and Bedford to the north. northern, western and southern site boundaries are defined by established hedgerows and trees. The sites eastern edge will be defined by the recently approved development site but is currently established hedgerow. Development Proposals • Approximately 78 new homes; The Need for New Housing • Proposed new access points through the recently approved site in two locations; Every Council is required by the Government to boost significantly the supply of housing • Provision of extensive public open space, 54% of the site area; and to make planning decisions in the light of a presumption in favour of sustainable development. • New public rights of way across the site improving connectivity to the wider footpath network; Central Bedfordshire Council do not presently have a 5 year supply of housing land, and • Potential additional land for a new Doctors Surgery, including vehicular and approval of this development will help towards addressing the present shortfall of housing footpath access and/or pick-up and drop-off facilities; and needs within the District. • Retention and improvement of landscaping to enhance the site and boundaries; 02 Phase 2 -Land Off Mill Road, Cranfield HISTORIC CONTEXT HISTORIC MAPS The historic maps below show the proposed development site in the context of the growth of Cranfield over the past 132 years. In the 1882 map the village core can already be seen established to the southwest of the site. Development is focused around the emerging village centre, however this is beginning to spread northeast along the High Street from Tartlett End to East End. By 1951 development has spread north along Mill Road and north-east along Bedford Road. To the west of the village the field boundaries of the 1882 map have been removed, opening up the landscape to make way for Cranfield Airfield. By 1982 Cranfield has dramatically expanded. Residential development has spread northwards and eastwards away from the original village core. The nature of this extension is varied. Housing layouts to the centre are much denser, whilst dwellings to the northern, eastern and western village edges have generously scaled plots that back onto the surrounding rural landscape. Village facilities have also increased with the building of Holywell Church of England Middle School bordering Red Lion Close to the south of the site. 1882 1982 1951 2014 03 Phase 2 -Land Off Mill Road, Cranfield EXISTING LOCAL CHARACTER SITE AND LANDSCAPE Site & Setting The site is made up of one agricultural field that remains relatively Viewpoint Locations flat throughout. The land to the west of the site is relatively open, with limited views out from the village towards Cranfield Airfield and Site Boundary - 6.59ha the surrounding countryside. The village centre and housing to the 2 Recently Approved east maintains approximately the same contours as the proposed Phase 1 Development site. Established hedgerows form the main field boundaries to the 3 north, west and south, whilst the land to the east is recently approved 3 Viewpoint Location housing land that the proposed scheme will connect to. 1 Visual Environment Due to the consistency in levels between existing housing the recently Proposed Site Access location into the Phase 1 that will also serve as access for Phase 2 approved scheme and the proposed site, views into the development are limited to the eastern site extents. Residents of houses along Mill Road and Crawley Road/Broad Green, in addition to a limited number of properties on Washingleys and Longborns will not have views into the proposed site as the recently approved development area is located between the two. Views of the site from local footpaths are limited to footpath FP22, crossing neighbouring fields to the west of the site. Existing landscape features such as hedgerows and boundary VIEWPOINT 1 / View north west from junction of Springfield Way and Mill Road trees will be maintained to ensure that the degree of containment Bellway Homes Development Cranfield Airport / Cranfield University and screening of views currently afforded to the site is maintained and enhanced where necessary. The proposals will retain existing green buffers along the northern, eastern and southern edges of the development area adjoining the rear of properties on Crawley Road, Longborns and Washingleys. Over half of the site area will be retained as multifunctional green infrastructure including a trim trail, play area and informal recreational open spaces. Additional screening vegetation will be provided on the northern and eastern boundary VIEWPOINT 2 / View east into / across the site towards Cranfield Airport and Bellway Homes under construction Cranfield United Football Club Rear of Properties on Mill Road Phase 1 Development Area Cranfield Church of England Academy LOCAL BUILDING STYLES There are no listed buildings or statutory designations that cover the site. The nearest listed buildings are Belmont House and Cranfield Primary School and Schoolhouse located to the south of the site. The local town vernacular is defined by a mixture of styles using modern and traditional buildings materials including, brickwork, render and timber construction with slate tiled roofs. VIEWPOINT 3 / View north west into / across the site towards Crawley Road Examples of traditional built form and materials used within the surrounding area. The proposals will seek to reflect the existing built character so as to create an appropriate and sympathetic development in keeping with the character of the site and its context. 04 Phase 2 -Land Off Mill Road, Cranfield SITE ANALYSIS LOCAL FACILITIES The site is sustainably located with good access to the village centre and surrounding community amenities. Existing facilities of Cranfield include a university, an airfield, a school, a nursery and a garage as well as a range of shops, and pubs. The site has good access links to public transport with bus stops less than 400m from the site, providing links locally to Cranfield University and further afield to the two major local towns Milton Keynes and Bedford. There is also good access to local leisure facilities surrounding the site including a recreation ground to the south and the more distant Marston Thrift Nature Reserve. These facilities are all interconnected by a series of public footpaths including the John Bunyan Trail. The plan and key below show a range of existing local services and facilities that are within 400m, 800m and 2km (5 minute, 10 minute and 25 minute walking distance) of the site. 5 2 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 1 1 3 1 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 N 1 Bus Stops 1 Pre-School Nursery 1 Place of Worship 400 metre distance offset from site 1 Public House 2 Primary School 1 Post Office 800 metre distance offset from site 2 Library 3 Secondary School 2 Convenience Store 2km distance offset from site Leisure Centre / 3 4 Pharmacy 3 Nature Reserve Site Boundary Sports Club 4 Airfield 05 Phase 2 -Land Off Mill Road, Cranfield SITE ANALYSIS KEY CONSIDERATIONS The assessment of the site and its surroundings has identified a number of features which should be protected, retained and enhanced as part of the development proposals for the site. These considerations provide the opportunities and constraints for development and have been used to inform the preparation of the Framework Plan. KEY 2 Site Boundary CRAWLEY ROAD 1 Contours (Darkest = Highest Point) 2 Existing Vehicular Routes Cranfield FC Football Ground 3 Existing Footpath (FP22) 4 Existing Hedgerows & Trees 5 Underground Electricity Cable Proposed Football Pitch and Facilities 6 6 (part of Phase 1 approved development) 3 7 Approved Phase 1 Development Approved Phase 1 Access to Mill Cranfield Airfield 8 Road 4 Potential Access Locations into 4 9 Phase 2 Site Potential Location for Attenutation 10 Ponds 5 4 11 11 Proposed 10m Tree Buffer N 10 9 +108.5 +109m 7 4 4 +109.5m 11 +110m 5 +110.5m Agricultural Land