HMS Cambria, Cardiff Bay Design and Access Statement January 2017 This document has been prepared by: on behalf of: Prepared by: Liam Hopkins The Urbanists, The Creative Quarter, 8A Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AF, United Kingdom [email protected] UG1606, January 2017, Document Revision 3 All maps within this document are: Reproduced from Ordnance Survey with permission of the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office (C) Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution/civil proceedings. Licence No 100054593 www.theurbanists.net Contents 1. Introduction p. 4 2. Context p. 6 3. Design Proposals p.14 4. Design Statement p. 16 5. Planning Statement p. 34 6. Conclusion p. 36 1. Introduction Statement Purpose • Recruiting design of the development takes that context into account; This Design and Access Statement has been produced • Retention to accompany an application for planning permission 3. Explain the policy or approach adopted as to • Training for a naval reserve training facility in Cardiff Bay. The access, and how policies relating to access in development will be named HMS Cambria and will • Deploying welfare, and the development plan have been taken into be a training centre for the South Wales Maritime account; and Reserves and Royal Navy. • Post operation recovery. 4. Explain how any specific issues which might The Development The proposed building would provide a modern, affect access to the development have been operationally effective training facility that will be addressed. The development proposed in the application robust, adaptable and extendable, whilst maintaining includes: a modern naval appearance which will enhance it’s This statement has been prepared to satisfy the context. requirement for a DAS and provides the information • 4,659 sqm training facility; identified in TAN 12. The development is discussed in more detail in • Outdoor training spaces; Sections 3 and 4. Statement Content • Parking area and site access; Legislative Context This Statement is structured as follows: • Landscape works; and As a result of the Planning (Wales) Act, Design and • Context - identifies the site location and surrounding context; describes the application • Perimeter fencing. Access Statements (DAS) are now required for the following types of development only: site; identifies the historical context for the The project is part of the Navy Command Future site and surrounding area; and, describes the Reserves 20 programme. HMS Cambria is currently • All planning applications for “major” planning policy context and relevant planning located at Sully on the Eastern outskirts of Barry. development except those for mining application history; The need for the project is to provide permanent operations; waste developments; relaxation • Design Proposals - Describes the proposed facilities for a modern Maritime Reserves unit in South of conditions (section ’73’ applications) and development and associated activities; Wales supporting the FR20 programme’s objectives applications of a material change in use of land and have the capacity for growth in the personnel or buildings; and, • Design Statement- Explains the design numbers. • All planning applications for development in approach and analyses the design against key design criteria; HMS Cambria’s current remote location is difficult a Conservation Area or World Heritage Site to access with public transport and does not offer which consist of the provision of one or more • Planning Statement - Assesses the proposals facilities to assist in the recruitment and retention of dwellings or the creation of floorspace of 100 against national and local planning policy; and, reservists. By relocating to Cardiff, which has a thriving sq. , (gross) or more. maritime sector within its busy port, the opportunity • Conclusion. The proposal is major development and thus to drive the recruitment and retention of Maritime requires a Design and Access Statement. Reserves will be enhanced. Technical Advice Note 12: Design Guidance on The site will provide training and administrative Design and Access Statements (March 2016) sets facilities for the Royal Navy Reserves (RNR), Royal out the requirements that a DAS should satisfy. Marine Reserves (RMR), and the University Royal Navy These are as follows: Unit (URNU). It is anticipated it will enable RNR and RMR to fulfil their commitments through the following 1. Explain the design principles and concepts that activities: have been applied to the development; 2. Demonstrate the steps taken to appraise the context of the development and how the Introduction Indicative site boundary Aerial view of Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Dock (development site demarcated red). HMS Cambria, Design and Access Statement 5 2. Context Training facility 2.1 Site Location and Description Location of the development site. There are three Sites of included with this application. Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) within 1km The site is located at the entrance to the Port of of the site. These are the Beach Sidings SINC (680m Cardiff. The site itself is located between Roath SE of the site); Ocean Park South SINC (802m NE of the Dock, Roath Basin and Queen Alexandra Dock site) and Cardiff Heliport Fields SINC (951m E of the within the operational port area. The site is site). accessible from Tyneside Road, which connects the site to the wider local transport network. The site Bats, including common pipistrelle, soprano can be accessed by public transport routes. pipistrelle, Nathusius pipistrelle, noctule and lesser horseshoe have been identified in the vicinity of the The BBC / Media Zone building is located to the south site, although the nearest recorded roost is 980m west of the site (130m away) and the proposed Porth from the site and onsite buildings have negligible Teigr housing development would be located to the features suitable for bats to roost within. There is west immediately adjacent to Roath Dock (approx also limited onsite habitat for bats to forage. Even 40m away). Operational port land surrounds the in the absence of mitigation, the development is site to the north, east and south. The Cardiff Bay unlikely to impact negatively on bats. commercial area is located approximately 500 metres to the west of the site and the Cardiff City Centre is 16 species of birds have been recorded within located 2 kilometres to the north west. 500m, and the onsite scrub and grassland offer potential habitat for nesting birds. All wild birds, Photographs of the site and surrounding area are their nests, eggs and dependent young are included below. protected by law so mitigation would be delivered to ensure no negative impact on nesting birds. Above, adjacent uses to the site. Below, view down Porth Teigr Way with BBC to the left and Porth Teigr site to the right. Description There are no records of reptiles within 2km of the site and the location and current use of the Existing Users site means that it is unlikely that reptiles are Site usage As the site is part of the operational port area it is present. Two species of invertebrate (grayling currently secured by palisade steel fencing. Existing and small blue butterflies) are recorded as using users include Marquess Holding / Cardiff Fuel Centre, the local area, although site survey identified no and 8.5m, overlying poor quality Tidal Flat deposits development site to Pierhead Street and the A4232 the Cardiff Sea Cadets and Maritime Volunteer Service. presence. An ecology survey is submitted with this (soft clay/loose sand), thickness 5.4m to 6.0m. Stiff approximately 250 metres to the north-west of There are 11 structures on the site that are associated application. to very stiff clay (Weathered Mercia Mudstone) was the development site. A swing bridge is located with these users. The Atkin Group, which specialises encountered at depths of between 12.0m and 13.9m directly adjacent to the north-western corner of in steel framing, is located on the site adjacent to below existing ground level overlying mudstone the application site. The swing bridge and the road the development site. In addition to the perimeter Flood Risk bedrock encountered at depths of between 17.0m itself, although constructed to adoptable standards, fencing, the site is dissected by chain-link and palisade The majority of the site is currently located in the TAN and 21.0m below existing ground level. Groundwater is privately maintained by Associated British Ports. fencing. 15 Flood Zone B, however, part is located in Flood Zone C1 on the NRW flood risk maps. Furthermore was observed in all the boreholes at depths of Parking is prohibited on the entirety of Tyneside Road over the lifetime of the development the site could between 1.8m and 12.5m. A site investigation report by double yellow line ‘no stopping or waiting at any Habitat and Ecology become part of TAN 15 Flood Zone C1 “served by is included in the application. time’ Traffic Regulation orders (TRO’s). The majority of the site is hardstanding, although significant infrastructure, including flood defences”. A The site is connected to the surrounding area via there are areas of scrub, semi-improved neutral flood risk assessment is therefore submitted with this Transportation grassland, bare ground and standing water. a network of footways and shared use footway / application. The proposed development site is currently accessed cycleways. These are of good quality, well-lit and The nearest statutory site to the development site is via Tyneside Road via an existing priority junction are flat and suitable for cycling. The closest bus the Severn Estuary, which is designated as a Ramsar, Ground Conditions which borders the western periphery of the site. stops to the site are located on Porth Teigr Way Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area A ground investigation has been completed at the The road is a local distributor road which connects directly adjacent to the entrance to the BBC Drama and Site of Special Scientific Interest.