Urban Design & Landscape Architecture MKDP Pre-Application Little Meadow Loughton www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/udla May 2017 Little Meadow, Loughton Pre-application This document has been prepared by Milton Keynes Council’s Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Team. For further information please contact: Neil Sainsbury, Head of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Planning and Transport Milton Keynes Council Civic Offices 1 Saxon Gate East Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ T +44 (0) 1908 254836 E [email protected] Produced in association with 2 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture Contents SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION Outline and purpose of the Document 1.0 Site Location and Context pg 5 The purpose of this document is to establish the broad 1.1 Site Boundary pg 6 planning and design parameters for development of this site in line with the existing land use allocation 1.2 Site Photos pg 7 and as per existing policy. The intention is that this document will provide a degree of clarity for a SECTION 2 THE SITE & OPTIONS developer when preparing a planning application. 2.0 Access pg 9 At the outset views were sought from the Parish Council and Local Ward Members and where 2.1 Proposed Uses pg 9 appropriate their comments were addressed in the 2.2 Key Principles pg 9 outline pre-application document. 2.3 Parameters Plan pg 9 This process ensures MKDP meet their obligation to obtain comment from Council Development Management Officers before marketing the site. This pre-application report concludes the process and APPENDICES sanctions MKDP to proceed to market. 1 Pre-application Report pg 13 2 Comments from Ward Members and/or The Key Principles and Parameters Plan should Parish Council pg 15 be read alongside the Pre-application Report at Appendix 1. www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/udla 3 SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1.0 Site Location and Context pg 5 1.1 Site Boundary pg 6 1.2 Site Photos pg 7 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture 1.0 Site Location and Context The site is 0.2 ha in size. The site is located in the Loughton Grid Square approximately 2 km south-west of Central Milton Keynes. Loughton is an established residential area. Wymbush Stantonbury Park The site consists of a grassed area and contains a Great Linford Tongwell 8 A5 50 number of trees. A Bolbeck Old Wolverton New Bradwell Park Stantonbury Pennyland Willen Stonebridge Willen Bradville Park Neath Hill Pineham Old Blue Bridge Stratford Downhead WOLVERTON Park Brooklands Wolverton Linford Wood Mill Northeld Bancroft Downs Barn Newlands Greenleys Stacey Bushes Heelands Conniburrow Fullers Hodge Broughton Slade Lea Bradwell Bradwell Abbey Broughton Kiln Farm Bradwell Woolstone Gate Common Middleton Wymbush Springeld Rooksley Oakgrove Two Mile Ash Kingston Loughton Fishermead Monkston Lodge Monkston Great Holm Park Brinklow Loughton Eaglestone Oldbrook Woughton Little on-the-green Meadow Kents Hill Crownhill Loughton Winterhill Leadenhall Wavendon Walton Hall Gate Knowlhill Woughton Shenley Coee Park Walnut Church End Hall Grange Farm Nethereld Walton Tree The Bowl Old Farm Hazeley Shenley Bleak Simpson Park Medbourne Beanhill Walton Park Lodge Hall Browns Oakhill Ashland Shenley Wood Woods Redmoor Woodhill Tilbrook Denbigh Shenley Granby North Mount Farm Brook End Furzton Denbigh Hall Caldecotte Oxley Park Fenny Fenny Lock Emerson Valley West Denbigh Westcroft Stratford Bletchley East Kingsmead Tattenhoe BLETCHLEY Far Bletchley Tattenhoe Park www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/udla 5 Little Meadow, Loughton Pre-application 4 48 4 48 4 48 8390 8400 8410 3 Play Area 400 410 W 72 9 38 0 0 0 0 ITTLE MEADO L 1.1 Site Boundary 5 3 3 237002370000 0 1 1 30 28 W LITTLE MEADO 13 1 7 9 1 5 P Horse Rid ath and Cycle Trac e k 2369023 699000 Y ath and Cycle Path 5 P 3 HILDS WA C 12 5 6 1 ILLCREST CLOSE H Hillcrest Site Boundary 91.8m Subway 236802 Site0 Boundary 86.8m Category A - MKA-44-1 Land Off Little Meadow LOUGHTON 11-12-2012 1:1250 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture 1.2 Site Photos A redway runs along the southern edge of the site Housing to the west of the site View of site looking south View of site looking north www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/udla 7 SECTION 2 THE SITE AND DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS 2.0 Access pg 9 2.1 Proposed Uses pg 9 2.2 Key Principles pg 9 2.3 Parameters Plan pg 9 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture 2.0 Access 2.2 Key Principles • Arboricultural and ecological reports will be required for the site. Any development The site is accessed off Little Meadow. The site links • Dwellings should provide surveillance of the proposals will need to take account of the into the local network of cycle paths (redways) via redway. findings of these reports. Little Meadow. To the south and east of the site there • Back-to-back and rear-to-flank privacy 2.3 Parameters Plan are existing bus stops on Watling Street (V4) and distances should accord with guidance in the Childs Way (H6). New Residential Design Guide SPD. The Parameters Plan has been drawn up to illustrate the key principles that are considered important to the 2.1 Proposed Uses • Minimum garden sizes should accord with development of the site. guidance in the New Residential Design Guide The Parameters Plan highlights access points The site is identified in the Local Plan as suitable for SPD. approximate development plot, building frontage, residential development, subject to certain criteria. • Building heights should be 2 storeys. garden area, parking location, trees/hedge. This is the most appropriate land use and is consistent with the context. • Existing hedgerow along eastern boundary should be retained. The site is amenity open space, and therefore policy • The layout should provide a clear distinction L2 of the Local Plan applies. The loss of amenity between public and private space. open space may be acceptable if it is adequately compensated by proposals for improvements to the • Where the layout permits, trees of high/ quality of landscaping and appearance of amenity moderate quality should be retained. Trees space elsewhere in the locality. removed as a result of the development should be compensated for by new specimen tree planting. • Mitigation should be provided to offset the loss of any wildlife habitats. www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/udla 9 Little Meadow, Loughton Pre-application Title N Plot 1 Little Meadow, Loughton Plot 2 Site boundary Approximate development plots Parking Surveillance of redway Existing hedge to be retained Existing tree which developer should seek to retain Garden area (size to accord with Residential Design Guide) MKDP Little Meadow, Loughton Principal building frontage Parameters Plan 124/06.2/Little Proposed access to site 1:500@A4 DB Checked 27/02/2017 Meadow 0m 20m Proposed private drive © Crown Copyright and database rights [2012]. Ordnance Survey Existing redway [100019593] Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Existing land use: residential Planning, Economy and Development Civic Oces | Saxon Gate East | Milton Keynes | MK9 3EJ 10 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture 2.4 Next Steps MKDP will draft a Marketing Brief for the site in line with the advice in the pre-application report. www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/udla 11 Little Meadow, Loughton Pre-application APPENDICES Appendix 1 pg 13 Pre-application Report from Development Management Appendix 2 pg 15 Comments from Ward Members and/or Parish Council 12 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture Appendix 1 Pre-application Report from Site Address: MKC Reference 17/00622/PREFRE unduly onerous Land At Planning Officer Adam Smith In addition, in certain cases, Policy L2 allows for the loss of amenity open space if it is adequately Development Management Little Meadow compensated by proposals for improvements elsewhere. Loughton . The application site clearly has some value in terms of landscaping and wildlife and this would Milton Keynes need to be quantified as part of a planning application via the submission of arboricultural reports and ecological assessments. Seeking to retain the higher quality trees within the site as Applicant name and address: shown on the parameters plan would help to limit the landscaping and wildlife impacts. I would also recommend including an assessment on the availability of amenity open space in the UDLA wider locality is included with any application, which given that this part of Loughton appears to be well served by such facilities would potentially add weight to any case that this site is only of Development proposal limited amenity value. Erection of two detached dwellings served by new vehicular access . As part of a balanced assessment, and subject to a sensitively designed scheme that seeks to retain as much existing vegetation as possible, and the findings of the aforementioned reports, I Relevant Planning History can see the potential for a case to be made for onsite mitigation to compensate for the loss of None relevant the amenity open space. However, should a need arise for offsite mitigation works, options to explore would be Relevant Planning Policy improvements to land adjoining part of the eastern side of the site in the Parks Trust Ownership National Planning Policy Framework or enter into discussions with Loughton and Great Holm Parish Council regarding improvements Milton Keynes Core Strategy Policies: to other areas of amenity open space in Loughton. CS1, CS10, CS11, CS12, CS13, CS18 and CS19 Saved Policies of the Milton Keynes Council Local Plan: Landscaping D1, D2, D2A, H7, H8, H9, L2, NE2, NE3, T10 and T15 . The comments of the Landscape Architect are appended to this advice note and in summary Neighbourhood Plan : N/A include the following points: Supplementary Planning Document/Guidance: o The site appears to form part of a historical and larger wooded parcel of land.