South Lakeland Call for Sites 2021: Housing and Employment Sites

Land at Scroggs Wood, Kendal

Agriculture

The residential settlement edge of Kendal is located directly adjacent to the north of the site, with agricultural land to the east, south and west.

The site is allocated within the current Local Plan Allocations DPD as a Strategic Employment site (LA2.9).

SO/2019/0001 An EIA scoping opinion was submitted relating to the site and a forthcoming application for mixed use development. It was determined that EIA was required.

Several pre-application (IE/2018/0010) discussions have been undertaken with SLDC officers who agreed that some ‘enabling’ residential development will facilitate the delivery of the employment site.

This site is an existing employment development opportunity within the adopted Local Plan. Going forward in the next Local Plan we propose that flexibility is built into the allocation with potential for mixed uses. The pre-applications discussions with SLDC have focused on introducing other uses, particularly residential, in order to make the site viable by delivering infrastructure. It is too early to be prescriptive on the precise break down / mix of uses, but employment, residential and other ancillary uses will be the key components. Any scheme will be landscape led.

Vehicular access into the site would be achieved from the A6 Milnthorpe Road and the A591. An access strategy would be developed, taking into account national and/or local design guidance such as 'Manual for Streets' and the 'Cumbria Design Guide'. Agreement on the principle of an access strategy to the site would be sought with Cumbria County Council, as the Local Highway Authority, through the planning application process. Waterman have undertaken initial highways assessments to demonstrate this proposed access point is achievable.

The site is sloping in aspect (see Figure 1.1) and gradually falls from west to east. The topography will be a major driver of the design approach, but it should not be considered as a constraint.

There are no known constraints to the provision of gas, electricity, waste water or water supply on the site, although the precise means of supply and connection will be confirmed through discussions with the relevant utility bodies as part of any planning application

The River Kent lies to the east of the site and there is a watercourse running through the centre of the site which feeds into the River.

A number of trees are located adjacent to the south west boundary, and there are a handful of individual trees adjoining the west, south and east boundaries.

The site contains a hedgerow separating the north and south field

Initial technical work has demonstrated these features can be easily incorporated into the design of any proposed development

The vast majority of the site is Flood Zone 1. A small portion of the site (South East area) is within Flood Zone 2/3a. Development on the part of the site that falls within Zone 2/3a will be avoided.

There are no designated or locally important nature or geological sites within or directly adjacent to the site however the River Kent- Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is located circa 50m east of the site.

The site is located adjacent to the settlement of Kendal

Kendal Town Centre is located circa 1.5 miles north of the site. Kendal is home to a number of shops, restaurants, pubs, community facilities, doctors surgeries, schools and a train station.

There is a public right of way through Scroggs Wood to the north of the site. This provides a link to the right of way to the east of the site which provides access to Kendal Town Centre (via west bank of River Kent) and the open countryside to the south of the site.

Helsington Laithes Manor Grade II* listed building lies to the west of the site. Helsington Snuff Mills Grade II listed building lies to the east of the site. The planning application will be accompanied by a Heritage Assessment to demonstrate how these assets will be safeguarded (with respect to their qualities and setting).

It has already been agreed through a formal EIA scoping process that any planning application will be accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

A Flood Risk Assessment will be prepared and submitted in support of any planning application which will confirm that surface run-off will not exceed existing greenfield run-off rates including an allowance for climate change.

The site provides the opportunity for a development that promotes high standards of energy efficiency and sustainable techniques in building design and respects the site's special qualities including enhancement of Scroggs Wood, and retention of natural landforms with significant landscaping and green areas.

The employment element of the proposed site will deliver much needed employment opportunities to the area, making provision for, and encouraging SMEs.

A possible mixed use development on the Land at Scroggs Wood would provide a number of houses, meeting the identified needs of South Lakeland, as well as an appropriate housing mix.

The site would be developed to be in keeping with its rural location, with low density development and incorporating green corridors across the site. Significant areas of both formal and informal green space can be created given the size and nature of the site.

New pedestrian and cycle links to Kendal from the site will increase connectivity and encourage sustainable travel and healthy lifestyles.

A number of pre-application discussions have already been undertaken with SLDC and preparation of a planning application is underway. It is envisaged that development will commence on site within the first 5 years of the plan period.

We do not consider there are any insurmountable constraints which would prevent the development of the site

Savills have previously made representations regarding concerns over the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) calculation of housing need. The adopted Local Plan includes a housing requirement figure of 400 dwellings per year (Core Strategy Policy CS6.1) over the plan period 2003-2025 whereas the 2017 SHMA contained an Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) figure of up to 290 dwellings per year. This is a significant change which resulted in SLDC making the working assumption that a ‘limited quantity’ of new housing land will be required in the new Local Plan. As forecast through our previous representations, the revised Standard Methodology for calculating OAN (Standard Method 2), published by Central Government has increased the housing requirement for South Lakeland to 410 dwellings per annum. Given that the new Local Plan is envisaged to cover the period until 2040, it is essential that the OAN figures are robustly reviewed in line with the government projections before progressing the plan further because it is an important foundation stone of the whole process. The Land at Scroggs Wood has been identified as suitable for mixed use development, we have demonstrated that it is deliverable and developable in line with the NPPF and it is located in close proximity to the existing settlement of Kendal. As such, we respectfully request it is allocated for employment led, mixed use through the emerging Local Plan.