Paper 4: Local Green Space - Field
Opposite Trull Stores
See also Paper 3: Local Green Space - Trull Meadow
POLICY E2: Local Green Space
Following consultation, the following sites were identified as meeting the criteria in the
NPPF:
1. Trull Meadow
2. Cotlake Hill and Drove
3. King George V Playing Fields and adjoining playing field
4. The Weir and Monkey Island
5. Sherford Stream and Three Bridges
6. Trull Tennis Club
7. Trull Green
8. Trull Cricket Field
9. Field opposite Trull Stores on Honiton Road
10. Castleman’s Hill
11. Galmington Stream
Field opposite Trull Stores
To become eligible to become Local Green Space the land must fulfil the following criteria:
the green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;
the green area is demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular
local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance,
recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife;
and
the green area concerned is local in character and is not an extensive tract of land.
This field fulfils the criteria because:
1. 'The green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves'
The field is in the heart of the village.
2. 'Demonstrably special to the local community'
The field is screened from the Honiton Road by a deciduous copse. An attempt by the
landowner in the late 1970s to fell it was halted by emergency Tree Preservation Orders.
The belt of trees, included in the Conservation Area, forms a dramatic background to the
village. The field has a splendid display of naturalised daffodils in the spring. It is this green
space that retains the ‘village’ feel. The space brings a sense of stillness, and a moment to
stop and look, to what would otherwise just be a busy road rattling on to Taunton. Every
village should have its rookery, and this doesn’t disappoint.
In the Parish Survey1 for the Neighbourhood Plan, Trull community showed how much it
valued its green spaces. The three most important aspects to living in Trull were identified
as it is a ‘distinct community, separate from Taunton’, it is ‘set amongst farmland, with a
rural feel’ and ‘the gardens and surrounding fields make (it) a green village’.
People were asked for their views on what needs to be protected. When asked whether
any future housing developments in Trull Parish should provide sufficient, suitable areas for
‘wildlife corridors’ that allow for the free movement of wildlife through built-up areas and
farmland, over 95% said ‘Yes’, one of the strongest response in the survey. There was
significant support for the fields between Comeytrowe and Trull being Local Green Space.
There was also space for people to add their own thoughts. Twenty-three people wrote to
the effect that Trull has, and should keep, a country feel; quiet, peaceful, rural. Forty-three
respondents felt that we must retain Trull’s identity and physical separation.
3. 'Holds a particular historic significance'
Excavation of a trench in the field opposite the Trull Stores found a collared urn. Collared
Urns are one of a range of distinctive vessels used during the early part of the Bronze Age.
Such vessels were often used to hold the ashes of the dead and it is likely that it originates
from between 2200 BCE and 1400 BCE.2
Given the unpredicted nature of these finds, it is quite possible that it is the first discovery of
a wider and more important site. It is known that there is a broad corridor of settlements
dating from Neolithic to Roman sites on either side of the River Tone. A henge was
discovered in the archaeological excavations for the nearby Broadlands application; it is
exciting for our village to have grown from a Bronze Age village.
4. 'Richness of wildlife'
The area is known to support European Protected Species. Twelve species of bat, including
rare species such as Barbastelle, were found in the Canonsgrove survey. The Biodiversity
Officer found, based on the bat species diversity, rarity value, and numbers recorded, we
consider that the bat commuting and foraging value of the site is of regional importance.
Seven species of bat were recorded at Broadlands site, including Barbastelle (in low
numbers). The Biodiversity Officer considered that the effect on Barbastelle bats is
potentially larger than suggested and biodiversity offsetting would be required.
The Environmental Statement for the proposed Urban Extension confirmed over nine
species of bat to be present; foraging and commuting. The field opposite Trull Stores had
five trees of high potential, one medium and one low. Considering seven trees had high
potential across the 116 hectares of the application, this field must be acknowledged to be
significant.
1
Trull Neighbourhood Plan Group (2014) Trull Neighbourhood Plan Residents' Questionnaire:
Reporting Back on Your Views.
https://trullneighbourhoodplangroup.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/tnpg-research-report01-14-final-for-print-05-14.pdf
2
Museum of London [Website] Collared Urns. Available from:
http://archive.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/pages/subcategory.asp?subcat_id=802&s
ubcat_name=Collared+urns
5. Trull Conservation Area
The Conservation Area has recently been reassessed. (See also Paper 14)
‘This Conservation Area links 3 main areas; Gatchell House, Trull Green and an area in the
vicinity of All Saints Church. The north the area includes Thatched Cottage, Trull Green,
Fairlawn, Little Fairlawn, Fairlawn Coach House, Tamarisk, Jessamine Cottage, 1-3 Fairlawn
Cottages, Gatchell Cottage and Gatchell Spinney. The west and south boundaries of the area
are defined by the inclusion of a tree belt to the west of Honiton Road, Gatchell House with
its associated outbuildings, tennis courts and walled garden. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 3 a and 4 Honiton
Road is included as is Owl Garage. Kings Gatchell Cottage form the eastern boundary to
Honiton Road. In Church Road, Nos. 1, 2, 11, 11 a, 15, 17-31 (odd) are included as are the
Parish rooms to the south. To the east Nos. 1-4 (consecutive) Mill Lane form the boundary.
Around All Saints Church (but including it and its churchyard) the Conservation Area
comprises South View Terrace, Acorn House, Glencoe Terrace, Fairview Terrace, Hurlstone,
Oakdene, Holmesdale and Chantry Cottage.’
The views of and from Trull are important. From Gatchells House, looking northwards, there
are extensive views across open fields to Dipford Road, and it is important that these are
maintained. The views on entering Trull from the north – the Village Green, its trees and the
tree group along Honiton Road, emphasise the rural qualities of the village.
Spaces make a contribution in giving enclosure, but also in framing views and defining
settings. In almost all situations a Conservation Area boundary runs around rather than
through a space and it will generally be defined by physical features. Policies include the
protection of important views and vistas. A good tree strategy includes an assessment of the
amenity-value of trees on private land. A proactive replacement programme will ensure
that successor trees are planted ready to replace those that are becoming diseased, dying or
dangerous. Storm damage has led to the Condition for replanting within the protected tree
belt, now outside the time limit but not enforced.
The current Conservation Area boundary does not follow the field boundary along Honiton
Road but instead a more nebulous boundary to edge of the tree belt. Designating this field
as local Green Space would give a defensible boundary and protect the setting of the
Conservation Area.
6. Taunton Deane Borough Council’s work covering the protection of the identity of
Trull
The area, which includes but is not limited to the field in question, has been identified as
important to Trull throughout the research undertaken on behalf of TDBC. The Key Diagram
2: Taunton in the CS shows the area as Proposed Green Wedge. Sections of the supporting
documents are reproduced below.
Taunton Sub Area Study Final Report3 Somerset County Council 26 October 2005.
15.32 All options could have a negative effect on designated Conservation Areas (Trull,
Cheddon Fitzpaine and Stoke St. Mary), but well planned urban extensions should seek to
preserve the setting of these areas.
3
Somerset County Council (Baker Associates) (2005) Taunton Sub Area Final Report.
http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/irj/go/km/docs/CouncilDocuments/TDBC/Documents/For
ward%20Planning/Evidence%20Base/Taunton%20Sub%20Area%20Study.pdf
16.13 Trull to the south, Cheddon Fitzpaine to the north and Stoke St Mary to the east of the
motorway are Conservation Areas. All of the options involve development in the vicinity of
these areas. However, it should be possible to provide a rural setting for these areas at the
detailed planning stage.
The separate identity and setting of the Trull Conservation Area and Area of High
Archaeological Potential should be respected by development.4
Taunton Urban Extensions Baseline Landscape Report Taunton Deane Borough Council
August 2011.5
A key feature of the indented edge to Trull is an area of green space that extends up to the
main road into the centre of Trull. This area is particularly sensitive as it forms an important
connection with the rural landscape to the west and is integral to the setting of the Trull
Conservation Area.
Key features to safeguard
Protect the settings to Trull Conservation Area and listed buildings.
Retain openness of fields forming a green link to the open countryside from the
edges of the Trull Conservation Area.
Protect existing and proposed Tree Preservation Orders.
Taunton Deane Green Infrastructure Strategy6
This proposes an extensive area of Green Wedge within the development site giving access
to blue links along the Galmington Stream and a green link via Trull to Vivary Park and the
East Deane Way.
Structural landscape mitigation is proposed on the eastern and western edges of the Green
Wedge.
6.5.16 he Taunton Deane Green Infrastructure Strategy identifies the following
objectivesand opportunities for enhancement:
Opportunity 35 identifies the potential to provide a green link between the proposed
Comeytrowe and Dowslands Green Wedge and the existing Vivary Green Wedge.
Access Links para 3.35 identifies potential to create natural play spaces within the
development areas to increase access to nature for children and young people.
para 3.63 states importance of retaining and managing veteran trees and provide
replacements.
4
Taunton Deane Borough Council (2011) Environment Topic Paper. [Online] Available from:
http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/irj/go/km/docs/CouncilDocuments/TDBC/Documents/For
ward%20Planning/Evidence%20Base/Environment%20Topic%20Paper.pdf
5
Parsons Brinckerhoff (2011) Taunton Urban Extensions Baseline Landscape Report.
http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/irj/go/km/docs/CouncilDocuments/TDBC/Documents/For
ward%20Planning/Evidence%20Base/Landscape%20Baseline%20Report.pdf
6
Taunton Deane Borough Council (2009) Taunton Deane Green Infrastructure Strategy.
http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/irj/go/km/docs/CouncilDocuments/TDBC/Documents/For
ward%20Planning/GIReport/TauntonGIReport.pdf
Prepared for
para 3.73 identifies the importance of maintaining open views to key landmarks and
distinctive/memorable features within Taunton and its setting(including church towers and
views to the surrounding Blackdown Hills and Quantock Hills AONB, which contribute to a
sense of identity.
para 3.73 identifies the importance of maintaining important landscape features with
Taunton’s setting, including small deciduous woods and copses, high hedges along rural
lanes, hedgerow trees and veteran trees.
para 4.1.9.identifies the importance of creating multi user access routes along the
Galmington Stream and multi user access routes including a circular path route that would
cross Comeytrowe along the line of the proposed green link.
para 4.21 identifies the importance of conserving views from key viewpoints to enhance the
setting of Poundisford Park. It also identifies the importance of conserving the landscape
setting of the Blackdown Hills and Quantock Hills Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Provide a green buffer (minimum width 20m) between Comeytrowe edge and the proposed
development to maintain a soft green edge for amenity links. Tree planting should be in
scattered groups and/or orchards to introduce a local feature to enhancing local biodiversity
with sensitive planting locations to maintain important views.
To minimise landscape and visual impacts, development should be restricted to areas of
lower elevation and low-rise buildings on the outer rural and urban edges.
Create an additional green links to that proposed in the Taunton Deane Green Infrastructure
Strategy to the south of Staplehay and leading from the centre of Trull to ultimately connect
to the East Deane Way and strategic blue links.
Maintain the open field aspect on the western edges of Trull to protect the setting to the
Conservation Area and enhance the green links proposed in the Taunton Deane Green
Infrastructure Strategy.
Further develop Taunton Deane Green Infrastructure Strategy opportunities for structural
mitigation planting by creating irregular, natural fringe planting to development fringes that
link into or existing hedgerows and tree groups to enhance the local landscape pattern and
character. Widths of planting should be between 5 -15m.
In areas local to Dipford, introduce cedar species to enhance typical landscape character of
tree planting surrounding the edges of the village.
10.4.7 Protect the settings to Trull Conservation Area and listed buildings.
Taunton Urban Extension Study November 20047
‘5.53 The eastern edge of development would, to a large degree, be dictated by the
importance attached to retaining Trull as a largely separate settlement. Currently it stands
removed from the urban mass of Taunton, but only just, and clearly encroachment from the
west would potentially subsume it into the overall mass of the town. This would be an issue
for consideration at the detailed planning stage. In landscape terms, open space on the ridge
to the west of the village could be maintained by placing the main urban open space
requirements in this area, such as parks, playing fields etc. However the open space would
become essentially urban in character, and the degree to which the village retains its rural,
as opposed to open space, identity will need to be defined.’
7
O’Rourke, T (2004) Taunton Urban Extension Study.
http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/irj/go/km/docs/CouncilDocuments/TDBC/Documents/For
ward%20Planning/Evidence%20Base/Taunton%20Urban%20Extension%20Study%20Terence
%20O'Rourke.pdf
Current Planning Application
The current planning application for the Urban Extension demonstrates the need for
protected Green Space to provide separation. It proposes a large (40m) 3-armed
roundabout in the field opposite Trull Stores, which will breach the Conservation Area tree
belt and flint wall with three roads and two footpaths. To the west of the roundabout, lies
proposed housing, which abuts the existing houses along Dipford Lane and Comeytrowe
Road. Trull village would be subsumed into the new development.
The applicant considers that the designation will not comply with NPPG How does Local
Green Space designation relate to development? (reproduced above). They regard
designation as Local Green Space as preventing a road link between the proposed
development and Honiton Road. This is not necessarily the case. Green Space is given the
same level of protection as Green Belt. NPPF in paras 87 to 92 sets out the description of
inappropriate development and very special circumstances. 89 A local planning authority
should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in Green Belt, and the
exceptions would exclude new housing but not local transport infrastructure which can
demonstrate a requirement for a Green Belt location.