MH1 Clause 1

Following our comments relating to H1.
This development will aggravate the traffic problems in the Town and cause danger and disturbance to other road users(as identified by the County Council). Main access to Town is Kettering Road.The problems at the Kettering Road bridge will be aggravated-priority given to traffic heading out of Town.. MHTS 2016 contains no viable proposals to solve problem
Problems will also be aggravated in Scotland Road and Gores Lane as motorists try to avoid problems.
Even if motorists can get on to A6, access to town restricted in Rockingham Rd.
Local Centre not proved viable.

SEE OUR RESPONSE TO H1
ID 5373

DLA Town Planning acts for The Owners of Market Harborough Land, the owner of Overstone Park.

We support, in principle, the allocation of the site at Overstone Park in Policy MH1. The site is suitable for residential development, is available for the proposed use and development is achievable within a relatively short period of time. The site is within single ownership and is not subject to planning or other constraints that would prevent development. The site is in a sustainable location on the edge of the largest settlement in the district.

The estimated capacity of the site at "about 600 dwellings" is supported and reflects the description of development provided as part of the current planning application. Alternative approaches to the site could see a lesser number of dwellings delivered but in our view this would represent a sub-optimal use of the site. In view of the scale of housing need in the district and the sustainability and suitability of the Overstone Park location, it is appropriate to maximise the use of the site, within the environmental parameters identified.

We have detailed comments to make on certain aspects of the policy (see separate representations) but we support the principle of the allocation.

Kettering Borough Council would like to make the following comments on the consultation on the Harborough Local Plan 2011 - 2031 Proposed Submission. This is an officer response to the consultation.

Site MH1 - Overstone Park

Kettering Borough Council objected to the outline planning application reference 15/02006/OUT for this site. The Council would like to reiterate the concerns it raised through this objection. The Council does not consider that the site is a suitable location for residential development of the scale proposed. There would undoubtedly be adverse wider landscape impacts associated with the scheme which could not be effectively mitigated against. The proposals, by virtue of the site's open countryside location and remote position relative to Market Harborough's town centre are not considered to constitute sustainable development and raise concerns in terms of the significant negative impact of development on the landscape.
It is noted that this site has been assessed against other alternatives through the Sustainability Appraisal and that this is one of three sites which have been selected as performing most favourably against the assessment criteria.

In the assessment for this site 'Landscape capacity to change' has been identified as high and scored as 'promotes sustainable growth'. The Council disagrees with this assessment. This site is located in a highly visible location which would have adverse impacts on the wider landscape.


Policy H6 - Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation and the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA)

Kettering Borough Council was consulted on the GTAA during its preparation but the Council has concerns about the outputs of the study. The GTAA identified that there were 52 unknown households where information was not available as to whether these households meet the planning definition. The GTAA identifies a need for up to 18 pitches for unknown households in the period to 2036; this is made up of new household formulation from a maximum of 52 households. Table B.8 of the Local Plan 2011-2031 identified the need to 2031 on unknown pitches as 13.

It is recognised that Policy H6 includes a site for 10 pitches as a reserve site to meet needs arising from any changes to the definition of Gypsy and Travellers or to meet needs of the identified 'unknown' Gypsy and Traveller population. The principle of including a reserve site is supported.

However, the Council is concerned that there is a significant level of potential need which is unknown at this stage. The Council is concerned that there is potential for there to be more need than sites identified. Given the cross boundary issues between Harborough, Kettering and Daventry Districts, the Council want to ensure that any need which is generated from households within Harborough is fairly represented and provision of pitches to meet need is identified within Harborough District through this Local Plan, and that families are then not required to find sites within neighbouring districts to meet a site shortfall.

Thank you for consulting Kettering Borough Council on this document.

APPENDIX
HARBOROUGH LOCAL PLAN 2011 TO 2031 PROPOSED SUBMISSION
LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL RESPONSE

Transport

1. Leicestershire County Council, in its role as Local Highway Authority (LHA), has been working closely with Harborough District Council as part of the Local Plan making process. As such, the LHA is content that the draft submission document is appropriately evidenced and also appropriately deals with transportation considerations at this stage in the planning process.

2. Subject to Harborough District Council's continued commitment to the policies and delivery approaches set out within the document, the LHA supports the submission of the Local Plan and looks forward to working with Harborough District Council in its delivery.

Education

3. Policies F1, MH2 and MH3 include no reference to securing suitable contributions for educational facilities. It may be that the intention is that these are covered by Policy IN1 - Infrastructure Provision, however whilst this policy refers to the Leicestershire Planning Obligations Policy (LPOP), it only does so in terms of waste, it does not refer to education.

4. Policies L1 and SC1 refer to delivery of Primary Schools 'soon after 300 dwellings'. The County Council would normally, and has with Harborough District Council, requested that the intended provision be available for opening in the September prior to the occupation of 300 dwellings.

Ecology

5. It is acknowledged that the de-declaration of the Scraptoft Local Nature Reserve is also currently being consulted on, and that its de-declaration would enable land to come forward for development as part of the Scraptoft North Strategic Development Area (SDA). The County ecologist has and continues to be actively involved, working through an approach which ensures the retention and management of areas of ecological value whilst enabling the release of some land for future development. This may involve the designation of a Local Wildlife Site.

Waste Management

6. The Local Plan needs to recognise that Waste Management considers proposed developments on a case-by-case basis and, when it is identified that a proposed development will have a detrimental effect on the local civic amenity infrastructure, appropriate projects to increase the capacity to offset the impact have to be initiated. Contributions to fund these projects are requested in accordance with Leicestershire's Planning Obligations Policy and the Community Infrastructure Legislation Regulations.

Economic Growth

7. The County Council supports the new employment land allocated in association with the Lutterworth SDA and recognises a similar approach is not necessarily appropriate with the Scraptoft North SDA with opportunities to access existing B use employment sites and proximity and ease of access to the City for employment.

8. The proposed portfolio of B use employment land in the Local Plan, which will provide the opportunity to deliver a range of jobs and economic prosperity in the District and wider area, is supported.

9. The County Council supports the approach taken to strategic storage and distribution (strategic B8 use) at Magna Park in the Local Plan, which has been informed by recent evidence commissioned by Harborough District Council. In particular, it supports additional strategic distribution proposals at Magna Park needing to meet the six criteria set out within the second part of Policy BE2, which sets a limit of 700,000 square metres for non-rail-served strategic B8 use in the Plan period.

10. The emphasis on the vitality and viability of the town centres is supported, and the regeneration emphasis on Lutterworth town centre although it is considered there is scope to strengthen this further, beyond the focus on vacant units absorbing identified need in Lutterworth town centre.

Strategic Assets

11. Comments from Strategic Assets are made in relation to the County Council's role as landowner. Its main interests in Harborough District are:

* land at Misterton County Farms Estate which forms part of the East of Lutterworth SDA (for which a separate detailed collaborative response will be submitted on behalf of the landowner consortium), and;
* potential smaller scale sites within Market Harborough, Lutterworth and rural settlements throughout the District.

12. Query whether the settlement hierarchy requires further consideration, to enable settlements which are better serviced than others in the same tier of the hierarchy to be more clearly distinguished and potentially receive more development.

13. In general terms the distribution of housing across the settlement hierarchy is supported; however, considers that there needs to be more clarity regarding the future housing needs of key settlements and seeks more flexibility for future housing numbers for smaller settlements.

14. The allocation of the East of Lutterworth SDA as a preferred strategic housing allocation is, in particular, strongly supported. The Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) supported by the Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) should therefore inform and provide strategic guidance to the development of later SPDs and Neighbourhood Plans. In considering the distribution of housing in the lower tiers of the hierarchy the Plan needs to demonstrate that those key centres and rural centres with neighbourhood plans will deliver housing numbers based on the current OAN rather than those contained within existing plans which were based on an earlier, much lower, OAN. Without this clarity the methodology could be open to criticism.

15. The integration of the social element of housing for older people and specific groups should be incorporated within the quantum and mix of affordable housing in order to mitigate any negative effect on site viability.

16. The County Council requests that planning consents at Airfield Business Park, Market Harborough (BE1.1a (ii)) and the land south of Lutterworth / Coventry Road, Lutterworth (BE1.1b (ii)) should be shown as existing commitments. Further, the consented site at Gaulby Road, Billesdon (a former highways depot), should also be shown as a commitment.

17. Whilst recognising the desire to concentrate strategic distribution at Magna Park, the proposal in Policy BE2.2 to allocate sites capable of delivering units of at least 9,000 sqm is seen as logical, as is the desire to stimulate economic growth by delivering sites that meet regional and sub-regional demand.

18. Policy BE3 on existing employment areas is supported; BE3.1 being seen as of particular relevance in ensuring that development meets the needs/demands of the wider sub-regional market in addition to local businesses in order to attract inward investment.


19. The allocation of both convenience and comparison retail floor space within the Lutterworth East SDA in Policy RT1 is supported, as is the additional provision within Lutterworth town centre which will complement the development of the new local centre and maintain a balance across the expanded community.

20. Policy L1- East of Lutterworth SDA is strongly supported. Being situated in the M1 corridor within one of the priority areas for economic growth in the Strategic Economic Plan it is clear that Lutterworth should be the focus of major strategic development within the District. The East of Lutterworth SDA is seen to meet best the criteria set out in Key Issues section of the plan and compliments the further development of Magna Park. Further, it is confirmed that the site, which is recognised as the most sustainable location for major development within the district, is available, being owned by a consortium of willing landowners, deliverable and capable of supporting a viable development.

21. Policy L2 - Land south of Lutterworth Road/Coventry Road. Outline planning consent has been granted and accordingly it should be regarded as an existing commitment for the purposes of the Local Plan.