HIGHCLERE PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of an extraordinary meeting held at Highclere Village Hall on Wednesday 23 January 2002 to discuss planning issues

 

Present

Councillor T Farmer (acting as Chairman)

Councillor I Davidson

Councillor J Pearson

Councillor R East

 

Apologies for absence

Councillor Mrs S Roberts

 

Also Present

Miss D R Gribble

 

11/02 TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PLANNING APPLICATIONS:

 

Erection of a garage with hobbies room over

NO OBJECTION subject to the following conditions

There shall be a legally enforceable agreement that this building shall not be converted to residential use, nor sold independently from the main house.  All materials shall match the existing

Enclosure of undercover parking bays at front of the property to form office space.

NO OBJECTION subject to the following conditions:

Paragraph C8 of the application is corrected, as there is no dwelling on this site.

There will be no illuminated signs and any signage should be kept low key in keeping with the rural environment. 

There shall be no security spotlights to the front as in this location it will cause temporary blindness to drivers on a dangerous stretch of road.

Replacement of rendered dome roof covering, replacement of Concrete balusters, improvements to access.

NO OBJECTION  

 

12/02 TO CONSIDER CHANGE OF USE, TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, FOR THE FOLLOWING SITES, AS PART OF THE LOCAL PLAN REVIEW.

 

The council decided not to comment on this application

 

The Council agreed it's response to the above sites and these are appended to the minutes.

 

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING THEN ADJOURNED

                 

 

 

 

                         Site: HI08

 

                         Land North of Hollington Lane, Highclere

 

THIS SITE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHANGE OF USE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

 

 

Accessibility and Transport factors:

 

  1. Public transport is very poor, and any family dwelling would need parking for 2 or 3 vehicles.
  2. There are no local shops or post office within Highclere
  3. It is difficult to walk to this site, due to the combination of traffic speed, lack of continuous footway, and poor road visibility on the A343.

 

 

Environmental factors

 

  1. Highclere has a high water table.
  2. The area immediately to the East of the site is designated as a site of importance for nature conservation .

 

 

Landscape  factors

 

1.       The area is within the North Wessex Downs AONB

  1. No significant change has occurred since the last local plan review
  2. Significant mature tree/hedge boundaries to the site are important local features

 

 

Built Environment and Heritage Features

 

  1. Highclere is the gateway to the North Wessex Downs and the County's first Parish, when heading South from West Berkshire along the A343.  It is an historic Parish and Highclere Castle attracts visitors from around the world.  It is therefore important to also maintain the original vista and retain as many open spaces and "borrowed" landscapes as possible.
  2. Any development here will have a significant negative impact on an enclave of historic buildings centred on Flexford House..

 

 

Socio-economic Factors

 

  1. Only a few people are employed locally and apart from home workers most people commute to Newbury or London.  More houses mean more commuters and more cars, deterioration of the country lanes, and loss of hedges and rural vistas.
  2. Local schools are already at saturation point in neighbouring Woolton Hill and Burghclere.  Local GP surgeries, in neighbouring villages, are under equal pressure

 

 

Infrastructure costs and viability factors

 

  1. There would be significant costs involved in developing the infrastructure to support a change of use of this site.  Drainage costs would be significant in financial terms and by way of disruption to the highway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         Site: WH05

 

                         Land at Blindman's Gate

 

THIS SITE, WHICH ADJOINS WH06, IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHANGE OF USE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

 

 

Accessibility and Transport factors:

 

  1. Public transport is very poor, and any family dwelling would need parking for 2 or 3 vehicles.
  2. There is a distinct lack of community facilities.
  3. Blindman's Gate is a minor rural road not suitable for regular two-way traffic.  It is a very dangerous junction.

 

Environmental factors

 

  1. This area has a high water table. .

 

Landscape  factors

 

1.       The area is within the North Wessex Downs AONB

2.       No significant change has occurred since the last local plan review.

  1. This site provides a valuable open space with wooded landscape.  This landscape is an important feature of the area, continuing through to "The Chase" National Trust property  
  2. Any development would change the rural nature and character of this area. and remove a key strategic gap. 

 

Built Environment and Heritage Features

 

  1. This area is the gateway to the North Wessex Downs.  Nearby, Highclere Castle attracts visitors from around the world.  It is therefore important to also maintain the original vista and retain as many open spaces as possible.

 

Socio-economic Factors

 

  1. Only a few people are employed locally and apart from home workers most people commute to Newbury or London.  More houses mean more commuters and more cars, deterioration of the country lanes, and loss of hedges and rural vistas.
  2. Local schools are already at saturation point.  Local GP surgeries, in neighbouring villages, are under equal pressure

 

 

Infrastructure costs and viability factors

 

  1. There would be significant costs involved in developing the infrastructure to support a change of use of this site.  Drainage costs would be significant in financial terms and by way of disruption to the highway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         Site: WH06

 

                         Land at Blindman's Gate

 

THIS SITE, WHICH ADJOINS WH05, IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHANGE OF USE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

 

 

Accessibility and Transport factors:

 

  1. Public transport is very poor, and any family dwelling would need parking for 2 or 3 vehicles.
  2. There is a distinct lack of community facilities.
  3. Blindman's Gate is a minor rural road not suitable for regular two-way traffic.  It is a very dangerous junction.

 

Environmental factors

 

  1. This area has a high water table. .

 

Landscape  factors

 

1.       The area is within the North Wessex Downs AONB

2.       No significant change has occurred since the last local plan review.

  1. This site provides a valuable open space with wooded landscape.  This landscape is an important feature of the area, continuing through to "The Chase" National Trust property  
  2. Any development would change the rural nature and character of this area. and remove a key strategic gap. 

 

Built Environment and Heritage Features

 

  1. This area is the gateway to the North Wessex Downs.  Nearby, Highclere Castle attracts visitors from around the world.  It is therefore important to also maintain the original vista and retain as many open spaces as possible.

 

Socio-economic Factors

 

  1. Only a few people are employed locally and apart from home workers most people commute to Newbury or London.  More houses mean more commuters and more cars, deterioration of the country lanes, and loss of hedges and rural vistas.
  2. Local schools are already at saturation point.  Local GP surgeries, in neighbouring villages, are under equal pressure

 

 

Infrastructure costs and viability factors

 

  1. There would be significant costs involved in developing the infrastructure to support a change of use of this site.  Drainage costs would be significant in financial terms and by way of disruption to the highway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         Site: PW04

 

                         Great Penwood

 

THIS SITE IS SUITABLE FOR CHANGE OF USE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ONLY IF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE IMPOSED:

 

The Tree border along the main road to the South of the property must be preserved to ensure that no driveway(s) are opened up to this road.  This will ensure that the rural aspect is preserved, and access to houses on the estate remains within the estate.

 

To prevent this becoming a precedent, no new road shall be built to provide access to the rear of neighbouring properties, causing over development of the estate.

 

 

Accessibility and Transport factors

1                     Public transport is very poor, and any family dwelling would need parking for 2 or 3 vehicles

2                     There is a distinct lack of community facilities

3                     There is only one shop in Penwood and no post office.

 

 

Environmental factors

1                     Penwood has a high water table

2                     Trees are an important factor in the area.

 

 

Landscape factors

1.                   The area is within the North Wessex Downs AONB

2.                   No significant change has occurred since the last local plan review.

 

 

Built Environment and Heritage Features

1.                    Highclere Parish is the gateway to the North Wessex Downs and the County's first Parish, when heading South from West Berkshire along the A343.  It is an historic Parish and Highclere Castle attracts visitors from around the world.  It is therefore important to also maintain the original vista and tree-lined roads.

 

Socio-economic Factors

1.                   Local schools are already at saturation point in neighbouring Woolton Hill and Burghclere.  Local GP surgeries, in neighbouring villages, are under equal pressure.

2.                   Only a few people are employed locally and apart from home workers most people commute to Newbury or London.  More houses mean more commuters and more cars, deterioration of the country lanes, and loss of hedges and rural vistas.

 

Infrastructure costs and viability factors

1.        Not Known