Site ID: 764

Object

Representation ID: 4113

Received: 30/08/2021

Respondent: Mr Paul Irish

This proposal removes prime agricultural land and will destroy the rural approach to the village. It will encourage infilling between the land assigned on the neighbourhood plan and thereby significantly change the nature of the village

Object

Representation ID: 8077

Received: 02/09/2021

Respondent: Howbury Hall Estate

Agent: Phillips Planning Services

The following clarifications and additional information is provided in response to the Call for Sites Assessment proformas.

Ecology (2b, 2c, 2d)

Criterion 2b suggests that protected species are recorded at the site. It is unclear what protected species are considered likely to exist on this land.

The land is intensively farmed and so regularly ploughed / cultivated such that it is very unlikely to support any important habitat for protected species.

Should it be considered that protected species may utilise boundary landscaping it can be noted that this is to be retained and could be enhanced as part of any redevelopment, widening buffers and so in response to comments under 2c and 2d, deliver net biodiversity gains well in excess of that possible as part of an intensively farmed unit.

Heritage (4a)

Criterion 4a states that “The proposal has the potential to cause harm to heritage assets” with these impacts potentially ranging from ‘low to high’.

This appears a very generic comment included on many of the site assessments. It is not clear what heritage assets the comments are referring to.

The nearest statutory heritage assets are located well to the south west at Great Dairy Farmhouse. The Farmhouse is separated from this site by St Neots Road and a distance of at least 150 metres.

Development at the proposed site would not have any adverse impacts on the setting of Great Dairy Farmhouse which has no direct visual relationship with the site.

It is respectfully submitted that there are no heritage constraints to the allocation of this site.

Employment (5a)

It is stated that it is unclear as to whether the proposal would be ‘likely to increase future economic and employment opportunities’.

The site is promoted as an ‘employment site’ which could provide up to 47,500 sq ft of floorspace. Accordingly, it is considered clear that it is likely that the site would provide significant economic and employment opportunities.

The site is located directly on a main junction of the A421 and economic development here would clearly fit squarely with the emerging local plan strategy of focusing such growth at the edge of the urban area and within this corridor.

Conclusions

The submitted site offers substantial potential for allocation for employment generating uses.

The emerging local plan strategy seeks to focus development in the urban area, directly adjoining the urban area and along the A421 corridor.
This site is located within excellent proximity of and with good access to the A421 corridor.

It’s allocation would fit squarely with this emerging strategy.

There are no technical constraints to the development of the land.

The site is owned and controlled by the Howbury Hall Estate. No third party land or agreements are required to facilitate the development as proposed.

Ease of deliverability can therefore be readily assumed.

As the Council is aware the site has also been promoted as part of a wider proposal (site 878) which includes a large area of land between the site and the western edge of Great Barford. Whilst the landowner is happy for this land to be included as part of that submission, it is again emphasised that the site could readily come forward as a standalone development.

Should the Council have any further questions or queries regarding this site please do not hesitate to contact us.