Other

ID sylw: 108422

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Alscot Estate

Asiant : Jonathan Thompson Land & Consultancy Limited

Morgan Elliot Planning on behalf of Alscot Estate are promoting Land North of Shipston Road, Alderminster for residential development. This site does not fall within the categories of the targeted Call for Sites but is provided as a new option in the light of the recent changes to the Standard Method and the associated increase in the housing requirement.

The site is within Priority Area 3 and therefore aligns with the Councils’ preferred Growth Strategy. The entirety of the 14-hectare site is proposed for residential use. The number of dwellings is subject to further technical work. Alderminster provides a number of services accessible within walking distance of the site. The site’s proximity to Shipston Road provides a direct and safe route to Stratford-on-Avon. The Town Centre and its amenities are within cyclable distance and 20 minutes by public transport. This is a key driver for sustainable development at this location, providing access to an extensive range of services and facilities as well as employment opportunities.

There is national planning policy support to deliver housing in rural areas. Paragraph 83 of the NPPF supports the location of housing where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities. This is echoed in the PPG for rural housing. Application 14/02372/OUT for 25 dwellings, demonstrates that in the previous plan period Alderminster was judged capable of accommodating residential growth. Development of the site offers opportunities for affordable housing delivery which will retain and attract a younger population, sustaining and enhancing services within Alderminster and surrounding areas. It would also provide opportunity for rural farmers and those involved in rural businesses to reside in the local area, contributing towards a more balanced community and enhancing community cohesion, meeting the social objective of sustainable development.

The site benefits from an existing vehicular access connected to Shipston Road. As part of a future planning application, an appropriate Transport Assessment will be completed to establish that this access is safe and suitable, aligning with Paragraph 115 b) of the NPPF. The site is not within a designated landscape or conservation area. The topography is flat. Residential development is located immediately to the south and, more broadly, to the southeast. Development would be seen as a natural extension to the existing settlement within the surrounding landscape. The developer also intends to deliver a scheme that will conserve and enhance the surrounding landscape through careful and high-quality design. A Heritage Impact Assessment will be completed to inform the design and mitigate any potential impacts to the listed buildings 80m southeast of the site.

The developable area comprises agricultural land actively promoted by a single landowner. There are no known legal arrangements, complex land ownerships, or significant constraints that would prevent or delay development. As mentioned above, it is suitably and sustainably located for residential development and suitable in landscape terms. This development could be delivered quickly and is achievable within five years.