Comment

Representation ID: 167468

Received: 24/10/2018

Respondent: Horningsea Parish Council

4.2 KEY STRUCTURING ELEMENTS (FIXES)
AMOUNT, DENSITY AND HEIGHTS
* Difference between planning applications (11,000 dwellings / 30,800 residents) and Policy SS/6 (8-9,000 dwellings / 25,200 population) - SPD needs to specify numbers, density and ensure infrastructure provision reflects actual numbers permitted and includes triggers for delivery.
* Building heights of 6 / 8 storeys are inappropriate for Fenland setting.
* More detail needed on location of emergency services.
* Welcome 40 affordable housing - should be delivered early.
* Ensure sufficient community space, not reliant on schools.
* Triggers for schools need to bear in mind existing schools are over subscribed.

Housing, building density and population

Urban & Civic's application is for up to 6,500 dwellings; RLW application is for 4,500 making a total of 11,000, an estimated population of 30,800 residents6. However, the Local Plan Policy SS/6 Development Strategy to 2031 specifies the total number of houses as 8,000 to 9,000, an estimated residential population of 25,200. This SPD also specifies 8,000 to 9,000 dwellings. The infrastructure, number of schools and employment opportunities, as well as s106 contributions, will be significantly different for this lower number. The difference in blanket residential density, 51 for 11,000 dwellings and 40 for 9,000 dwellings, is also significant. The SPD therefore needs to specify now the total number of dwellings planned, the commensurate density and associated infrastructure. While the SPD acknowledges that the planning applications provide in the order of 11,000 dwellings, it states that it makes no comment on the suitability of this overall level of development and explores land use requirements by housing type and density for different total numbers7. We do not accept that this can be left until tested at the specific proposals. The provision of spatial framework, leisure facilities, transport corridors, access, retail, water and waste management, health and parking depends on eventual totals. The triggers for secondary school provision, traffic mitigation and public transport should be set by staged completion of the eventual total number of dwellings.

Building heights of six storey, with two possible locations of eight storey, are inappropriate in a fenland setting. An eight storey, high density block at the eastern boundary and close to the station could lead to lack of contact with central town facilities and social isolation.

More detail is needed on the location of emergency services to give easy access to residents in all areas of the town.

We welcome the objective of 40% affordable housing. We recognise that market value houses will be built first but request that the SPD sets an early timeline for the provision of affordable housing, including social housing, for key workers.

Schools and Community Facilities

While the provision of community spaces and facilities appears reasonable it includes a reliance on the use of school facilities for some community use. Headteachers are autonomous and cannot be forced to make their facilities available for community use such as meeting spaces. The SPD must not cut down on providing community spaces by relying on schools.

Four form entry for secondary school will be triggered by 2,400 to 3,300 homes. Secondary school children may arrive before that trigger; as many as 1000 secondary school children may require places within the first 500 homes which, spread over age groups could require at least two-form entry. Bottisham and Cottenham Village Colleges are already oversubscribed. We suggest that the trigger for secondary school provision should be at 500 two- and three-bedroomed dwellings.