Great Abington LSA Estate - Neighbourhood Area Designation

I support this application.

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above Neighbourhood Consultation.

Planning Policy in the National Planning Policy Framework identifies how the planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. Encouraging communities to become more physically active through walking, cycling, informal recreation and formal sport plays an important part in this process and providing enough sports facilities of the right quality and type and in the right places is vital to achieving this aim. This means positive planning for sport, protection from unnecessary loss of sports facilities and an integrated approach to providing new housing and employment land and community facilities provision is important.

It is important therefore that the Neighbourhood Plan reflects national policy for sport as set out in the above document with particular reference to Pars 73 and 74 to ensure proposals comply with National Planning Policy. It is also important to be aware of Sport England's role in protecting playing fields and the presumption against the loss of playing fields (see link below), as set out in our national guide, 'A Sporting Future for the Playing Fields of England - Planning Policy Statement'.
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/development-management/planning-applications/playing-field-land/

Sport England provides guidance on developing policy for sport and further information can be found following the link below:
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/forward-planning/

Sport England works with Local Authorities to ensure Local Plan policy is underpinned by robust and up to date assessments and strategies for indoor and outdoor sports delivery. If local authorities have prepared a Playing Pitch Strategy or other indoor/outdoor sports strategy it will be important that the Neighbourhood Plan reflects the recommendations set out in that document and that any local investment opportunities, such as the Community Infrastructure Levy, are utilised to support the delivery of those recommendations.
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/

If new sports facilities are being proposed Sport England recommend you ensure such facilities are fit for purpose and designed in accordance with our design guidance notes.
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/

As residents within the proposed Neighbourhood plan, we have been asked to give our views on the future development of the former land settlement site.

It is our opinion that a controlled development of residential/live work use should be encouraged.

It is a fact that there has been no consistency applied to recent applications. A clear planning guidance needs to be implemented on a level playing field .

We support a policy of re development of redundant out buildings to create residential/live work properties.

We propose a maximum development of 2 such units per original dwelling. Approved annexes to count as one unit.

Each proposed unit would be constructed with Eco building technologies in line with the planning policy afforded to the former land settlement site at Fen Drayton in North Cambs.

The existing infrastructure in our opinion would support this and the increase in residential properties would justify open reach broadband provision to a expectable level.

We understand that South Cambs are perusing a self build policy and this would be in keeping with that.

Any development must agree to become members of the road management company to ensure maintenance of the roads.

I have tried repeatedly to access the portal to reply online but this is unavailable. Therefore I respond by email an would appreciate acknowledgement of receipt of my reply.

I bought the property more than 20 years ago, I have not been able to adapt the property to suit my needs even though it is 80 years old due to the unsupportive and obstructive actions of SCDC

OBJECTION / COMPLAINT

1. I did not purchase a LSA estate but a private property.

There is no current LSA estate in existence and therefore South Cambs must desist from any reference to LSA

South Cambs DC must apologize to the owners of land and properties on North, South and Chalky Road for the incorrectly named properties.

All properties and land are in private ownership and to my knowledge the LSA does not have any right or restriction over the land.

2. As a private land owner in residence for over 20 years I believe that my right to adapt my property to suit my needs has been adversely disadvantaged to the extent of discrimination due to the absence of a local plan being in place due to the abdication of responsibility by SCDC. No land owner amongst my neighbours has enjoyed the normal right to adapt their home and in most cases has had to go to MoE appeal.

This action and attitude of SCDC must stop.

The residents must have reasonable rights to adapt and develop their homes to suit their needs.

Small holders and equestrian properties reasonably need to extend their properties. The original size of houses was unreasonably small.

It is to be expected that properties with land need annexes either for visiting family, guests, paying guests, for the proprietors to retire to in old age or for the accommodation of hired help. I see no reasonable grounds for any objection to this type of use which does not amount to unfair treatment.

3. It is only reasonable that premises of this nature have multiple entrances. It is not workable to have domestic vehicles using the same entrance as agricultural vehicles and horse boxes. Any restriction to one entrance disregards the rural nature of the small holdings.

4. Many of the long standing land owners are between 60 and 85 year old. After an active life they wish to retire in suitable accommodation on their own land. Every effort should be made by SCDC to ensure that residents are supported to this end. It is only reasonable that single storey annexes should be allowed.

5. Given that the recent selling prices of properties have been around £900k any reasonable developments in keeping with a property of this value: pool, tennis courts, equestrian manage should find no objection.

6. Given that the residents of this area pay an extremely high council tax for very little benefit, SCDC should consider either reducing the council tax to these properties or including them in the road, drainage and lighting network of Abington

I would be grateful if you acknowledged receipt of this contribution.

My wife and I live within the former Land Settlement Association area at Great Abington.

The unique history of the LSA site at Great Abington has resulted in a very special place of great charm. It is a wonderful place in which to live. Any major development would, almost certainly, destroy its character.

In particular, any proposal to build several dwellings on even one of the 62 plots - including those with access only from the Pampisford Road public highway - should be resisted very strongly.

The democratic will of those living here appears to favour some modest development, such as substantial extensions to the original houses and the possible conversion of existing outbuildings into dwellings, up to a maximum of one per plot. Anything more than that, in our opinion, would bring about the loss of this remarkable place.

I am writing in response to a letter I received titled Application to designate the 'Great Abington Land Settlement Estate Neighbourhood Area', dated from the 13th June 2016 and proposing a Neighbourhood Plan for the estate.

It invited me to make any comments that we saw fit regarding the Neighbourhood Plan and I wish to raise the matter of redundant farm buildings on the estate and their potential use as residential dwellings.

I believe that South Cambridgeshire District Council should facilitate and be more willing to allow the conversion of redundant farm buildings, of which there are numerous on the estate to residential usage.

To date, several applications of this nature have been refused by South Cambs Council. However, this policy seems in stark contrast to the intentions of the national government who are looking to introduce new planning measures which will ensure empty and underused offices, which includes agricultural buildings in rural areas, can be swiftly converted into much-needed housing. Please see the link below for more information.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/planning-measures-will-make-best-use-of-underused-buildings-for-providing-new-homes

At best, I would like to ask that South Cambs council to follow national governments lead and make farm building conversion without planning permission easier or, at worst, have explained to me why its policy is not coherent with national government policy intentions.

My husband and I wholeheartedly support the proposal for a neighbourhood plan for the area defined as the old LSA.

As residents of the old LSA and former growers we have lived here for 60 years.

In that time there have been many changes with the nature of the businesses run changing from general agriculture, then moving to more specialized intensive horticulture with acres of greenhouses. The majority of these greenhouses have been dismantled.

The traffic during this time increased with more intensive horticulture, however since the government abandonment of the scheme and subsequent sell off in 1984 the volumes of traffic have lowered.

I reiterate our support for this plan.

From a personal point of view and as a Director of the Abington Road Management Association. I have lived on this Estate for 46 years and therefore well versed on the history and geography of the Estate.

It has been increasingly difficult for a number of years to attain planning permission for any type of residential improvements. There is no consistency where residents are granted or refused planning application and it would be useful to have some sensible guidelines before residents go forward with plans.

Indeed, it should also be recognised that there are substantial horticultural businesses of long standing which should be looked at sympathetically when considering your neighbourhood plan.

In my opinion, on the larger plots, an extra dwelling of a sensible size would be feasible. The roads are in good order and could sustain more traffic so long as the roads continue to be maintained to their present standard and the passing bays kept clear.

Thank you for the opportunity to take part in this exercise.

I have lived on the Estate since 1988 and very much enjoy being here. SCDC has quite rightly sought to protect its unusual and attractive character which is distinct from Great Abington village as well as typical rural development. However, I agree with GAPC's view that considering it solely as 'countryside' does not take sufficient account of its essentially residential nature and layout uniformity. Its location adjacent to The Abingtons, Granta Park and the A11 trunk road are additional factors.

The 59 properties within the Estate, that use the private road system, occupy more than 600 acres. In current development terms this is under-utilisation on a grand scale. There are now hardly any unextended homes on the Estate - the others have been enlarged significantly, and in some cases very considerably. SCDC has also granted permission for a number of outbuildings to be converted to living accommodation which I support.

But what of the future? Sustainability is a material consideration and I believe the Estate has a valuable contribution to make within the NPPF definition. Granta Park is within walking or cycling distance of the Estate. It employs highly skilled people who contribute a great deal to the economy of South Cambridgeshire. The same can be said of nearby Babraham Institute, and The Wellcome Genome Campus. Providing sufficient, suitable and appealing housing for them nearby is a priority. The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is a further examples just over 7 miles away. We can do without anything that contributes to a post-Brexit brain drain.

Estate building land availability is plainly abundant but there have been SCDC concerns about the road system's capacity. Over the last 28 years, as car ownership has increased, I expected there to be some noticeable difference in the volume of traffic movements encountered when using the roads here. However, it hasn't happened.

By far the majority of vehicles using Estate roads are cars and at no time have I ever experienced a problem passing others by use of the passing places. This also applies when large vans are involved. HGVs delivering and collecting (including Council recycling vehicles) are very much fewer in number and are of a size that can be seen a distance away. This allows other road users to get out of the way so delays are avoided. In addition to passing bays, there are many entrance openings which horses and cars can use.

On North Road there are 9 passing bays, South Road has 11 and Chalky Road 4. There is a further passing bay on Cutting Road. This number is generous per mile when compared with any single track public roads I have driven along. Openings mentioned above are considerably more numerous. Some are extensive enough for more than one vehicle. North Road has 26, South Road 34, Chalky Road 15 and Cutting Road 2.

It seems to me that agreeing a Neighbourhood Plan which respects and enhances the quality of Estate life, while allowing planning applications to make greater use of available land, would be highly appropriate. The sheltered nature of the Estate makes it capable of absorbing additional development without being at all visually intrusive. Easy access to the little used A11 bypass/Newmarket Road is pertinent. Agreed development would not involve the loss of normal open countryside nor erosion of precious Green Belt. In view of the very large number of houses being built to serve Cambridge growth, this is important.

I support the application by Great Abington Parish Council to designate the area in the parish that was formerly the Great Abington Land Settlement Association Estate as a 'neighbourhood area' for the reasons set out by the Parish Council in its application.