About Us
The Applicants will be Bargate Homes and Vivid.
Bargate Homes is a developer established in 2006 to be a truly differentiated homebuilder in its product and guiding principles. Bargate’s vision is to reject the malaise of mediocrity in new homes design and build standards and appalling levels of customer service. To recognise corporate responsibility; to have a purpose beyond profit. To demonstrate a duty of care in development, to enhance the beautiful local area we all choose to call home and give back to the communities in which we develop. To be the brand that cares in a marketplace that seemingly does not.
Vivid are a leading provider of affordable homes and extensive support services in the south of England, with around 72,000 customers, 33,000 homes and 900 employees. Our vision is “more homes, bright futures” and our mission is to give customers a safe and secure home and provide the foundations for their wellbeing by: Delivering high-quality services so people can live independently in a safe and secure home and be proud of where they live
Background
The location of the application site is outlined in red below. The site, which extends to 2.88ha, is located to the south of Barrow Hill and is currently in use for cereal cropping.
The northern part of the site was previously subject to an outline planning application (reference 14/03004/OUTN) for 25 homes and an office building, made by a previous applicant, however this was withdrawn in March 2016.
The Applicant has since undertaken further work with a range of consultants and has engaged in Pre-Application discussions with Test Valley to develop a sound understanding of the existing landscape character, visual amenities, ecological requirements and other constraints, which have formed the basis of an indicative masterplan.
While the site remains unallocated and located outside of the Goodworth Clatford Settlement Policy Boundary, it is recognised that the Site is included in the Test Valley Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) published in 2021, under S64 ‘land at Barrow Hill’. The site is identified as being 2.9 hectares, with 100% of the site being a deliverable area and suitable with a capacity for 46 dwellings. The SHELAA confirms that it is both available and deliverable in the short term.
Proposal
The emerging proposals are for:
- The erection of up to 40 homes. The houses are proposed as a mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom dwellings, and will include 40% affordable housing.
- New Multi-functional Green Space providing opportunities for recreational activities, play and edible landscapes, as well as provision of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain.
- Vehicular access onto Barrow Hill.
There is an opportunity for the development to provide a positive contribution to the green infrastructure and public open space of Goodworth Clatford. The land is currently used for agricultural purposes and is inaccessible to the public. The site would provide new pedestrian routes between the recreation ground and allotments. It would encompass multi-functional open space, as well as biodiversity improvements, to allow both people and nature to live alongside each other.
A future planning application will be supported by a number of reports and surveys, undertaken and updated to inform development proposals, as summarised below.
Landscape
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The landscape and visual effects have been evaluated by SLR Consulting. The landscape character of the Site and its vicinity typifies the rural context of many villages. The Site comprises agricultural land which is influenced by some suburban features and is partially enclosed by the combination of the landscape’s undulating landform and well-established vegetation. Evaluation by SLR has concluded that the landscape effects would be ‘highly localised’. Whilst there would be a moderate/major level of effect on the field itself, all other landscape effects would be moderate minor or below with effects on the established hedgerows and trees being neutral. Negative effects would be predominately limited to the site itself as the landscape is already influenced by existing settlement.
It is proposed to retain an open vista through the site to the south, which supports a green infrastructure link between Barrow Hill and Burdock Close. Development heights have also been carefully considered to allow for open views of the wider landscape to be retained from Neighbourhood Plan view point 7 at the recreation ground.
Landscape mitigation will include wildflower meadow grassland planted within open space and verges, which would provide new habitats for invertebrates, and thus foraging habitats for both bats and birds. This would improve the character of the landscape, contact with nature and general well-being. Existing hedgerows would be retained and enhanced with gaps filled ensuring a greater diversity of species would occur, including with many more trees.
Ecology
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A suite of ecological surveys have been undertaken throughout the site in recent years to enable an informed understanding of the biodiversity of the site, including reptiles, bats, great crested newts, badgers, birds and invertebrates. The site comprises arable land with arable field margins and elements of grassland. Hedgerows of varying quality are along the eastern, north-eastern, southern and western boundaries.
The proposals have been designed to retain habitats of the greatest ecological value (hedgerows) wherever possible and retain opportunities for species post-development, through the retention of the majority of hedgerows and provision of large green corridors. The proposal will retain as much of the grassland as possible within the site design and enhance the retained grassland areas with a wildflower seed mix.
A wildlife pond can be created in the southeast area of the site. This will exploit natural drainage conditions while enhancing the site for invertebrates and amphibians, including great crested newts. As well as providing water for reptiles and mammals, the pond will enhance foraging opportunities for birds and bats. This will contribute to habitat net gains on the site.
The proposal will deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain of habitat and hedgerow units.
To provide additional biodiversity enhancements the following measures will be included within the final development design:
- Bat and bird boxes should be included within the development, with integral boxes preferred.
- A hibernaculum should be included in an area of retained grassland, this will provide suitable shelter for small mammals, reptiles and invertebrate species.
- Hedgehog friendly fencing should be incorporated within the design of the development to ensure hedgehogs can still move through the development. This can be achieved with the inclusion of gravel boards on the fencing or maintain a gap at the bottom of fences.
- The inclusion of wildflower areas will also provide additional foraging opportunities for hedgehogs.
Transport and Accessibility
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A new vehicular and pedestrian access will be provided onto Barrow Hill. Barrow Hill is a relatively rural unlit 30mph speed limit road, measuring circa 5m in width and so able to accommodate two-way traffic. There are footways on the development side of carriageway, which provide a continuous link between Longstock Road (and associated facilities) and beyond the site to the west.
Access to local facilities is fundamental to the concept of locating sustainable development. New development needs access to the full range of social, retail, educational, health, transport and recreational facilities to allow people, especially those of limited means or mobility, to go about their daily lives without over reliance on a private car. There are no public rights of way within the immediate vicinity of the site.
The site abuts Barrow Hill that allows for direct access into Goodworth Clatford predominantly to the east, then Longstock Road which connects the village with Upper Clatford and Andover to the north. There is a bus stop located within a 6 minute walk of the site, which include the service 15, providing access to Andover to the north and Stockbridge to the south. Additionally, Route 246 of the National Cycle Network is a 2 minute cycle east of the site. Other nearby facilities include:
Drainage
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A Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Strategy will be included within a planning application for the proposed development site. An initial assessment has already been carried out and this shows that the overall flood risk within the development area is considered to be low from all sources.
As with any greenfield site, its development for residential will lead to an increase in hard and impermeable surfaces at the site. This can lead to increased rates and volumes of surface water runoff. To mitigate this, a Surface Water Drainage Strategy will be implemented to ensure that not only the risk of flooding within the site is minimised but will also ensure that flood risk to properties and land in nearby areas is not increased as a result of the new development. The indicative drainage strategy will be submitted to the Lead Local Flood Authority for approval as part of the application process.
The proposed Surface Water Drainage Strategy will incorporate the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) such as an attenuation pond or infiltration basin within the lowest point of the site in the south-eastern corner. Ponds provide onsite storage for surface water during periods of heavy rainfall, ensuring flood water does not flow off site affecting surrounding land. They also have the potential to provide benefits for water quality, ecology, and amenity for the development and the local area. Other SuDs methods can also include conveyance swales and self-drain paving.
Climate Change
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Our approach towards transitioning towards carbon neutrality is:
- The biodiversity of the Site will be protected, diversified and improved through new planting and habitat creation. Overall the proposals are expected to achieve a net gain in biodiversity
- Integrate Sustainable Urban Drainage systems
- Design homes using a ‘fabric first’ approach where the materials and construction are designed to reduce energy demand as far as possible first
- Consideration of achieving energy conservation standards that exceed Building Regulations
- Design of new homes to reduce water demand though efficient appliances and fitting
- Integration of low carbon energy sources such as the potential incorporation of photovoltaic arrays and heat pumps
- Provide electric vehicle charging points for all new homes
- Encourage residents to utilise the easy access to alternative modes of transport (e.g. walking, cycling and public transport) from the Site to reduce reliance on the private car
Illustrative Masterplan
The below Illustrative Masterplan provides an indication of how development is proposed for the site, including the point of access, development areas, landscaping, tree planting, biodiversity net gains, and movement routes to connect to the public footpath to the south east.
In the event that an Outline Planning Application is made, the specific house designs and sizes would not be known at this stage, however Bargate Homes commit to creating a mixed and balanced community with 40% of the dwellings to be affordable housing and mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. This will make a very significant contribution towards the existing shortage of affordable homes in the locality.
The site presents itself as a logical extension to Goodworth Clatford. The masterplan responds directly to the sites character and context and will naturally integrate with the village with high-quality and beautifully designed homes.
Comments
Bargate Homes and Vivid would like to know your view on their proposals, what you think we should know about the surrounding area and how these points may influence our proposals.
If you want to share your thoughts about the project, you can type in comments within the comments box below and click ‘submit’.
In order to help inform the eventual planning application, responses are sought by 21st January 2024.
This consultation has now closed.
Bargate Homes will consider all correspondence received and our response to the issues raised will be set out in the Planning Submission. As part of a planning application, submitted to the Local Planning Authority a complete copy of all comments received may be published however all personal details (including any details such as your name, address and email where you have provided them) will be confidential. The Council may publish any Planning submission documents online, subject to their own Data Protection policies. Should the application be the subject of an appeal, the same information will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate. If further consultation is carried out as part of the planning process, we may use your details to make you aware of this and to ask for your views, but will not use this information for any other purpose.
