HDC/ ADS 68
RESPONSE STATEMENT BY HORSHAM
DISTRICT COUNCIL
HORSHAM DISTRICT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
SITE SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS OF LAND DEVELOPMENT
PLAN DOCUMENT
ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT SITE
LAND SOUTH OF PUCK CROFT COTTAGE, RUSPER (ADS 68)
June 2007
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Land South of Puck Croft Cottage, Rusper (ADS 68)
1.
Introduction
1.1 Following the submission by the Council in November 2005 of the Site
Specific Allocations of Land document (SSAL) (CDHor11) a number of
alternative development sites were put forward by respondents for
consideration as allocations. These sites were included within the
Alternative Development Sites and Boundary Changes document
(CDHor15), published for consultation in January 2006.
1.2 The Council does not support these suggested sites and maintains that
they are neither necessary nor appropriate in the context of both the
provisions of The Core Strategy 2007 (CDHor2) and the site specific
considerations. The purpose of this Response Statement is to explain
the Council’s position on this Alternative Development Site and to
address the issues raised in the submitted representations in support
of, or against, the suggested allocation.
2.
Site Description
2.1 The site is located to the south of Rusper and is located to the east of
Horsham Road and south of Pucks Croft Cottage. The proposed site is
for an area of land approximately 2.8 hectares in size. The northern
perimeter of the site abuts the existing settlement of Rusper.
2.2 There are a number of existing mature hedgerows within the site
especially located along the west of the proposed site and adjoining the
ancient woodland. The site is located outside of the built-up area of a
Category 2 settlement.
2.2 The site is partially within an area of Ancient Woodland at Baldhorns
Copse. This woodland is likely to have high ecological value. Any loss
of this woodland would have severe visual impacts on the landscape
and appearance of the area.
3.
Existing Policy Designation
3.1 The site lies outside the built-up area as defined in the adopted
Horsham District Core Strategy 2007 and Proposals Map 2006. It
therefore lies within an area which is designated as countryside.
4.
Previous Planning History
4.1 A small proportion of the site which included the curtilage of the garden
to Pucks Croft Cottage has previously been put forward for
consideration for development; however, it was considered that the site
did not meet an identified local need in Rusper and new residential
development of the site would result in a scale of development that is
considered to be inappropriate for the village.
5.
Principal Issue
5.1 The Council submits that any form of residential development on this
site would be unnecessary at this stage. The position on housing land
supply is set out in the Council’s Overall Position Statement and the
Response Statement on Matter 1. This demonstrates that the Council
has allocated sufficient previously developed land sites and smaller
scale greenfield sites to meet the requirement of Policy CP4 of the
adopted Core Strategy over the period 2018. It is further considered
that the Council does not need additional greenfield site allocations at
this stage but, if there is a need to address the small unidentified site
allowance, or any other deficiency that might be identified, through new
allocations, this should be undertaken through the programmed
Reserve Housing Sites DPD and review of the Core Strategy.
5.2 In the light of the above context, it is submitted that there is no need for
additional greenfield sites to be included within the built up area
boundary. Furthermore, there are a number of constraints on this site
which, if developed, could result in significant adverse environmental
consequences which would override any more general housing
development requirement considerations.
5.3 The site is classified outside the built-up area of a Category 2
settlement as defined in Policy CP5 of the Core Strategy; therefore any
development in this location needs to address an identified local need.
There has been no evidence submitted to the Council of an identified
local need for residential development on this site.
5.4 The south west of the site is in an area designated as Ancient
Woodland. This area should be maintained and protected. Any
changes within or surrounding the woodland is likely to have a
significant level of visual intrusion from the existing built area and have
detrimental ecological impacts on the surrounding Ancient Woodland.
5.5 This site is not a natural extension to the settlement of Rusper as it
would develop the village in a linear form to the south of the village
intruding into the countryside.
6.
Response to Submitted Statements
6.1 There have been no further statements submitted.
7.
Conclusion
7.1 The Council opposes the inclusion of this site within the built-up area
boundary as there is no evidence to suggest a local need for residential
development on this greenfield site. Development on this site would
cause a significant loss to Ancient Woodland; in so doing, it will not
only cause a significant amount of visual intrusion into the surrounding
countryside, but it is likely to have a detrimental impact on the ecology
of the woodland. Development on this site is not a natural extension to
the village; therefore, it will have detrimental impacts on the existing
character and appearance of the settlement.
7.2 The allocation does not meet the relevant Test of Soundness as:
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the proposal is not in accordance with national planning policy in
PPS 3 (Test 3);
the proposal is located outside of the built-up area boundary of
Rusper and would not be in accordance with the principles of Policy
CP5 of the adopted Core Strategy (Test 6);
the proposal is not appropriate to this location as it would be an
inappropriate extension to the village and be detrimental to the
adjacent Ancient Woodland (Test 7).