Moor Lane Housing Project: Other Interesting Points

Did you know that in the outline planning proposal for the Moor Lane Housing Project submitted in June 2006 contained the following statements:

• Three acres of outdoor playing space should be provided to included children’s play area and a full size pitch for ball games.
• The site can accommodate approximately 200 dwellings in total.
• Two sides of the site have rural boundaries and it is important that the form and layout of housing respects this context.
• Houses should be of traditional pitched roof design not exceeding two storeys.
• The layout should make best use of existing features such as trees and hedgerows.
• …highway improvements will be required to adjoining roads, and at their junction with Westfield Road.  This will require the replacement of a small amount of Common Land.
• …the site can accommodate approximately 200 dwellings overall (Note: this would equate to a density of 20.5 d.p.h.).
• SCC Highways raise the issue of the impact of likely traffic movements on the highways network. Their considerations are based on an assumed level of development at 30-50dph and indicate that the likely traffic flows from this level of development may have a significant impact.
• SCC Highways advise that increasing travel demand on the existing highway and public transport system, through development without investment, is unsustainable.
• SCC’s Schools Place Planning Group note that they are currently reviewing school place provision in Woking (and south Woking in particular) with a view to reducing the number of places because of falling rolls.
• The Environment Agency has been consulted on the application and has raised objections on the basis that insufficient information has been submitted on this matter to enable the EA to determine the ecological impacts of the proposals, there is no assessment of flood risk on the site.
• The EA has concerns regarding the principle of residential development on the basis that there may be an increase in the number of residents in the floodplain and the development may consequently increase flood risk elsewhere. Furthermore they consider that the generation of surface water runoff from a housing development covering up to 9.75Ha of currently greenfield land is likely to increase the risk of flooding downstream of the development.
• Policy REC2 of the Local Plan requires the provision of recreational open space, ancillary buildings and car parking to be provided as part of any residential development of Moor Lane. It states that, assuming a development of approximately 200 dwellings giving rise to around 500 persons, the proposal would need to provide a Local Equipped Area for Play of 0.36ha and a pitch of 0.8ha. In the event that the actual number of dwellings approved is significantly higher, additional open space would be required. [Editor – So for 500 houses, read 1250 people, Play Areas of 0.9ha, pitch of 2ha]
• The Local Plan notes that, as part of the Design Notes for Site 13/H, “two sides of the site have rural boundaries and it is important that the form and layout of housing respects this context. Houses should be of traditional pitched roof design not exceeding two storeys.”
• English Nature is of the opinion that any new residential development within 5km of the SPA could have a significant effect leading to an adverse impact [Ed: e.g. Whitmoor Common]

Do you think these points have been addressed so far?