Support

Representation ID: 7533

Received: 21/09/2021

Respondent: EF Wootton and Son

Agent: Phillips Planning Services

Our client strongly supports the proposed new settlement of Dennybrook Garden Village which is being promoted by Taylor Wimpey through the Call for Sites Process (977).

Our client has land at Top Farm, Wyboston (Sites 603 and 1354) which forms part of this proposal, and we can confirm that as part of a joint venture with other land owners, our client is committed to the release of this land to deliver the new settlement.

The purpose of this independent representation is both to support the inclusion of Dennybrook Garden Village, in the emerging Local Plan, and also to draw attention to the fact that if the new settlement options are not taken forward, our client’s land would remain available to address alternative strategies and can be released independently for a smaller scale of development in this location.

Our client has consistently promoted the land as being a location for the delivery of housing as part of development specific to the future needs of the Parish of Wyboston, Chawston and Colesdon, and as part of a new settlement. The proposal for the farm on its own is submitted under site 1354 (Land at Top Farm (Incorporating Chawston Lake & Morris Walk) and relates to the whole site, excluding the farm house and barns (approved for residential use some years ago and currently being completed).

The land at Top Farm is likely to be part of the first phase of the Dennybrook scheme, and therefore, if the Council do not support the new settlement at this stage and feel further work is necessary to support the Garden Village for inclusion in a future Local Plan, we would like to highlight that the Top Farm site could come forward at an early phase without prejudicing the delivery of the new settlement in the longer term. Indeed, some development here could be seen as an opportunity to “pump prime” the delivery of the proposed new settlement in this location, as the site is of sufficient size to accommodate 450 dwellings, a school, and other local services and facilities. This could form the nucleus of an early phase on which the bigger scheme could be built.

The second option submitted under Site 603 (Top Farm, Wyboston) is smaller scale, and promotes the idea of a small site for up to 20 dwellings to address local development needs, as well as being an attractive location for custom and self-build plots – please see our comments in respect of proposed policy SB1.

In terms of sustainability, there is a bus stop accessible by foot that connects the site to Biggleswade, Sandy, and St Neots. St Neots can be easily accessed from the site at a longer walking / short cycling distance, which provides a range of services, employment opportunities, and transport links. The site is therefore in a reasonably sustainable rural location. Development of this site will contribute towards the long-term vitality of the settlement and viability of these services.

In conclusion, our client’s preference is for the land to come forward as part of the Dennybrook Garden Village and as such would commend this proposal to the Council as a long term solution to growth in the Borough. If for whatever reason this is not preferred, the land will remain available to meet any alternatives that may suggest development in this area.