Site ID: 603
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Site Assessment Pro Formas
Representation ID: 8500
Received: 27/09/2021
Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd
Gladman are promoting Land North West of Hall End Road, Wootton for residential development. The site measures approximately 3.84 hectares in size and can accommodate around 90 dwellings. A location plan is included below.
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The site comprises one pastoral field and part of another, separated by a newly installed ditch leading from the balancing pond of the adjacent development at Latimer Close.
The site can accommodate approximately 90 dwellings of mixed housing types and sizes designed to minimise impacts on nearby residents, heritage assets, landscape views and respecting the character of the local area. New Vehicular Access is indicated from Hall End Road with a number of pedestrian and cycle links to Hall End Road, the John Bunyan Trail and the National Cycle Route.
Existing vegetation will be retained as much as possible with additional planting throughout the site to create a landscape buffer and green corridor, alongside a large proportion of open space including a children’s play area for both new and existing residents.
Wootton is well‐served by a range of services and facilities, the majority of which are within a 10 minutes walking distance of the Site. These include a primary school, a secondary school, library, village hall, public houses, convenience stores, post office and public houses. Wootton’s designation as a ‘Key services centre’ by the Bedford Borough Local Plan reflects the fact that it contains a good range of services and is well connected to larger town centres by regular public transport to a number of nearby settlements, including Bedford and Milton Keynes
Biodiversity
Gladman’s ecologist has considered impact on biodiversity, as raised in Bedford Borough’s assessment of site 603 at Wootton. Other key points:
The site is not within or adjoining a site of nature conservation.
Whether the site is within an area where protected species are known or likely to exist.
The site is within an area where protected species are known or likely to exist. However, with the implementation of some straightforward mitigation and precautionary measures as proposed above, the development is not anticipated to result in any significant residual negative effects to important ecological features.
Is there potential to achieve a net gain in biodiversity.
Based on the biodiversity metric 3.0 calculations, the proposed development (inclusive of on‐site intervention) would result in an overall gain. These gains can be evidenced through the ecological report, which can be shared with Bedford Borough, should they so wish. These are initial calculations and are subject to further changes.
Able to link into the green infrastructure opportunity network.
The site currently lies outside the green infrastructure network as per the Bedford Green Infrastructure Plan (2009). However, the Development Framework Plan has been designed to retain, enhance and compensate all habitats of principal importance. For example, the loss of 10‐15m of hedgerow has been compensated with the planting of 290m of new species rich hedgerow.
These new hedgerows, the retention and enhancement of the wet ditch and the area of green space in the north section of the site, are positioned to extend the current network of linked habitat and maintain a significant biodiverse corridor to the wider area. This will serve to meet local BAP targets.
It is deemed that with the implementation of some straightforward mitigation and precautionary measures, as proposed above, the development is not anticipated to result in any significant residual negative effects to important ecological features. A considered Development Framework Plan can deliver significant ecological mitigation and enhancements through the retention of linear features and the incorporation of species diverse grassland, SUDS features and tree planting.
Archaelology and Heritage
The Heritage England Map identifies that there are no heritage assets on or near to the site. The Wootton conservation area is not affected by the site.
Transport and Highways
In order to encourage sustainable transport, Gladman is open to considering the suggestions put forward by Bedford Borough, including the introduction of a pedestrian crossing, widening the existing footpath, and construction of a cycle lane. This is subject to a full transport assessment, as Bedford Borough identify, and any junction improvements recommended by highways consultants will be carried out to ensure safe and convenient access into and out of the site.