About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These site allocation pages contain the following sections:
Site background
- A broad description of the site, with map if appropriate
- An overview of development proposed or already in progress
- Relevant aspects of planning policy for this site
- The history and status of any planning applications for this site
Options for the new Local Plan
We may suggest one or more possible approaches:
- Keeping existing plans for this site as they are
- Making small changes to our approach, which may allow for changes
- Replacing the approach with something that is substantially different
- Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future
Site analysis
A short summary of our assessment of the site so far
- Opportunities presented by the site
- Constraints (obstacles which might make it a poor site to develop)
- Mitigations (Measures that would be needed to reduce any harm development would cause)
- Further information we'd need to make a more in-depth assessment of the suitability of the site
Policy context note
- Where decisions about this site may affect how we approach other sites (or vice versa), we will add a note to explain
Explore this site allocation
Select a section below to read more.
6.105 Option C comprises a small parcel of land located to the west of the A37, accessed directly from this road. The land is currently used as arable fields, and sits to the rear of a single row of residential units located along the A37.
6.106 This option is capped at 150 new homes, which is the quantum considered to generate the number of primary school aged children that could be accommodated by the existing primary school.
6.107 The site is located in the Green Belt. The Strategic Green Belt Assessment carried out by WECA to inform the now halted Spatial Development Strategy assesses these land parcels (P93) as making the following contribution to each of the NPPF Green Belt purposes:
- Purpose 1 - checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas: significant contribution
- Purpose 2 - preventing the merger of neighbouring towns: limited / no contribution
- Purpose 3 – safeguarding the countryside from encroachment: P93 moderate contribution
- Purpose 4 - preserving the setting and special character of historic towns: limited / no contribution
Option C
Figure 43: Option C - Whitchurch Village, Land to the west of the A37 (150 homes)
Opportunities
- Provision of 150 homes.
- Quantum of housing able to be accommodated at existing primary school.
- Located close to the existing village centre, and with good access by active travel modes to facilities located in Whitchurch Bristol.
- Public realm improvements along the A37 to improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity, with local mobility hub connecting to national cycle route.
Constraints
- Located in the Green Belt.
- Potential to cause a medium level of harm to the significance of St Nicholas Church and Lyons Court Farmhouse. This harm is likely to fall within the NPPF definition of ‘less than substantial harm’, and/or could be reduced via appropriate mitigation (such as via landscape design solutions).
- Development would impact on historic field pattern to the west of A37.
- Located in area of high landscape sensitivity – further assessment and consideration of appropriate mitigation required.
- Secondary school pupils would need to be transported to Broadlands in Keynsham at cost to the Council, and would not be able to reach school using actives modes.
- Although located close to the existing village centre and facilities within Whitchurch Bristol, without improved public realm and crossings along A37, severance with the existing village could occur.
Mitigation required
- Careful consideration of pedestrian and cycle crossings required within public realm improvements to alleviate severance issues.
- Significant green infrastructure and planting required throughout and along the edge of the development parcels , to provide softening to edges of development, and mitigate impact on landscape and heritage assets.
- 50m green buffer required along south and west edges of development parcels, to mitigate harm to heritage and landscape assets, including Lyon’s Court Farm and Maes Knoll.
Further investigation or evidence
- Landscape sensitivity assessment and mitigation.
- Green Belt assessment required to assess impact of removing land from Green Belt, including cumulative impact when considering strategic removal across the district.
- Impact of development on historic field patterns to be considered.
- Further heritage assessment required relating to levels of harm to heritage assets, and consideration of weight of harm against public benefit.