Background
Following the conclusion of an process last year, outline planning permission was granted for up to 300 homes and new infrastructure, including a medical centre and nursery. The permission also included a care home and retail units. The outline consent established the principle of new homes on this site and established a framework for the finer details of development to be determined by a reserved matters application.
Whilst the original application was supported by a Design Code and various Parameter Plans, none of these were approved by the Planning Inspector dealing with the appeal. The Outline Planning Permission requires the local centre to be located towards the north-eastern end of the site.
The outline planning permission also set some specific parameters for the development, including details of access, drainage principles and affordable housing provision. Barratt David Wilson have acquired the site and are now in the process of preparing the detailed design over the forthcoming months, before they submit a reserved matters planning application later this Autumn.
Site constraints and opportunities
The site presents a range of constraints and opportunities which have been subject to a series of surveys and other technical and non-technical assessments. In some cases these constraints were not previously considered as part of the Outline Planning process.
Topography
Throughout the site there are some notable level changes that have influenced the emerging design presented today both in terms of street structure and the drainage strategy.
Existing ditch
There is a notable ditch that bisects the development. It provided challenges in terms of drainage for both sides of the ditch, as well as providing limitations on connectivity within the development, including the access point to the southern end of the development.
Existing surface water sewer
This feature traverses the existing ditch and compounds the constraints of development, impacting the design of the proposed noise bund, which will require a break within its length to facilitate access to the foul sewer in the future.
Railway noise
The noise emanating from the railway line will need to be diffused through the use of a landscaped buffer that can protect the future development and existing residents, as well as be a landscape feature serving the new development.
Listed buildings
Church Hall Farmhouse and associated buildings are all Grade II listed buildings, comprising a cluster of renovated barns. The setting of these features has had to be carefully considered both in terms of proximity of development and proposed features.
Existing vegetation
Most of the vegetation present is located on the periphery of the site and will be retained, and/or enhanced as part of the plans for development.
Existing homes on London Road
Through the Outline Planning process, an additional 5m offset has been established to the rear of the gardens where new built form cannot be delivered.
Site location
Aerial overview of the site. The redline marks the site boundary.
The site is 51.186 acres / 20.714 hectares in size and is located in the village of Kelvedon in the county of Essex. The land is bound by the railway line to the north west, a collection of listed buildings including St Mary the Virgin Parish Church and the ground of Church Hill Farm to the north east, London Road and existing residential development to the south east, and an existing field to the south west.