Object

Representation ID: 68892

Received: 19/04/2016

Respondent: Mr. Charles Cadogan

Agent: Carter Jonas

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Our client holds a lifetime tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and strongly objects to the principle of developing the land for housing. I attach a Site Plan showing the land subject to this representation.
Policy DS11 identifies a new total of 50 allocated housing sites including the subject of this representation; It is suggested that the land could accommodate approximately 30 dwellings.
The site comprises 1.31 ha agricultural land on the eastern edge of Barford. The land subject to this representation forms part of a larger, well-defined, parcel of agricultural land. Wasperton Farmhouse, a Grade II listed building, is located approximately 200 metres to the south.
Based on the identified NPPF and Local Plan policies, which are material considerations, allocation of this Grade 2 agricultural land for housing development is not acceptable in principle as the local planning authority should be safeguarding the best and most versatile agricultural land and seeking to develop on poorer quality land.
Development of the site would result not only in the perpetual loss of 1.31 hectares of Grade 2 agricultural land but also have a detrimental effect on the quality of the larger (approx.18 hectares) land parcel affecting the overall agricultural enterprise opportunity that it presents.
2. Physical Constraints and Impacts identified in the SHLAA
Physical constraints and potential development impacts put into question the overall suitability of the site for development in the SHLAA. The site is identified as having a high/medium landscape value. The risk of development encourages erosion of the agricultural landscape and also sprawl. There is a risk of surface water flooding on parts of the site. The development would have detrimental effect on the character of the open countryside and setting of the village.
3. Effect on the Setting of the Listed Building
The site abuts the track which provides an access to the listed building from Wasperton Lane. Development would bring the built area much closer to the listed building which is currently surrounded largely by open countryside and would result in substantial harm of the setting of the listed building contrary to the Local Plan and NPPF.
4. Emerging Neighbourhood Development Plan
Barford, Sherbourne and Wasperton Joint Parish Council have prepared a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). Once adopted, it will be a material consideration. Policy B1 (Future Housing Development) does not consider this as a preferred housing site.
Wasperton Lane is identified specifically as a 'Green Corridor'. Paragraph 5.39 identifies the views west along Wasperton Lane as being a protected view or vista.