Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) 7th December 2016 Reference: IK/PWH001 Planning Policy Team Chiltern District Council King George V House King George V Road Amersham Bucks HP6 5AW By email: [email protected] Dear Sir/Madam, Re: Chiltern and South Bucks Local Plan Green Belt Preferred Options Consultation; site nomination for Penn Wood House, Beamond End Lane, Amersham, Bucks, HP7 0QT Please find set out below details of the above site, along with a title plan, which I am submitting to the Council on behalf of the landowner, in response to the current public consultation. The Council’s consultation document proposes a number of site options for removal from the Green Belt. Please find below details of the above site, along with a title plan showing the boundaries of the site (submitted separately with this letter), which I am submitting to the Council on behalf of the landowner. My client would like the Council to consider removal of this site from its Green Belt designation, as part of the on-going plan making process, and to allocate the land for potential development. Furthermore, please can you include this site in future updated versions of the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment. Landowner Details Mr Charles Derek Hollamby is the sole landowner of the site. Should you require further contact details please contact me directly. Page 1 of 7 Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) Site Description and Context of Area The site is situated on the edge of Amersham, at the southern most end of Beamond End Lane, and on the east side of the road, near to the junction of the road with Sheepcote Dell Road. The site is situated a short distance to the south west of the built up area of Holmer Green, and comprises a large plot of 0.3 hectares (0.77 acres), with a detached two-storey dwelling set close to the road. Outbuildings are situated close to the north boundary of the site which abuts a vehicular access leading to residential dwellings situated to the rear of the plot. Mature trees and hedges define the boundaries of the site. The site lies within the Green Belt and Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is shown in the aerial photograph below and map extracts further below: The photograph below shows a view looking eastwards towards the dwelling from Beamond End Lane: 2 Page 2 of 7 Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) The photograph below shows the view towards the west and rear of the dwelling: Land Registry title map extract: 3 Page 3 of 7 Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) Extract from Chiltern District Council’s Adopted Policies Map: The site can be accessed from Beamond End Lane and the vehicular access on the north side of the plot. Additional access could also be created from the road along the extensive frontage. Land levels across the site are relatively flat, and a public footpath runs along the vehicular access on the north side of the site. There are no immovable structures present on the site that would prevent development. The site is situated in a low risk flood zone (Flood Zone 1), and is not affected by surface water flooding. There are also no contamination issues present on the site. The surrounding area, primarily to the north, east and west is characterised by detached properties of various styles. A field lies on the southern side of the plot boundary, with the A404 further to the south. The site is situated in a sustainable location, close to the main road network, with the A404 to the south. The built up area comprising Holmer Green is sited a short distance to the north west of the site, by 0.6km. The built up area can be accessed via an 8 minute walk along Sheepcote Dell Road (visible in the map above), and bus route no. 36c provides a regular service along this road, with the bus stop situated a short walk away to the south of the site. The bus journey takes approximately 2 mins, and runs through Holmer Green, whilst it takes 1 minute to reach Holmer Green by car. Holmer Green is served by schools, community facilities and public amenities (Holmer Green Baptist Church, Christ Church, and The Common), and a parade of shops situated on Pond Approach to the west of Beamond End, which include grocery supplies. The parade is accessible by a 20 minute walk, 4 minute car journey, or 6 minute bus journey from the site of Penn Wood House. The nearest GP surgery is only 1.4 miles to the west of the site (Dragon Cottage Surgery). 4 Page 4 of 7 Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) Hazelmere is situated to the south west of the site, 2.5km along the A404, and only a 3 minute car journey or an 11 minute bus journey away. Hazelmere is served by supermarkets, shops, schools, medical services, and a recreation ground. The town of High Wycombe is situated a short distance further, and can be accessed from the site by an 11 minute car journey, or a 20 minute bus journey. Central Amersham is situated to the east and can be accessed by a short 10 minute car journey or a 22 minute bus journey. Both High Wycombe and Amersham provide extensive access to all types of local services and amenities, including shops, schools, healthcare, recreation open space, bus routes, and rail services (national rail services are available at both locations, whilst Amersham Station also enables access to London Underground services). Planning History There is no recent planning history. Two planning applications were made some time ago, both for the erection of a detached dwelling (CH/1975/0227/OA in 1975 and CH/1998/1023/OA in 1998). Both schemes were refused permission. Legal Matters & Rights There are no covenants or public rights of way attached to the land. Proposed Development The site would be made available for residential development, comprising market housing, although provision for accommodation for students and/or older people may also be considered. It would not be available for the provision of traveller accommodation. Other uses relating to economic, retail, leisure, and/or community facilities may also be considered, however this would be subject to further discussions and negotiable at the appropriate plan making stage. The site is available immediately for development, and could be developed over a 1-5 year period. The number of houses/units the site could deliver is estimated to be 10-20, although this would be negotiable at the time of a planning application. 5 Page 5 of 7 Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) Removal of the site from its Green Belt Designation The Buckinghamshire Green Belt Assessment Part 1: Methodology & Assessment of General Areas, sets out the recommended areas of search for potential development within the Green Belt, in the District. The site lies at the south west edge of General Area No. 24b, and abuts General Area No. 24a, as indicated by the red arrow on the map extract below taken from the report: General Area 24b achieves an overall score of ‘Medium’ against the Green Belt purposes assessment. The site does not lie in a recommended area of search, and consequently, has not been considered in the Draft Green Belt Assessment Part 2 (October 2016), being situated between and outside of grid square nos. 18 and 19 in the latter report. In relation to the Council’s current consultation document, the site lies closest to Preferred Option No. 2 (Area South of Holmer Green) which is situated further to the south west, abutting the district boundary with Wycombe District Council. Whilst the site is not situated in a recommended area of search, and has not been taken forwards in terms of the Draft Green Belt Assessment Part 2, it would still be capable of delivering sustainable residential development, given its close proximity to the built up area of Holmer Green, and accessibility by public transport and the road network. There are a number of dwellings also present in the vicinity of the site in this part of the Green Belt, in particular the row of properties on the east side of the site, therefore, additional residential development would not wholly be out of character with the area, if the site were to be removed from its Green Belt designation. In terms of physical constraints on the site, there are no major issues that would prevent development, and similarly, there are no legal issues to hinder development either. The landowner is prepared to make the site available immediately for development, and thus the site represents an excellent opportunity to enable the Council to meet its high housing need of 14,700 new dwellings in the Chiltern and South Bucks areas, arising over the plan period (as stated in the joint HEDNA, September 2016 update). 6 Page 6 of 7 Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) I trust that I have enclosed all of the necessary information for the Council to be able to make a fully informed decision on the status of my client’s site, however, if there is any further information or clarification that you require, please do not hesitate to contact me. Furthermore, please can you include this site in future updated versions of the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment. Yours faithfully, Ms Irum Khan-Williams CHARTERED TOWN PLANNER MA (Cantab) PG Dip Surv MSc MRTPI 7 Page 7 of 7 Classification: OFFICIAL PORep0737 (REDACTED) This is a copy of the title plan on 23 AUG 2015 at 12:25:55. This copy does not take account of any application made after that time even if still pending in the Land Registry when this copy was issued.