Looking East towards Monks Brook Boundary line of site PROPOSED MONKS BROOK TRANSIT SITE STONEHAM WAY SOUTHAMPTON PLANNING APPLICATION Application by the Director of Communities, Health and Care on behalf of Southampton City Council. May 2007. CONTENTS Section A: Policy and Non-Technical Statement Summary of Proposal The Site: Location Design and Access Statement Statement of Need Site Selection Access to Services Planning Policy Pre-Planning Consultation Section B: Technical Statement Flood Risk Assessment Traffic Statement Health & Safety Security Contamination Noise Management of the Site Community Safety and Community Impact Sustainability Issues Nature Conservation Issues ~ravellerPreferences Section C: Plans, Elevations and Supporting Documents Location Plan Site Plan Layout Plan Elevations Sectional Drawings a Survey reports: Ecological, Noise, Environment (including Tree), Contamination (including Hydrological). Appendices 1. Site' Selection 2. Consultation 3. Draft Management Policy SECTION A SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 1 This application seeks permission to establish a Gypsy and Traveller transit site at Monks Brook off Stoneham Way in Southampton (grid reference 444225e 1 16500n). 2. The proposed transit site would be owned and managed by Southampton City Council. It would provide basic amenities for up to 12 caravans on 6 pitches. The site proposals aim to provide accessible, affordable, temporary accommodation for up to 3 months for Gypsies and Travellers. The design, development and management of the site would focus on establishing a sustainable environment that: Is safe and attractive to Travellers and facilitates improved access to services; Establishes a peaceful and integrated co-existence with the local community; Leads to a reduction in unauthorised encampments; Provides value for money and accountable, robust, financial management; Contributes to wider sub-regional and regional aims to improve Gypsy and Traveller provision. 4. The development of a transit site in the city was approved by the Southampton City Council Cabinet as part of the Gypsies and Travellers Strategy in September 2005. Following an extensive audit of potential sites and an objective selection process, Monks Brook was identified as the most suitable location. The proposal to make a funding bid and make a planning application for a transit site at this specific location was approved by Full Council on 17 January 2007 and by Cabinet on 26 February 2007. However, the proposal is still subject to approval by Planning and Rights of Way Panel. An Information Day, public meeting and other engagement methods have enabled local people to comment on the site proposals in detail. Gypsies and Travellers have also been consulted. The development of this proposal has actively involved a wide range of services and agencies including Planning Policy, Education, Community Safety, the Police, Health Services, Inclusion, and a number of technical services. The development of the proposal has also involved neighbouring authorities and consultation with operators of transit sites in other parts of the country, as well as representatives of the Department Of Communities and Local Government and the Government Office for the South East. 6. Design and feasibility studies have been undertaken. The Southampton Local Plan sets out permissive criteria for a Gypsy and Traveller site but does not identify specific locations. The proposed land for the transit site is currently 'unallocated' within the Local Plan. THE SITE: LOCATION 7. The site is roughly triangular and is approximately 0.97 acres or 0.392 hectares in size. 8. The site for this proposal is located on the northern outskirts of Southampton, some approximately 4.5km from the city centre. The site is situated immediately south of the M27, bordered by dual carriageway (A335 - Stoneham Way) to the west, Monks Brook Greenway to the east, with the railway beyond. Rough land to the south leads to Swaythling (Wide Lane) and to the north it ends at the motorway. This area is commonly known as 'Monks Brook'. Please refer to the site location map in Section C. 9. The surrounding area is undeveloped land and has the following characteristics: To the North: Open greenfield land adjacent and M27 beyond. There is a public footpath, to the north of the city council boundary with Eastleigh that extends from the A335 eastward to cross Monks Brook by a footbridge dividing the area of rough grassland which extends to the M27 motorway approximately 300m beyond before which is a narrow strip of deciduous woodland; To the East: Monks Brook Greenway marks the boundary and consists of patches of bramble before dropping to the brook which is lined by a willow and alder wet woodland. The railway runs parallel with this boundary beyond which is an industrial/commercia1area and residential properties further to the south; To the South: Undeveloped greenfieldlwoodland To the West: Stoneham Way, a dual carriageway, marks the boundary. The proposed site is separated from the highway by a grass verge and amenity planting. Beyond the dual carriageway are playing fields. 10. The nearest residential development is approximately 192 metres away (from the centre of the site), with natural habitat between the site and the nearest housing. Some concerns have been expressed by residents that the development would be visible from some dwellings but such visibility would be very limited. The development would not be visible to any substantial degree from nearby housing. 11. The site is within Southampton City Council boundaries and owned by the council. Immediately adjacent north is land owned by Hampshire County Council which is within the area of Eastleigh Borough Council and identified as a Strategic Gap. 12. Currently the site is largely open, rough grassland with patches of gorse and bramble scrub. It is used by local people and ramblers for informal recreation such as dog-walking. In the 1980s excavation waste from the construction of the M27 was deposited on the site. This was licensed as inert landfill. View from West to East along the Southampton / Hampshire border. Note Ford Factory visible through trees on opposite side of Brook & Railway Line Looking South from the Northern Boundary of the site Signs of rubbish dumping nearer Northern side of site Looking South along the Stoneham Way Boundary [fence] DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT The Proposed Design: 13. The scheme is to develop a transit site to meet the needs of Gypsies and Travellers who stop in Southampton on a temporary, short-term basis. The site proposal seeks to establish a high quality environment that meets statutory requirements and best practice. The site will be managed by a full-time manager, employed by the council and therefore office facilities are provided. 14. The scheme has been prepared in close consultation with Department of Communities and Local Government recommended design consultants, Gypsy & Traveller representatives, Hampshire Police Secure by Design Officers and further consultants with regard to sound, contamination and other ecological issues that may be present and relevant to design. 15. The scheme proposed includes the following: Access and utilities Before any work can start in terms of site development, access to the site will be built. This includes new road and pedestrian access to the site from Stoneham Way. New water, drainage and electrical services will also be installed to the site running beneath the new pedestrian access. Further details regarding access are provided in the 'Traffic Statement' section of this application. Boundaries The site will be bunded to varying levels around the North, East, South and for the most part Western edges. The site will also have a mixture of steel palisade and acoustic fencing erected as a barrier around the site. Site boundaries are being treated sympathetically to the surroundings with shrub and tree planting being situated on earth bunds [raised earth mounds] that run along the Northern and Eastern boundaries. Grasses and indigenous planting will be situated on these bunds to complement the existing flora. To delineate a secure boundary to both the site and plots, fencing will be situated approximately one third of the way up these bunds from the inner side of the site. Again, to enhance the resident's views, planting of shrubs and trees will be in evidence on this side of the fencing. Raised beds covered with existing topsoil and its flora will be created to the rear of each amenity block serving three purposes; A] To help maintain existing flora; B] To create areas of natural greenery for residents; and C] To prevent contravention of fire regulations with regard to caravans and their proximity to each other. All these areas will be maintained at the expense of the council and based on ecological advice as far as possible, with regard to species care. The southern boundary will again have a bund raised with planting recommended by Southampton City Council Ecologists. Furthermore, the adjacent coniferous copse will have some arboricultural works carried out upon it in compliance with Southampton City Council Ecologist's wishes to encourage the current flora to grow in the future. Fencing will again be erected about a third of the way up this bund, with planting on both sides to enhance views. The western boundary currently lies along a post and rail fence. This, along with a 1980's planted hedgerow, will remain for the most part. The exception being where trees and shrubs will be removed to enable situation of the new site entrance. A bund will be placed inside the site adjacent to the post and rail fence, with new planting as on the other bunds. Fencing on this side will be timber and of the acoustic variety [approx' 2.3m high] in order to lower Decibel levels on the new site in compliance with PPG 23. Existing hedgerows and new planting will help minimise the visual impact of the acoustic fencing, positions of which will be agreed prior to start of construction on site.