BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 107285

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cotswolds National Landscape Board

Summary of Cherington sites
At Cherington there is one site (RefID 539) that overlaps with the CNL boundary that is still in consideration. In the table below, we have addressed this site in three parts: (i) the northern section (N), in the setting of the CNL; (ii) the southern section (S), within the CNL; and (iii) the whole site.
Another site (RefID 522) was assessed in the HELAA Stage A process but was sifted out for two reasons. Firstly, it scored a ‘red’ in relation to ‘site purpose’, which means that it was put forward for protection (i.e. no change from its existing state) rather than for consideration as an allocation. Secondly, it scored a ‘red’ in relation to ‘AONB’ because it is located 100% within the CNL.
As outlined above, the Board doesn’t agree with the principle of ruling out potential sites just because they are located entirely within the CNL. However, given that RefID522 was sifted out in relation to ‘site purpose’ as well, we do not think it is necessary to comment on this site.
Ref ID 539: Cherington West (West), Camperdown Farm, Little Wolford Road, Cherington CV36 5HS
This site consists of two parcels of land, one on the south side of the minor road to the west of Cherington, within the CNL, and an adjacent parcel of land, on the north side of this road, outside the CNL. The southern part of the site, within the CNL, would be subject to additional policy considerations, such as whether development there would constitute major development, in the context of paragraph 190 of the NPPF. As such, it is not clear why this site has been assessed, in the HELAA, as one unit. It would have made more sense to assess the southern and northern parts as two difference sites.
In that scenario, based on the HELAA methodology122, all of the southern part of the site would have been sifted out, with only the northern part of the site remaining for further consideration. However, we do not agree with the principle of automatically ruling out sites on the basis that they would be located entirely within the CNL. As such, we have included the southern part of the site in our assessment.
It is important to note that the vast majority of Cherington, including all of its conservation area, is located within the CNL. As such, we consider Cherington to be a CNL settlement.
Southern section (within the CNL)
The proposed scale of development in this section of the site, both in terms of area (ha) and indicative number of dwellings, would conflict with the requirement, in paragraph 189 of the NPPF, for the scale and extent of development within National Landscapes to be limited. It would also, in the Board’s opinion, definitely constitute major development, in the context of paragraph 190 of the NPPF.
Most of the southern, CNL section would be located in Landscape Character Type (LCT) 19 (Unwooded Vale), specifically Landscape Character Area 19E (Unwooded Vale - Vale of Feldon Fringe).123 The south western corner of the site is located in LCT 6 (Ironstone Hills and Valleys), specifically Landscape Character Area 6A (Ironstone Hills and Valleys - Whichford Hills and Valleys).124
The CNL Landscape Character Assessment for LCT 19 states that ‘the Vale of Feldon Fringe is deeply rural’.125 This is reflected in the key features / characteristics for LCT 19, which includes ‘quiet winding lanes link numerous isolated farms and hamlets and emphasise the rural character of the landscape’. The CNL Landscape Strategy & Guidelines for LCT 19 states that ‘the sparsely settled and deeply rural Unwooded Vale landscape is highly sensitivity to change’.126 Developing the site would conflict with the sparsely settled and deeply rural character of the area.
One of the key features / characteristics of LCT 6 is the ‘rolling rounded ridgelines and hills providing dramatic sweeping views over wide areas of the landscape’. Such views would be experienced from PROW footpaths, such as the Shakespeare Way, to the south of the site. Development on the site would have a significant adverse effect on this key feature / characteristic, with regards to northward looking views from these footpaths. The CNL Landscape Strategy & Guidelines for LCT 19 states that ‘Vale landscapes bordering upland areas with wide vantage points … are particularly sensitive to the effects of large-scale built development … as these are difficult to screen from elevated vantage points’.127 Similarly, the CNL Landscape Strategy and Guidelines for LCT 6 states that ‘the landscape [of the Ironstone Hills and Valleys] is made more sensitive by the wide panoramic views across the landscape from high elevations’.128 In other words, the LCT 19 landscape would be particularly sensitive to the scale of development proposed.
Northern section (in the setting of the CNL)
Although this section is located outside the CNL, the landscape and visual impact considerations outlined above (for the section within the CNL) would still apply.
Whole site
The site, both in its totally and with regards to its northern and southern sections does not reflect the (historic) settlement pattern and form. Existing development in Cherington, particularly the conservation area, is primarily orientated in a west-east direction along the through road, whereas the site is orientated in a south-north direction (i.e. perpendicular to the existing settlement pattern).
In addition to the impacts outlined above, allocating this site, both in its entirety and in its separate sections, would significantly increase the number of traffic movements generated in Cherington parish and / or within the settlement boundary of Cherington and Stourton. Given that Cherington is located on a minor road, which is unlikely to experience a significant amount of through traffic, it is highly likely that the allocation would significantly increase traffic movements on local roads within - and along the boundary of - the CNL. As outlined in the Board’s Tranquillity Position Statement (paragraph 4.5), an increase of 10% or more should be considered significant and is likely have a significant adverse effect on the tranquillity of the CNL in this locality.129
Development of this scale could also have a significant adverse effect on the dark skies of the CNL, which are one of the CNL’s ‘special qualities’. The map below shows that Cherington is only affected by light pollution a very limited degree. Allowing up to an eight-fold increase in the number of dwellings at Cherington would make this light pollution much worse. It is worth noting that Cherington was not included in the Landscape Sensitivity Assessment of Local Service Villages.130 This is presumably because Cherington did not merit ‘local service village’ size because of its limited size and services. By extension, it was presumably not anticipated that Cherington would be a likely location for future allocations.
Conclusions
The Board recommends that site RefID 539 should be sifted out and not given further consideration.