Woodford Garden Village Supplementary Planning Document Report of Survey 13 July 2012 Woodford Garden Village SPD – Report of Survey Contents 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Site Context 2 Introduction 2 Background 3 The Site & Surroundings 3 Land Ownership 8 Planning History 8 3.0 Planning Policy 9 Introduction 9 Sources & Methodology 9 Baseline Information 9 Conclusions & Constraints 20 4.0 Context & Character 21 Introduction 21 Sources & Methodology 21 Baseline Information 21 Conclusions & Constraints 25 5.0 Dust & Air Quality 26 Introduction 26 Sources & Methodology 26 Baseline Information 27 Conclusions & Constraints 29 6.0 Noise & Vibration 30 Introduction 30 Sources & Methodology 30 Baseline Information 31 Conclusions & Constraints 32 7.0 Hydrology & Drainage 33 Introduction 33 Sources & Methodology 33 Baseline Information 34 Conclusions & Constraints 34 8.0 Ground Contamination 35 Introduction 35 2726511v2 Woodford Garden Village SPD – Report of Survey Sources & Methodology 35 Baseline Information 36 Conclusions & Constraints 40 9.0 Ecology & Nature Conservation 42 Introduction 42 Sources & Methodology 42 Baseline Information 43 Conclusions & Constraints 47 10.0 Cultural Heritage & Archaeology 49 Introduction 49 Sources & Methodology 49 Baseline Information 49 Conclusions & Constraints 53 11.0 Landscape & Visual Amenity 55 Introduction 55 Sources & Methodology 55 Baseline Information 58 Conclusions & Constraints 62 12.0 Transportation 63 Introduction 63 Sources & Methodology 63 Baseline Information 64 Woodford Traffic Generation and Impact 76 Next Steps 82 Conclusions & Constraints 82 13.0 Accessibility Assessment 85 Introduction 85 Methodology & Sources 85 Baseline Information 86 Conclusion & Constraints 97 14.0 Socio Economics 98 Introduction 98 Sources & Methodology 98 Baseline Information 99 Conclusions & Constraints 108 2726511v2 Woodford Garden Village SPD – Report of Survey Figures2 Figure 2.1 Location Plan 2 Figure 3.1 Woodford Aerodrome MEDS 11 Figure 4.1 Settlement Form 22 Figure 4.2 Typical Housing in Woodford 23 Figure 4.3 Typical Housing in Woodford 24 Figure 4.4 Typical Housing in Woodford 24 Figure 4.5 Christ Church, Woodford 25 Figure 11.1 Wider Viewpoint Locations 56 Figure 11.2 Visual Envelope Study Mapping 57 Figure 11.3 Landscape Character Areas 59 Figure 11.4 Historic Landscape Features 61 Figure 11.5 Landscape Character – Field Boundary Elements 61 Figure 12.1 Site Location & Strategic Transport Links 65 Figure 12.2 Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow data from DfT Traffic Counter Sites in the Vicinity of Woodford, 2000 – 2010 (all vehicles) 66 Figure 12.3 Relative Annual Average Daily Traffic Flows (all vehicles) 67 Figure 12.4 Key Public Transport Links 69 Figure 12.5 Personal Injury Collisions Jan 2008- Jan 2011 72 Figure 12.6 SEMMMS Scheme 73 Figure 13.1 Walking Travel Time Isochrones from the site (based on 4.8kph walk speed) 87 Figure 13.2 Cycling Travel Time Isochrones from the site (based on 16kph cycle speed) 88 Figure 13.3 Public Transport Travel Time Isochrones from the site (allowing 1 interchange) 89 Figure 14.1 Walking Travel Times 106 Figure 14.2 Walking Distances to Primary Schools 106 2726511v2 Woodford Garden Village SPD – Report of Survey Tables2 Table 2.1 Building Footprints 7 Table 5.1 Annual Mean Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations at Local Authority Monitoring Sites within 4km of the Site 28 Table 5.2 Background Concentrations at the Site 28 Table 8.1 Plausible Pollutant Linkages 41 Table 10.1 Designated Heritage Assets 50 Table 10.2 Sensitive Setting of Designated Heritage Assets 51 Table 10.3 Undesignated Heritage Assets 51 Table 11.1 Sensitivity of Viewpoints 57 Table 12.1 Data Sources 63 Table 12.2 Summary of 2012 Traffic Survey Locations 67 Table 12.3 A5102 Chester Road Average Traffic Flows and Speeds 68 Table 12.4 Existing Local Bus Services 70 Table 12.5 Poynton Train Journey Times to Local Destinations 71 Table 12.6 2001 Site Access Surveys 75 Table 12.7 85th Percentile Trip Rates (per unit/ 100 sqm), derived from the TRICs database 78 Table 12.8 85th Percentile Trip Rates (per unit/ 100 sqm), derived from the TRICs database 78 Table 13.1 Journeys towards Stockport & Manchester from Macclesfield (Mon-Fri) AM & PM Peak 91 Table 13.2 Journeys from Manchester & Stockport towards Macclesfield (Mon-Fri) AM & PM Peak 91 Table 13.3 Cost of Season Tickets from Local Rail Stations 91 Table 13.4 Local Retail Facilities in Woodford, Bramhall and Poynton 94 Table 14.1 Population Projections for Cheshire East and Stockport Boroughs 100 Table 14.2 Stockport PCT GP Facilities 105 Table 14.3 Central & Eastern Cheshire PCT GP Facilities 105 Appendices2 Appendix 1 Building Footprints Appendix 2 Planning History 2726511v2 Woodford Garden Village SPD – Report of Survey 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The Woodford Aerodrome site straddles the administrative boundary between Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council [SMBC] and Cheshire East Council [CEC], with the eastern part of the site being within CEC and the western part of the site being within SMBC‟s jurisdiction. In recognition of this SMBC and CEC have worked in partnership with the landowners to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document [SPD] for the site. For the purposes of this document the site will be referred to as the Woodford Garden Village. 1.2 Aircraft were manufactured at the Woodford Aerodrome site since 1924. However, BAE Systems closed the manufacturing facility in March 2011 and it now represents a major redevelopment opportunity. 1.3 The site lies within the Green Belt, as defined by the adopted Stockport Unitary Development Plan Review [UDP] and the Macclesfield Local Plan [MLP]. Two areas of the site within Stockport are allocated in the UDP as Major Existing Developed Sites [MEDS] in the Green Belt, where the principle of infilling and redevelopment accords with national and local planning guidance. The site is identified in the Stockport Core Strategy [SCS] as the Woodford Aerodrome Opportunity Site and the SCS indicates that the Council will prepare a Supplementary Planning Document [SPD] to guide redevelopment of the site. 1.4 The purpose of the SPD is to expand on national and local policies and provide detailed guidance for the future use of the site, including appropriate redevelopment, improving damaged and derelict land, providing opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation, and enhancing landscapes, visual amenity and biodiversity. In effect, it will form a development brief for the site. The SPD will, therefore, be an important consideration in the determination of planning applications for development on the site. It will also be used by the landowners to inform the preparation of development proposals. 1.5 This document sets out the results of the survey work undertaken and will be used to formulate the masterplan for the site and Woodford Garden Village SPD. The report sets out the findings in relation to each topic area. 2726511v2 P1 Woodford Garden Village SPD – Report of Survey 2.0 Site Context Introduction 2.1 This section provides a description of the site and outlines the current land ownerships. 2.2 The site is located on the southern edge of Greater Manchester, approximately 8.3km to the south of Stockport; 4.5km to the east of Wilmslow and 8.3km to the north of Macclesfield. The site lies immediately to the south of the village of Woodford and to the west of the town of Poynton. 2.3 The site benefits from links to the strategic highway network, in particular the A34, M60 and wider motorway network. 2.4 The site‟s location is shown on Figure 2.1. Figure 2.1 Location Plan 2.5 The site extends to 205ha and is irregular in shape. In terms of topography, the site is generally flat although it slopes gently from north to south and from west to east. P2 2726511v2 Woodford Garden Village SPD – Report of Survey Background 2.6 The site has a history of aircraft manufacturing dating back to the early twentieth century. 2.7 Avro purchased the site in 1924. It was selected as it had excellent road access, a nearby railway line and was reasonably flat. The aerodrome initially involved the development of hangars and a clubhouse in the southern part of the existing site. The original hangers were relocated from Avro‟s site at Alexandra Park, Manchester. Initially aircraft used a grass strip for take-off and landings. 2.8 The aerodrome underwent significant change and development in the late 1930s. The main factory buildings in the north of the site, known as the „New Assembly‟ were completed in December 1939. The airfield to the south of the New Assembly buildings was acquired by the RAF after the outbreak of WWII. The RAF constructed a new classic „X pattern‟ airfield with surrounding hardstandings and taxiways. 2.9 During WWII Woodford expanded continuously and made a significant contribution to the war effort manufacturing the Lancaster Bomber which was the principal bomber of the RAF. 2.10 After the war, military aircraft continued to be manufactured including the Avro Anson, Avro Shackleton, Avro Lincoln and the Avro Vulcan. In addition, civil aircraft were manufactured at Woodford included the Avro Tudor (Britain‟s first four-jet transport aircraft), BAE 146 four-jet airliner and the Avro 718 2.11 The Woodford site became part of British Aerospace in 1977 following nationalisation. The final contract carried out by BAe Systems was the production of the Nimrod MRA.4 aircraft for the RAF and subsequently the renovation of the MK2 Nimrods. Following the Government‟s Strategic Defence and Security Review (October 2010), the MoD terminated the Nimrod contract and BAE Systems‟ operations came to a close in March 2011. The Site & Surroundings The Site 2.12 The site comprises the former BAE Systems plant. This broadly consists of two main developed areas with substantial buildings, which were formally designated as MEDS; one in the north adjoining the built-up area of Woodford and one to the south of the site, along with the runways and associated open areas.