BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 107287

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cotswolds National Landscape Board

Summary of Long Compton sites
There are seven sites at Long Compton, all of which have been sifted out in Stage A of the HELAA process on the basis of being located 100% in the CNL. As outlined above, the Board does not agree with the principle of ruling out sites on the basis of being located in the CNL. As such, we have reviewed these sites to see if they still merit further consideration, as outlined below. Additional considerations
Long Compton is primarily located within Landscape Character Type (LCT) 17 (Pastoral Lowland Vale).153 Any further assessments should have regard to the key features / characteristics of LCT 17. The CNL Landscape Strategy & Guidelines for LCT 17 states that existing vale settlements may have the capacity to accommodate some development where this does not interfere with, or detract from, their landscape setting.
Immediately to the north of Long Compton is LCT 6 (Ironstone Hills and Valleys)154 and immediately to the south is LCT 15 (Farmed Slopes)155. A key feature / characteristic of both these LCTs is the views that are experienced over wide areas of landscape, including across the Pastoral Lowland Vale (LCT 17). The CNL Landscape Strategy & Guidelines for LCT 17 states that the proximity to elevated viewing opportunities on the neighbouring Farmed Slopes increases the sensitivity of the Pastoral Lowland Vale to large scale development. The views that can be experienced from the Macmillan Way and Shakespeare’s Way, looking towards Long Compton from both the north and the south, are particularly important considerations in this regard.
Additional housing already allocated in Neighbourhood Plan
The Long Compton Neighbourhood Plan identifies three potential housing sites as shown in the map below •
Site 1 - The Old Piggeries, Old Hill, Long Compton: 0.4ha; 4/5 homes.
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Site 2 - Land at Ashby Farmyard, Old Hill, Long Compton: 0.3ha; 5/7 homes.
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Site 3 - Land for Affordable Housing, Off Weston Court, Long Compton: 0.9ha; nine homes in first phase (northern half of site), with possible future development, during the Plan period (i.e. 2011-2031), subject to identification of local need.
From Google maps, it appears that all of these sites have now been developed, apart from the southern half of Site 3. As such, with the exception of the southern half of Site 3, they pre-date the timescales of the SWLP, which will cover the period 2025-2030.
The southern half of Site 3 is approximately the same size as the northern half (i.e. approximately 4.5ha). So, if the southern half of Site 3 is developed at the same density as the northern half, there could be approximately 9-10 new dwellings. However, if it was developed at the indicative capacity used in the HELAA process (i.e. 33 dwellings per hectare), there could be approximately 13 dwellings.
13 dwellings would increase the number of dwellings in Long Compton parish by approximately 3.5%, compared to the 2021 census baseline of 370 dwellings. This is below the Board’s 5% ‘rule of thumb’ threshold for proportionality.
Sites 1 and 2 are within the settlement boundary but Site 3 is not. Presumably the settlement boundary will be expanded to include Site 3 give that development has already taken place there.
Conclusions
We consider that the primary location for further housing development in Long Compton should be the southern half of Site 3 in the Ilmington Neighbourhood Plan, directly north of and adjacent to RefID 666.157 As indicated above, this could potentially accommodate 13 dwellings, which would increase the number of dwellings in Long Compton parish by approximately 3.5%.
On this basis, with regards to proportionality, there is potentially scope for some additional housing development during the SWLP plan period of 2025-2050.
We consider that the following sites potentially merit further consideration:
•Ref ID 354 / Ref ID 425; and / or
•Ref ID 666.
For Ref ID 354 / Ref ID 425, consideration will need to be given to the potential impacts of any lighting on the adjacent Dark Skies Discovery Site (Aunt Phoebe’s Recreation Ground). Provided that lighting issues could be adequately addressed, this site is potentially a better option than RefID 166 as it is on previously developed land within the settlement boundary.
We recommend that the following sites should remain sifted out:
•RefID 309 - mainly because it is a potential Local Wildlife Site.
•RefID 353 - mainly because it would probably constitute major development in the context of paragraph190 of the NPPF.
•RefID 719 - we consider that this would definitely constitute major development in the context of paragraph 190 of the NPPF.