WARREN ROAD OBJECTION LETTER FOR THE LOCAL PLAN REVIEW BY 5 FEBRUARY
COPY AND PASTE OBJECTIONS IF NEEDED BELOW:
Hello everyone,
It has become clear that we must object to the Local Plan Review or West Berkshire Council will push through the Warren Road Access via Policy Submission Plan (SP) 16.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL OBJECTION TO THE PLANNING APPLICATION TO WIDEN THE WARREN ROAD.
To put this situation simply, the Council decided policies on how they wanted Development to be achieved and called it the Core Strategy - in the Core Strategy the Warren Road was introduced as a sustainable transport link and was approved by the Planning Inspector (important to note this).
West Berkshire Council then had an after-thought and added that they would like the Warren Road to be an all-vehicle access but introduced this in a Supplementary Planning Document - a document which cannot bring in new policy or change existing policies but they worded it very carefully as "to be explored". They are now in a position where they cannot officially introduce this as what is happening but if they amend this now through the Local Plan Review then I feel that they hope no-one will notice!
The Local Plan Review 2020-2037 Emerging Draft December 2020 can be accessed on the link below as well as the instructions for representations:
info.westberks.gov.uk/localplanreview2037
You can comment online using the Local Plan Consultation Portal after registering or use the special form available on the above link (why make it easy!) - by Friday 5 February 2021.
Thanks, Julie
Here are some suggestions to use for copy and paste Objections if needed:
Page 61 Policy SP16 states that "Development of the site would be expected to deliver" ..."Four primary all vehicle accesses ....One through to Andover Road via Warren Road". The all vehicular Warren Road access was only introduced at SPD stage and Policy SP16 cannot bring in new policy or change existing policies without Planning Inspectorate looking at the “soundness” of the plan. The Local Plan has been submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination by the Planning Inspectorate and any changes to the Local Plan must also be submitted. I object to the addition of the Warren Road access, after the approval of the Core Strategy, as an all-vehicle access road to the Sandleford Development due to its position next to 2 schools (Park House and Falkland Primary school) and the pollution and traffic impact on local vulnerable pedestrians, many of them children.
It is noted that the proposed Policy DC7 Air Quality in the draft plan includes a sub item e: "it does not expose occupiers who are particularly sensitive to air pollution, such as those in schools, health care establishments or housing for older people;" Which conflicts with Policy SP16 and its attempt to make Warren Road an all vehicle access directly impacting both a primary and secondary school who are located in close proximity.
"This statutory guidance recognises schools and active travel routes, amongst others, as “sensitive receptor locations””.
The Core Strategy stated that the Warren Road access to the Sandleford Development would be a sustainable transport access. NPPF, paragraph 7 states that the purpose of the Planning system “is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”. Policy SP16 takes away those rights to achieve sustainable development within Sandleford and the surrounding area as required by the NPPF. The planning system should be Plan-led and not Plan-amended to suit the Developer/Local Authority.
There is no mention of the required bridge within Policy SP16, required to link central and western Sandleford development parcels to the other 3 access roads. If this bridge is not built, and there is currently no legal obligation to build this, it would result in 2/3 of the proposed housing only having the Warren Road for access.
Page 63, states that the SPD was amended in 2015 "to reflect the need for a single planning application for the site". Policy GS 1 was introduced in 2017 and states that "Each allocated site will be masterplanned and delivered as a whole to achieve a comprehensive development" and "A single planning application will be submitted for each allocated site". It is proposed to delete this document as part of the Local Plan Review. I object to this action as Policy SP16 is incomplete in its detail, unclear and ambiguous, unlike Policy GS 1.
Policy SP16 goes against NPFF Para 16d, resulting in less governance during the planning process and allowing West Berkshire Council to introduce a weaker, less detailed replacement and introducing an amendment to the Warren Road access. The intended accompanying MOU is not a legally binding document, only a statement of serious intent. The original Core Strategy was set after considering the needs and requirements of interested parties and Policy SP16, with its accompanying MOU, weakens the Democratic process as there is no right for public consultation.
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