DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PANEL 19 MARCH 2012 Case No: 1101937OUT (OUTLINE APPLICATION) Proposal: RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH ACCESS ROAD, OPEN SPACE AND BALANCING POND INCLUDING DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS Location: HOUGHTON GRANGE, HOUGHTON HILL, HOUGHTON HUNTINGDON Applicant: BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL Grid Ref: 529564 272003 Date of Registration: 10.11.2011 Parish: HOUGHTON AND WYTON RECOMMENDATION – APPROVE SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF S106 AGREEMENT 1. DESCRIPTION OF SITE AND APPLICATION 1.1 Houghton Grange is situated on the south side of Houghton Road (A1123) with the recent Slepe Meadows housing development to the north west. To the east is the residential property of The How and land formerly part of the golf course. The new Green Acres housing development is further to the east. To the south is a County Wildlife Site and to the south east the Thicket woodland that was in the past gifted to the Council by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC – the applicants). To the west is open grazing land and the grounds of Houghton Bury. 1.2 The Grange is Grade ii listed along with the two entrance lodges to the site. Within the site there are a total of 6 existing dwellings; Dormy House, the two listed lodge houses, a pair of recent link detached houses and a bungalow on the isolation unit. The building known as the Director’s House was converted to offices and is therefore not considered as an existing dwelling. 1.3 There is a belt of trees that runs north-south from the frontage of the site through the centre, and deeper and more varied areas of planting each side of the Grange. Many of the trees on the site are protected by a Tree Preservation Order. 1.4 The site is proposed to be accessed by a corridor that connects to the new signal controlled cross roads junction with Houghton Road (A1123) recently completed. 1.5 The application site has a total area of 11.16 hectares which includes the original 9.6 hectare site allocated within the Local Plan Alterations 2002 plus the area of land for provision of the access and balancing pond. The site is within the Parish of Houghton and Wyton. 1.6 The application is for Residential development with access road, open space and balancing pond including demolition of existing buildings. Access is the only matter to be approved at this stage with layout, scale, appearance and landscaping to be reserved for subsequent approval. The final number of dwellings will be determined at the detailed design stage however it is anticipated that the site will achieve around 90 units. 1.7 The application is supported by a Planning, Design and Access Statement, Ecological Appraisal and Protected Species report, Transport Statement, Draft Travel Plan, Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy, Tree Survey, Environmental Land Quality Assessment and Archaeological Evaluation Report. 2. NATIONAL GUIDANCE 2.1 PPS1: “Delivering Sustainable Development” (2005) contains advice on the operation of the plan-led system. 2.2 Planning Policy Statement: Planning and Climate Change - Supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1 (2007) sets out how planning, in providing for the new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, should help shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to the climate change now accepted as inevitable. 2.3 PPS3: “Housing” (2011) sets out how the planning system supports the growth in housing completions needed in England. 2.4 PPS5: Planning for the Historic Environment (2010) sets out the Government's planning policies on the conservation of the historic environment. 2.5 PPS9: “Biological and Geological Conservation” (2005) sets out planning policies on protection of biodiversity and geological conservation through the planning system. 2.6 PPG13: “Transport” (2011) sets out the objectives to integrate planning and transport at the national, strategic and local level and to promote more sustainable transport choices both for carrying people and for moving freight. 2.7 PPG17: “Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation” (2002) sets out the policies needed to be taken into account by regional planning bodies in the preparation of Regional Planning Guidance (or any successor) and by local planning authorities in the preparation of development plans (or their successors); they may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications. 2.8 PPS23: “Planning and Pollution Control” (2004) is intended to complement the new pollution control framework under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 and the PPC Regulations 2000. 2.9 PPS25: “Development and Flood Risk” (revised 2010) sets out Government policy on development and flood risk. Its aims are to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and to direct development away from areas of highest risk. Where new development is, exceptionally, necessary in such areas, policy aims to make it safe, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and, where possible, reducing flood risk overall. 2.10 Draft National Planning Policy Framework: Consultation (2011) - sets out the Government’s key economic, social and environmental objectives and the planning policies to deliver them. The intention is that these policies will provide local communities with the tools they need to energise their local economies, meet housing needs, plan for a low-carbon future and protect the environmental and cultural landscapes that they value. It seeks to free communities from unnecessarily prescriptive central government policies, empowering local councils to deliver innovative solutions that work for their local area. For full details visit the government website http://www.communities.gov.uk and follow the links to planning, Building and Environment, Planning, Planning Policy. 3. PLANNING POLICIES Further information on the role of planning policies in deciding planning applications can also be found at the following website: http://www.communities.gov.uk then follow links Planning, Building and Environment, Planning, Planning Information and Guidance, Planning Guidance and Advice and then Creating and Better Place to Live 3.1 East of England Plan - Revision to the Regional Spatial Strategy (May 2008) Policies viewable at http://www.go-east.gov.uk then follow links to Planning, Regional Planning then Related Documents SS1: “Achieving Sustainable Development” – the strategy seeks to bring about sustainable development by applying: the guiding principles of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy 2005 and the elements contributing to the creation of sustainable communities described in Sustainable Communities: Homes for All. SS4: “Towns other than Key Centres and Rural Areas” – Local Development Documents should define the approach to development in towns. Such towns include selected Market Towns and others with potential to increase their social and economic sustainability. T2: “Changing Travel Behaviour” – to bring about significant change in travel behaviour, a reduction in distances travelled and a shift towards greater use of sustainable modes should be promoted. T8: “Local Roads” – local road networks should be managed in accordance with the local transport plan objectives: tackling congestion and its environmental impacts; facilitating the provision of safe and efficient public transport, walking and cycling; providing efficient vehicular access to locations and activities requiring it and improving safety. T9: “Walking, Cycling and other Non-Motorised Transport” – existing networks should be improved and developed as part of the Regional Transport Strategy. T14: “Parking” – controls to manage transport demand and influencing travel change alongside measures to improve public transport accessibility, walking and cycling should be encouraged. Maximum parking standards should be applied to new residential development. ENV3: “Biodiversity and Earth Heritage” it should be ensured that the region’s wider biodiversity, earth heritage and natural resources are protected and enriched through conservation, restoration and re- establishment of key resources. ENV6: “The Historic Environment” - Within plans, policies, programmes and proposals local planning authorities and other agencies should identify, protect, conserve and, where appropriate, enhance the historic environment of the region including Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings. ENV7: “Quality in the Built Environment” - requires new development to be of high quality which complements the distinctive character and best qualities of the local area and promotes urban renaissance and regeneration. ENG1: “Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Energy Performance” – for new developments of 10+ dwellings or 1000sqm non residential development a minimum of 10% of their energy should be from decentralised and renewable or low carbon resources unless not feasible or viable. WAT4: “Flood Risk Management” – River flooding is a significant risk in parts. The priorities are to defend existing properties from flooding and locate new development where there is little or no flooding. 3.2 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan (2003) Saved policies from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 are relevant and viewable at http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk follow the links to environment, planning, planning policy and Structure Plan 2003. P6/1 – Development Related Provision – development will only be permitted