Drakes Broughton, Wychavon
Project Overview
The site is located within Drakes Broughton which is identified as a Category 2 settlement in the settlement hierarchy within the SWDP. Drakes Broughton is proposed to be upgraded to a Category 1 settlement within the SWDPR and benefits from good public transport links and a range of services and facilities.
The site is former agricultural land and is predominately grassland with some fruit trees/ former orchard located around the boundaries to the southern end of the site. Located to the north of a cul de sac offshoot of Stonebow Road and is surrounded by built development with the village school to the south, established residential development to the east and a new housing development (approved under 17/02505/RM) to the north and west.
Project Update
Lone Star’s planning application for 30 dwellings at Drakes Broughton was recommended for approval by officers, but subsequently refused at Planning Committee. Lone Star have now lodged an appeal against the refusal of this application.
The scheme is an outline planning application for the erection of up to 30 residential dwellings and associated infrastructure (all matters reserved except for access). The proposed development comprises 18 market dwellings and 12 affordable units. The vehicular access to the site would be through the recent housing development to the west and would link into the north-west of the application site. The submitted illustrative masterplan shows a mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom detached, semi-detached and terraced dwellings fronting onto the main access road and a series of private drives. The main area of public open space is indicated to the southern end of the site and would include a LAP. A detention basin is proposed to the north-eastern corner of the site and an informal pedestrian route is proposed to the eastern edge of the site through the proposed green space. Pedestrian links are also proposed to the north and south of the site to link to an existing development and a public footpath.
As part of the officers recommendation for approval, they concluded the following:
“The application site is located outside of but immediately adjacent to the development boundary for Drakes Broughton, which is defined as a category 2 settlement in the SWDP 2016 and has good public transport links and a range of facilities. With the absence of a four-year housing land supply, paragraph 11 (d) of the NPPF and the so called ‘tilted balance’ is engaged. Significant weight is afforded to the contribution these proposed units would make to the current shortfall in housing supply in Wychavon District.
There are considered to be no technical objections to the proposal subject to conditions and financial obligations. The proposal would not have any adverse impacts that would significantly or demonstrably outweigh the benefits stated in this report and in particular concerning the character of the area, landscape or ecology, all of which can be mitigated against and the proposal would not have any adverse impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties in principle. The highway authority are satisfied that the proposed development is safe and would not have any adverse impact on the highway network. The LLFA have confirmed that the proposed surface water drainage arrangements are acceptable in principle”.
