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ID sylw: 108416

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Alscot Estate

Asiant : Jonathan Thompson Land & Consultancy Limited

Our client’s site ‘Atherstone’ is within proposed New Settlement E1. E1 is rated as ‘more suitable’ settlement in the New Settlement’s Assessment but in the Sustainability Appraisal it is rated as seventh of twelve in terms of sustainability. We note the statement in the SA that “rankings are susceptible to change post-mitigation if/when more information becomes available relating to opportunities for new infrastructure and mitigation at each new settlement location”. Please take the information below into account accordingly.

Objective 1: Climate Change. We would note that new settlements provide opportunities to address the climate change emergency by designing new infrastructure and development around reducing the level of carbon emissions from construction and operation of new development. Infrastructure can be built from day one that can respond to the change in energy efficient technologies and future trends in sustainability.

A major contributor to carbon emissions is use of private vehicles using fossil fuels. A change in behaviour is required nationally to help reduce this rate. New settlements provide an opportunity to reduce use of private vehicles through a layout that harnesses internalisation and promoting walking, cycling and other modes of sustainable transport. Significant amounts of green infrastructure and biodiversity improvements can be delivered. This can considerably mitigate against climate changes impacts. This should be considered further when assessing the suitability of new settlements generally. These principles are reflected in the current Core Strategy allocation for Long Marston Airfield Garden Village.

Objective 3: Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna and Geodiversity. The Estate support the conclusions of the SA that E1 is the best performing settlement against this strategic objective.

Objective 4: Landscape. The score for E1 should be revised. This site is an existing Core Strategy allocation. The SA should be judged in the context of how views from the National Landscape to the Garden Village will be perceived with the built form already approved for the 400 homes to be delivered by 2026 and recent development in Meon Vale.

Notwithstanding this, any development coming forward at Long Marston Airfield will have to ensure the local landscape character and special qualities of the National Landscape are conserved and enhanced.

Objective 7: Natural Resources. The Estate support the conclusions of the SA for this strategic objective, which concludes E1 is the best-performing site as it does not coincide with a Mineral Safeguarded Area.

Objective 9: Housing. The Estate agree delivery of any new settlement will have a major positive impact on housing provision.

Objective 11: Accessibility. Internalisation will be promoted as part of any new settlement given the range of uses that will be delivered. This should be considered when assessing a site’s suitability for development rather than solely the proximity of the site to existing services and facilities.

Objective 12: Education. Long Marston Garden Village is set to deliver education facilities through the existing Core Strategy allocation, notwithstanding further educational facilities that may need to come forward to support the E1 new settlement. A future allocation should not be disregarded due to its proximity to existing educational facilities.

Objective 13: Economy. We support the conclusion that E1 is one of 8 new settlements within a sustainable distance to an existing employment location. However, again we note that the sustainability of E1 should be assessed alongside the employment opportunities that the new settlement itself will bring. The existing Core Strategy allocation is set to deliver up to 13ha of employment land and other amenities such as a main village centre, comprising a range of retail, community and leisure facilities.

Revised ratings:

Climate Change +/-
Flood Risk -
Biodiversity -
Landscape -
Cultural Heritage --
Pollution -
Natural Resources 0
Waste --
Housing ++
Health -
Accessibility -
Education -
Economy +