Hearing Statement
Matter 4
Mr J. H Ward, on behalf of the Rowledge Residents Association and the Fullers
Road Residents Group
I write with reference to two sections of the Housing and Employment Allocations (HEA)
that we believe to be unsound due to matters which have arisen since drafting.
I refer to the HEA sections VL5 and VL6 as follows:
VL5 Land adjacent to Linden, Fullers Road, Holt Pound
Please see the following attached document:
Document 50463-APPEAL_DECISION_-_25-08-15-576898.pdf, dated 25th
August 2015, by L Gibbons BA (Hons) MRTPI, an Inspector appointed by the
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
The first draft of the HEA (in section VL1.4, now VL5 in the latest draft) included the
words “linear frontage development along Fullers Road in keeping with the
characteristics of the village”
The second draft changed these words to “have a design and layout of high quality and
a character which respects the characteristics of the village”.
This change was strongly objected to by the local community as it removes the
requirement for linear frontage development in an area where the predominant form is
linear.
Concurrent with the preparation of these HEA drafts, an appeal for a non-linear
development at this site was dismissed, per the attached Appeal Decision document,
wherein the grounds for dismissal include the non-linear nature of the development. I
refer to sections 23 through 28, and in particular sections 24 and 25 of this document,
and its conclusions.
We therefore contend that the reference to restricting development to “linear frontage
development along Fullers Road” must be reinstated in the HEA if it is to remain
compliant with the stipulations of The Planning Inspectorate.
Furthermore, linear frontage development of the site along Fullers Road would not be
able to support more than 5 or 6 houses if the plot density is to remain in keeping with
the “character of the village” and thus the figure of 12 in the current is draft far too high.
It would be impossible to shoehorn so many houses into the Fullers Road frontage while
still respecting the character of the village.
VL6 Land adjacent to Stream Cottage, Fullers Road, Holt Pound
Please see the following attached document:
Document 38108_008-APPEAL_DECISION-580277.pdf, dated 7th September
2015, by Michael J Hetherington BSc(Hons) MA MRTPI MCIEEM, an Inspector
appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
The first draft of the HEA (in section VL1.5, now VL6 in the latest draft) included the
words “linear frontage development along Fullers Road in keeping with the
characteristics of the village”
The second draft changed these words to “have a design and layout of high quality and
a character which respects the characteristics of the village”.
This change was strongly objected to by the local community as it removes the
requirement for linear frontage development in an area where the predominant form is
linear.
Concurrent with the preparation of these HEA drafts, an appeal for a non-linear
development at this site was dismissed, per the attached Appeal Decision document,
wherein the grounds for dismissal include the unacceptability of development behind
those proposed on the Fullers Road frontage. I refer to sections 6 and 7 of this
document and its conclusions.
We therefore contend that the reference to restricting development to “linear frontage
development along Fullers Road” must be reinstated in the HEA if it is to remain
compliant with the stipulations of The Planning Inspectorate.
Furthermore, linear frontage development of the site along Fullers Road would not be
able to support more than 3 or 4 houses if the plot density is to remain in keeping with
the “character of the village” and thus the figure of 5 in the current draft is too high. It
would be impossible to shoehorn so many houses into the Fullers Road frontage while
still respecting the character of the village.
We respectfully request that these matters are considered in your hearing.
Mr J. H. Ward
On Behalf of the Rowledge Residents Association and the Fullers Road Residents
Group