Proposed Submission Development and Site Allocations (DaSA) Local Plan

LAND REAR OF OAKLANDS, PEASMARSH
PROPOSED SUBMISSION DASA LOCAL PLAN
Thank you for the invitation to comment on the above consultation. I write on behalf of our client Maggie Hurst who holds a controlling interest in land known as Oaklands, Main Street, Peasmarsh, TN31 6YD. The site comprises the property known as Oaklands, which has a frontage onto Main Street, Peasmarsh and three paddocks which extend to the south. It sits in a ribbon of residential development which runs along the southern side of Main Street and has a curtilage of approximately 0.2 hectares extending south of the property and to the rear of the two dwellings to the east.

The land has been assessed as part of the Development and Site Allocations Local Plan, under the site ID's PS7N and PS7S respectively. After consideration the council concluded that these were 'not preferred sites'. Site PS7S was described as having 'a lack of integration with the existing village'. In the interim, an allocation has been proposed for 45 dwellings on the neighbouring 'Land South of Main Street' under policy PEA1. This proposed allocation is somewhat surprising because it would appear that this land is in fact poorly integrated and located further from village amenities than the land at both PS7N and PS7S. Our clients land is located closer to the village, other residential properties and associated amenities including the Jempsons superstore, suggesting its position would allow for more favourable development. The reference to 'a lack of integration' is therefore clearly not now appropriate.

The allocated land at PEA1 faces substantial access constraints; at present the site does not have any means of access to Main Street. Access is proposed to be made available through the demolition of a dwelling at 'Pippins', but this arrangement would not seem to allow for suitable visibility splays. Despite these obvious access constraints, the land has still been brought forward for allocation. In the case of PS7S and PS7N access restrictions have been used as a justification to refuse allocation, although no formal work has apparently been undertaken on which these concerns are based. It is pertinent to note that the access concerns expressed by the council are in fact no more substantial than those faced at PEA1. The ability to overcome access concerns at this site must be given fair consideration and further study must be explored before discounting the sites development potential.
The proposed allocation for the land at PEA1 notes that development would be limited to the northern and central parts of the site as these areas are screened from the existing countryside, with the southern portion most suited for use as public space. The land at PS7N however does not face these restrictions, as noted by the council the land is 'visually contained from the wider Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', development at this site would therefore not need to be limited. Further, the land at PS7S presents and excellent opportunity to integrate residential developments and green space to address the shortfall in the village. An allocation of the land at PS7S and PS7N should therefore be obvious. The allocation could be for the sites individually, or in conjunction with one another. At present the absence of these allocations leads us to believe that the plan is not justified, the plan is clearly not putting forth an appropriate strategy and taking into account reasonable alternatives and as such the plan cannot be considered to be robust or reliable.
This representation demonstrates that the council must reconsider the land at PS7N and PS7S for allocation. The land at Oaklands, Peasmarsh represents an excellent opportunity, and we consider that the site allocation be modified accordingly. It is clear that an opportunity does exist here.