Object

Representation ID: 64811

Received: 01/05/2014

Respondent: D J Brain

The Government's 'Planning Policy for Traveller Sites' (2012) states that traveller sites should only be approved within Green Belt if 'very special circumstances' can be demonstrated. Subsequent Government guidance has confirmed that unmet need for traveller sites is unlikely to be sufficient to meet the 'very special circumstances' threshold to justify devlopment within the Green Belt.

The land is very heavily constrained, as follows:

Planning History: A previous application for just one traveller pitch at the site was dismissed at appeal, application ref: W09/0157. The District Council also subsequenty took out an injunction to prevent any occupation whatsoever of the land by touring caravans/mobile homes. It is untenable for the same Council to be currenty considering promoting the site for a much larger development.

Access: Whilst the consultation document refers to access being possible from Hampton Road, we understand this is an error and consideration is being given to potential access from Henley Road. However, the Planning Inspector who refused application W09/0157 concluded that occupation of the site by just a single family would have an unacceptable impact on highway safety if accessed from Henley Road. In light of this, how can the site be considered as even potentially suitable for 15 pitches?

Sustainability: Hampton-on-the-Hill is not identified within either the adopted Warwick District Local Plan (2006) or within the draft Village Housing Options consultation as a sustainable location for any new residential development. If the Council considers that it is not a sustainable location for new market housing, then it cannot be considered as sustainable for a travller site.

Visual Impact: The land lies in an elevated position on an important gateway approach to Warwick. The hedgerow to Henley Road is insufficient to prevent significant views into the site. The only way to partially screen the site would be to have extensive close-boarded boundary fencing which would have a highly urbanising effect in this prominent location.

Power Lines: The site is crossed by a 33 kV power line which would have to be diverted at great expense or require a minimum separation distance between caravans and the line; either way, a significant retsraint to development.

Noise: The assessment carried out by the District Council's consultant highlights that there is the potential for occupants to be exposed to high levels of noise and poor air quality due to the proximity to the A4189.

Surface Water Flooding: The same consultant report also states that surface water flooding within parts of the site would pose a risk to caravans which are considered to be particularly sensitive to flooding risk.

Landowner Support: The fact that the landowner is 'very keen' to secure development on his land cannot possibly constitute a 'very special circumstance'. If it did, any owner of land within the Green Belt would have an open door for successfully securing development on their land.

There are therfore no factors which could possibly constiute the very special circumstances necessary to support to this allocation and the site should therefore be re-classified as a 'red' site which is unsuitable fro further consideration.