In creating our emerging proposals for the site, we have considered the following as Key Design Principles:
Ashberry Strategic Land have conducted a thorough appraisal of the existing conditions of the local transport network, and the impacts a development such as this could create. Hook Norton is considered a sustainable location for new homes and benefits from good levels of walking, cycling and access to services.
Formal pre-application advice has been sought from the local highways authority in order to mitigate any potential impacts where necessary.
The outline planning application will be accompanied by a Transport Statement which will, amongst other things, consider the impacts of the proposals upon the operation of off-site junctions cumulatively with other recently completed developments. This will help to understand whether improvements are needed to the local highway network to address impacts of the proposed developments.
The site is located outside of areas at risk of flooding from rivers and sea and within Flood Zone 1. The proposals would include an attenuation basin, the purpose of which would be to hold surface water run-off from the development proposals and discharge it at greenfield rates. This means that the amount of water running off from the site would be no more than the current rates, as an undeveloped field. This will ensure that flood risk is not increased elsewhere as part of the proposed development.
We are aware through the public consultation already undertaken that the site and the surrounding fields are subject to significant surface water runoff. We are carefully investigating this including conducting soakaway testing and CCTV surveys of the wider drainage network to better understand this issue and to at a minimum ensure that existing conditions are made no worse by the proposed development and whether opportunities exist to improve any existing issues.
Ashberry Strategic Land has undertaken a variety of surveys on the site to establish its baseline ecology value and in order to shape the proposals. The main features of ecology interest on-site are existing field hedges and trees given the farmed nature of the site.
The masterplanning exercise has been informed by the principle of retaining existing trees and hedgerows wherever possible. Only a limited amount of hedgerow and tree loss will occur to allow for internal access and substantial new tree and other planting will occur throughout the site.
As part of the ecology work, detailed surveys have been carried out as part of formulating the development proposals and will be submitted alongside the planning application. The development will also include mitigation and enhancement measures to provide a benefit to those species which may be found locally, which will include bat and bird nesting boxes, hedgehog houses, and wildflower planting. As a result of these measures, and the extensive diverse planting across the site, the development will deliver at least a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain either on-site or through off-site enhancements, in line with national policy. This will ensure a significant improvement in the biodiversity over and above its existing condition.