You may be aware that the Tewkesbury Borough Plan (2011-2031) is approaching its final stage of consultation.
Members of the public have until 5pm on Tuesday 18 November 2019 to register their comments before submission of the Plan to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will appoint a Planning Inspector for independent examination.
The Friends of Winchcombe Committee are totally opposed to that part of the Plan proposing the building of at least 80 houses in our precious AONB on land behind Delavale Road and Orchard Road.
We believe that the only valid objections at this stage are precise technical objections and we have prepared our summary case on the attached document for you.
You may use this as the basis for any comments you wish to make to Tewkesbury Borough Council and this will be your FINAL OPPORTUNITY to make your feelings known.
We urge you all to respond and suggest that your comments are made by email to:
localplanconsultation@tewkesbury.gov.uk
Your comments will all be sent to the Planning Inspector for consideration.
The deadline for submitting comments is 5pm on 18 November 2019
If you would like to review the full documentation it is available at
https://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/tewkesbury-borough-plan
or review the map of the planned development location by choosing 'housing allocations & settlement boundaries'
We do suggest that you, as individual members, make your submissions to the plan consultation using the content supplied in the attached letter / email as it has specific technical comment. Please sign off making it clear that you object to the Plan on the points raised.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Rupert Chislett
Chair
FOW
Template letter contents below:
Address:
Members of the public have until 5pm on Tuesday 18 November 2019 to register their comments before submission of the Plan to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will appoint a Planning Inspector for independent examination.
The Friends of Winchcombe Committee are totally opposed to that part of the Plan proposing the building of at least 80 houses in our precious AONB on land behind Delavale Road and Orchard Road.
We believe that the only valid objections at this stage are precise technical objections and we have prepared our summary case on the attached document for you.
You may use this as the basis for any comments you wish to make to Tewkesbury Borough Council and this will be your FINAL OPPORTUNITY to make your feelings known.
We urge you all to respond and suggest that your comments are made by email to:
localplanconsultation@tewkesbury.gov.uk
Your comments will all be sent to the Planning Inspector for consideration.
The deadline for submitting comments is 5pm on 18 November 2019
If you would like to review the full documentation it is available at
https://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/tewkesbury-borough-plan
or review the map of the planned development location by choosing 'housing allocations & settlement boundaries'
We do suggest that you, as individual members, make your submissions to the plan consultation using the content supplied in the attached letter / email as it has specific technical comment. Please sign off making it clear that you object to the Plan on the points raised.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
Rupert Chislett
Chair
FOW
Template letter contents below:
- The housing site allocation WIN1 land off Delavale Road lies entirely within the Cotswold AONB and the NPPF paragraph 172 states that "planning permission should be refused for major development other than in exceptional circumstances."
- The site lies wholly within the AONB which has the highest level of landscape protection and where great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty. It would be a development of significance which would have an adverse impact on the AONB, by replacing the current open agricultural land with built development. The AONB designation is of long standing and though it is not unalterable, it is readily understood by the public as conferring a particular status on and value on land included within the designation as well as being a matter of great weight of the National Planning Policy Framework.
- Site allocation WIN1 includes land which at its northern end is higher than almost all existing housing within the town and its development will have a detrimental effect on the environment and landscape.
- The proposed site allocation in Winchcombe has overlooked the scope for development on the settlements northern boundary and within Greet where the land is far less prominent in terms of visibility from its surroundings and does not lie within the AONB.
- The allocation of site WIN1 is in conflict with the objectives of the adopted Cotswolds AONB management plan 2018-2023.
- The Tewkesbury Borough Plan is required to identify housing development land to meet the requirements of the entire borough area and there are many other site opportunities which on previous appraisal were identified as being available, suitable and achievable during the course of the next five years. It is submitted that development within the AONB on the northern boundary of Winchcombe is far less suitable than the alternatives across the borough.
- In the dismissal of the planning appeal made against the refusal for consent for the development of 35 dwellings on land off Kyderminster Road Winchcombe (16/00481/OUT) the Planning Inspector identified that the main issue for consideration in the appeal was the effect of the proposed development on the AONB. In that case the subject land was identified as agricultural fields on the northern edge of Winchcombe, comprising gently rising ground, adjacent to but outside the residential development boundary of Winchcombe. The inspector noted that "... the development would represent an intrusion of built development into the AONB and would occupy an area of characteristic agricultural land which forms part of the setting of Langley Hill". The inspector went on to state that the proposed development "amounts to actual harm to the AONB which would be in conflict with policies SD8 of the emerging JCS and 1.1 of the NP". Development of the AONB at WIN1 would be even more harmful to Winchcombe in general and the setting of Langley Hill.
- Whilst Winchcombe is identified as a Rural Service Centre and clearly has a good range of community support facilities, material further growth of the local population will create burdens on in particular the local road network, the local medical centre and the local primary school. The ability of the local health services and primary school to accommodate additional patients/pupils is in doubt.
Address: