Object

Representation ID: 66629

Received: 27/06/2014

Respondent: Mr Chris Walkingshaw

Agent: Barton Willmore

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

The extended boundary is welcomed and supported. The concept of openness in the green belt needs to be re-examined within the context of the extant planning permission, in the process of being implemented, the existing buildings and use of the site and the future provision of high quality automotive related facilities. The consented Catalyst Building is the focal point for the site; it is a prominent building which will provide facilities in line with the use of the test track. The openness we believe simply refers to the test track and its flat surface but the track itself is made of hard standing materials and provides a facility which is used through the provision of the buildings. The site needs to be considered as a whole as the test track and the building work together. There is existing screening on the number of the boundaries as a whole. The test track would be seen against the backdrop of the new buildings bought forward and would
not perform a Green Belt function. As a minimum the Council should re-examine the boundary to include the test track, however it would be more appropriate to remove the entire site out of the Green Belt to ensure the site's future use is secured. The NPPF is clear that local authorities 'should not keep land which it is unnecessary to keep permanently open'.