Slate Meadow – Liaison Group 23 rd February 2015 Charles Power Lead Officer Slate Meadow Development
Planning History and Planning Context Overview Slate Meadow • Planning History • Key Constraints/Issues Recent Events What Next? Policy Framework
Overview • 1954 – Original Green Belt designation in Bucks • Added to Green Belt in 1972 removed from GB and reserved for future development since 1989. • Three Local Plan inspectors have rejected requests to keep/return it to Green Belt • Current Plan reserves the land for development; and • The site has now been released for development.
What’s in a name? • Name of designation has evolved: • ‘White land’ (pre -1989) • Areas of Special Restraint (1989-2004) • Areas of Safeguarded Land (2004-08) • Reserve Locations for Future Development (2008- to date) • (designation changed by inspector as sites needed WITHIN the plan period given SE Plan req’ts )
Slate Meadow Size : 10.2 ha Ownership : WDC, Croudace Homes, Avanti Homes Pauline Howe-Davies
Inspectors’ Reports (IR) • Designation of Reserve Sites has been tested and accepted by a series of inspectors’ reports • 1988 – High Wycombe ALP • July 1994 – Wycombe District LP • December 2002 – IR on the Public Local Inquiry into the Wycombe District Local Plan to 2011 • May 2008 – Wycombe District Core Strategy
Planning History – Began as ‘White Land’ area with no defied policies 1954 – Put in the Green Belt in 1972 as part of its extension – Taken out of Green Belt and allocated as ASR in 1989 at the same time as all other reserve sites. – 1990 application for residential development (174 houses) refused – 2002 Inspectors Report recommended allocating site for housing • Not the best of the reserve sites • Least scenic reserve site • Loss of grade 2 ag land and community identity did not override the need to retain the site for development – Core Strategy (2008) confirmed status as a Reserve Location – approved by inspector’s report (2008 ) Policy CS8 – Allocated for between 150 and 190 homes in the current Local Plan options document
Local Plan Consultation 2014 • Consultation Feb-April 2014 • Potential growth rates much higher than existing targets • Included draft sites policies and development requirements for all the Reserve Sites
Cabinet decision • Planned release of Reserve Sites • Preparation of development briefs to shape planning applications – – So local people can be involved in process – Best opportunity to secure quality and appropriate infrastructure – Liaison Groups, Infrastr Grp + community eng’t
What Next? Time Line for Applications • Applications are expected late this year. • Applications could in theory be submitted at any time. • In the event that the Council had taken the decision not to release the site, applications would in all probability have come anyway.
Key Issues • Transport infrastructure • River corridor • Flood Plain • Village Green • Separation between Bourne End and Wooburn • Disused railway • Tree preservation orders
Policy Framework National Planning Policy Framework Wycombe District Local Plan to 2011 (as saved and extended) • Various relevant policies – General Core Strategy • Policy CS8: – Reserve locations for future development Delivery and Site Allocations Plan • Various relevant policies including – Green Infrastructure network – Biodiversity
http://wycombe-reserve-sites.org/
Web site
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