We understand that you have until 15th October to respond to the WDDC consultation on the revised Local Plan.
To do so, follow this link……
https://webapps.westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk/LocalPlanReview/Pages/Login.aspx
All posts by Phil Summerton
VF letter to “Natural England”…..!
ADVEARSE picket WDDC Local Plan review roadshow today (13-9-2018)
The handout available at today’s roadshow is as follows……
WHY DOES THE WDDC LOCAL PLAN REVIEW FAIL BRIDPORT?
- HOUSING PROVISION
The West Dorset District Council Local Plan Review (LPR) proposes to build an increased number of houses in West Dorset, from 15,880 to 19,016, which, it states, is an oversupply ‘significantly above’ the ‘objectively assessed need’.
Why do WDDC plan to build more houses than are needed?
The Local Plan Review plans to increase the Vearse Farm development from 760 to 930 houses (including over 4 hectares of business parks and other buildings). The expanded Vearse Farm development comes on top of a number of significant existing and planned developments?
Why is Bridport being overloaded with these developments?
The Local Plan Review admits that ‘the total projected need for affordable housing is not expected to be met in the plan review period. The need for affordable housing is far more important than providing yet more open market houses that many local people cannot afford.
Why is that over a 20 year period WDDC cannot deliver the affordable housing needs which it says is the greatest housing priority?
- BUILDING ON AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB)
The Local Plan repeatedly says that one of its key objectives is to protect and enhance the AONB.
The Vearse Farm development (just outside Bridport, in the parish of Symondsbury) is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).
This is largest development on AONB in the UK ever proposed!
How can building nearly a thousand houses and many hectares of associated buildings be considered to be “enhancing” or “protecting” the AONB?
The VF development also contravenes the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as the outline planning permission does not state the ‘exceptional circumstances’ needed to support building on an AONB. The planning permission also fails (as required by law) to consider the scope for developing elsewhere outside the AONB or meeting the housing need some other way.
- NOT USING BROWNFIELD SITES
The Local Plan Review fails to make any provision for the investigation of the many alternative brownfield sites available in the area covered by the plan. WDDC are required to keep a register of brownfield sites but make no use of it for the Local Plan when considering alternatives to large developments on AONB (eg Vearse Farm).
Why does the Local Plan Review not consider available Brownfield sites – many of which are dotted around Bridport and in some cases the land is already owned by the Council?
Also alternative models of housing provision have not been investigated, such as eco housing (eg the proposed Watton eco Village (near Bradpole) providing over 250 affordable/shared ownership homes and only 44 open market houses).
Why is the Local Plan Review not truly strategic by including such models for genuinely low-cost housing for sale and rent and making much-needed social houses a priority in order to deal with the housing crisis being suffered by local people?
- TRAFFIC OVERLOAD
Bridport has very poor links to the rest of the world, both in terms of roads and also public transport. The roads and narrow footways barely cope with the needs of the existing population. The highway network in the town and its approaches suffers serious congestion much of the time. Car parking is limited and often at full capacity. Maximising safe sustainable modes of transport, walking and cycling, is not a practical option.
Where in the Local Plan review are there proposals for substantial investment in Bridport’s road network and car parking facilities and ensuring that house building is in line with the character and capacity of the town?
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WE HOPE YOU SHARE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS IN THE LOCAL PLAN REVIEW AND THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF THE LARGE SCALE VEARSE FARM DEVELOPMENT ON BRIDPORT.
IT IS VITAL THAT THE PEOPLE OF BRIDPORT HAVE THEIR SAY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. PLEASE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE YOUR CONCERNS AT THE ROAD SHOW OR ONLINE (LINK PROVIDED BELOW).
ADVEARSE TEAM
Advearse contact details:
See and respond to Local Plan Review online:
Bridport Town Council meeting; discussion of Local and Neighbourhood Plans….
See following link for agenda details…….
https://www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/A-03-09-18.pdf
Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan meeting……..
‘Groundbreaking’ affordable housing project in Bridport
On Thursday, August 2nd 2018, Bradpole Parish Council hosted a presentation outlining a dynamic new development in Bridport at the foot of Watton Hill.
A groundbreaking development, it offers a brand-new way of building homes for the future that are high quality and sustainably designed, bringing the people of Bridport and its surrounding parishes outstanding living at affordable rents.
Roy Mathisen and Vince Adams, campaigning for affordable homesA small team has spent a year working with a local landowner on a proposal to build 215 affordable rented homes, 44 shared ownership homes and 24 homes for sale. The team, which includes Roy Mathisen, a Bridport based campaigner for affordable housing and fellow campaigner Vince Adams, who also promotes the development of eco homes, believes this mix of homes will create a SMART model village.
Explaining the motivation behind the project, Roy Mathisen said: ‘The level of housing poverty in Bridport and the rest of the UK is totally unacceptable. There are over 400 households in Bridport that are either inadequately housed or even homeless. We have worked very hard to develop a model that can fix this problem using private finance, whilst also giving landowners an attractive opportunity to leave an affordable housing legacy for their community without selling the land.’
Watton Hill BridportThe homes will be made of modular sections using straw-filled panel technology to give high levels of insulation and durability. Every home will have its own integrated solar roof and individual battery storage system.
This will dramatically reduce the cost of heating and will even offer surplus energy for local use.
Water reclamation, energy saving and many other innovations are at the heart of the new Village, as is the natural world. Only a small part of the lower slopes will be built on, opening up new pathways, cycle-ways, green spaces and of course woodlands that will be regenerated and managed long-term. The RSPB have offered their help in making the area a haven for birds and wildlife.
Community is another theme foremost in the scheme. Food growing areas will abound with a community centre housing an event space, laundry and small meeting rooms, creating a focus for community activities and neighbourly get-togethers.
Vince Adams pointed to the many benefits presented at the Bradpole meeting: ‘We want to add life and community to Watton Hill, whilst retaining its unique landscape. I was heartened by the way that the people of Bradpole understood and generally agreed with our project to create a new village with affordable and eco at its heart.’
Renewable energy specialist, Keith Wheaton-Green, also part of the team, gave some detail about how energy will be harnnessed and put to best use. ‘The Watton Village Smart-Communities Project is – as far as we know – the first housing development that will generate considerably more electricity than it uses. It’s a solar farm on roof tops, which is probably where most new solar farms should be from now on. There will be battery storage and electric car charging to time shift the solar generation. The dwellings will be so well insulated, and with minimal heat loss due to the mechanical heat recovery ventilation, that the latest generation air source heat pumps will provide all the hot water and space heat required. The site will have no gas connection and heat recovery from shower waste, energy efficient electrical devices and led lighting will mean very low energy bills for the occupants. All new housing developments should be like this.’
The scheme is ambitious and, at no cost to either the local or regional councils, it will offer homes to local working people, young and old, and so important to the life of Bridport.
Above all it wants to be an essential part of Bridport, open to everyone as green open space – a place to walk, picnic and reflect.
SMART means Sustainable, Modular, Affordable, Regenerative, Together – creating a new, cohesive local community alongside the existing town of Bridport.
Details about the project can be found at www.smart-communities.co.uk/wattonvillage
Local Plan revision; press release
Disappointment but not surprise was the reaction of ADVEARSE members to the updated West Dorset Local Plan. Details of the latest proposals can be found on the Dorset for you website…..
https://moderngovdcp.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=962&x=1
The Plan which is due to go out for consultation later this year has identified 3 sites for additional housing in Bridport including a site off Jessop Avenue. We would urge everyone to respond to the consultation being held between August and October of this year.
One of these is land adjoining Vearse Farm and if this plan is adopted the numbers of housing on Vearse Farm will increase from 760 to 930. Phrases like ‘mini Poundbury’ spring to mind. A spokesman for the group commented ‘we warned from the start this was the thin end of the wedge. All our arguments against Vearse Farm –increased threat of flooding, problems of access, danger to pedestrians, pressure on parking in town will amplified by this proposal. One of the most ironic statements in new document is one that states that’ by 2036 the District Council will have protected the surrounding area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and flood plain’!
Although the outline planning permission for proposed development at Vearse Farm was approved by the Planning Committee in November 2017 the S106 funding agreements are not yet in place. ADVEARSE believes that there are strong grounds for challenging the decision. The spokesman added ‘We hope that people will now see the potential impact of this massive development and realise it is essential to stop the first phase of Vearse Farm. ADVEARSE are preparing the next stage in the campaign and will be looking for community support. We are fighting to preserve the character of our wonderful market town and believe that sites for the necessary affordable housing can be found without the need for a massive development.
Boundary changes affecting VF !
Further to the meeting convened by Symondsbury Parish Council on 8th May, I sent the following letter to Allington Parish Council……
Dear Allington Parish Councillors,
I attended the meeting hosted by Symondsbury Parish Council (SPC), on the proposed boundary changes instigated by Bridport Town Council (BTC). This I understand would put the Vearse Farm Housing development under the control of the Town Council not SPC.
The mechanism of BTC’s request is that the Democratic and Electoral Services Dept. (DESD), WDDC, have appointed a representative to initially generate a consultation (a Community Governance Review), for SPC and individual parishioners to comment on the proposed changes, the deadline for submissions being 4th July 2018. Responses are to be sent to elections@dorset.gov.uk
The appointed representative, Jacqui Andrews (Corporate manager, DESD) (jandrews@dorset.gov.uk) gave a short presentation outlining the consultation process, on Tuesday evening. We were informed that all Symondsbury parishioners were in receipt of a flyer, alluding to the proposed consultation process.
As an Allington parishioner, I felt that this fell short of the democratic process, as I had not received this information. I believe there is a significant issue here in that a significant portion of theVearse Farm development footprint is actually in the Allington parish to the south of the B3162. Historically, this, on grounds of simplification we were told, has been included in the SPC protocol for Vearse Farm. Ms. Andrews was unaware of this anomaly, when I mentioned it in the subsequent Q&A session. Many of you will be aware that the proposed, contentious access to the site is within this portion of the Allington Parish boundary. Furthermore, there is a proposed ribbon development of housing on the southern side of the B3162, from the Toll House westwards to the proposed access to the site. This area is significantly prone to flooding.
Therefore, is it not correct that this situation be redressed such that Allington PC claim responsibility for this sliver of potential, significantly important development land? Here is an opportunity to do so perhaps?
Thank you.
Regards
Richard Freer
I’ve received the following email from Allington PC today (23/5/2018), having suggested an open meeting with Allington and Symondsbury Parish Councils to discuss this important issue.
Perhaps in the light of the reply from the Allington Parish clerk, like-minded, concerned residents should attend this meeting on the 12th June……..?
Hi Richard
We will discuss the proposed boundary changes at our next parish council meeting in June and will make any comments directly to Jacquie (I have already messaged Jacquie about this in the first instance who pointed out that ‘The District Council has not yet considered whether any boundaries should be altered but are merely gathering evidence from
local people at this point in order to inform their deliberations’.),
however, we have been advised that at this point in time they have only
been asked to look at the Symondsbury/Bridport boundaries and not
Allington’s even though there is a small sliver of Allington ‘land’
within the Vearse Farm development. As per Jacqui’s discussion,
residents etc are being asked for their views in the first instance, and
the views of our parish council will be reported to her before the 4th
July deadline.
Kind regards
Parish Clerk
Allington PC
Boundary change; its effect on VF !
SYMONDSBURY PARISH COUNCIL
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
SYMONDSBURY SCHOOL 7pm
TUESDAY 8TH MAY 2018
GUEST SPEAKER:
JACQUI ANDREWS,
from the Democratic and Electoral Services
The expected development at Vearse Farm has led to a Community Governance Review for Bridport. The outcome could result in changes to the Parish Boundary between Bridport and Symondsbury.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PRESENTATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT
ALL WELCOME. REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED
Reply from the Secretary of State…….
Planning Casework Unit
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
5 St Philips Place
Colmore Row
Birmingham B3 2PW
Tel: 0303 44 48050
pcu@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Mr Freer
Chairman, ADVEARSE
Please ask for:
Michelle Peart
Tel: 0303 44 48042
Email: Michelle.peart@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Your ref:
Our ref: PCU/RTI/F1230/78282
Date: 22 January 2018
Dear Mr Freer
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Outline application for the development of up to 760 dwellings, (35% affordable) 60 unit care home, 4 hectares of land for employment use, mixed use local centre, primary school, associated playing fields, areas of public open space and allotments –
Application Number: WD/D/17/000986
In my email of 3 January 2018 I promised to let you know the outcome on the above application.
The Government remains committed to giving more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues, and believe that planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible. The call-in policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively.
The Secretary of State has decided, having had regard to this policy, not to call in this application. He is satisfied that the application should be determined at a local level.
I appreciate that this is not the preferred outcome for you and I understand that there will be great disappointment as a result. It is however, now for the Council to determine this application and a copy of our letter to the Council is attached for your information.
Yours sincerely
Michelle Peart
Planning Officer