1.0Introduction

1.1The Local Development Framework (LDF) for Corby contains two key Development Plan Documents (DPDs) – the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy and the emerging Corby Site Specific Allocations DPD. The LDF is informed by a number of supporting documents that form the evidence base. This paper is purposely prepared to contribute to a robust evidence base for the assessment and selection of sites for allocation in the Site Specific Allocations DPD.

1.2This detailed and thorough data base of all potential allocation sites is critical for the preparation of a sound Site Specific Allocations DPD. It forms the basis for the selection of employment allocations in the DPD and provides transparency of the process of site selection.

1.3 This document is compiled of desk based site assessments to identify whether development would create a high, medium or low impact on three landscape elements, visual impact, heritage impact and biodiversity impact. The results of these landscape impact assessments will be fed into the LDF background paper “Assessment of Potential Development Sites”

2.0Assessed Sites

2.1A wide range of potential development sites have been considered in recent years through various studies and documents. These studies include the initial draft Strategic Employment Land Assessment (SELA), which was published in June 2009, and theEmploymentLand and Buildings Study, which was published in June 2005

2.2This assessment supplements the above studies by taking into consideration sites that are allocated in the Development Plan and sites being actively promoted through the planning process. In line with national planning guidance, this will ensure that the assessment examines a wide a range of potential sites as possible.

3.0Methodology

3.1The purpose of thisexercise is to assessthe potential impact on three landscape elements, visual impact, heritage impact and biodiversity impact. The approach taken has beeninfluenced byEnvironmental Sensitivity Testing undertaken by River Nene Regional Park (RNRP) for the development of the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy.

3.2The methodology is based on a ‘Site Assessment Matrix’ which has been devised by selecting assessment criteria from the RNRP study that is readily available to the Council.

4.0Site Assessment Matrix

4.1The site assessment matrix contains a total of 20 assessment measures. All information was entered on the individual site assessment pro-formas which are presented within this document.

4.2The site assessment matrix was designed as a pragmatic, rapid assessment tool that would use available information and professional judgement. It provided a convenient way of listing and appraising various attributes in a consistent manner and introduced a systematic approach which was essentially simple in concept, relatively easy to understand and would enable a comparative assessment of each site to be undertaken.

4.3 The components of the Site Assessment Matrix were completed based on the following data/information:

4.4Site Assessment Matrix

Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / GIS Mapping/Aerial Photographs/Planning History
Visual Amenity / GIS Mapping /Aerial Photographs
Country Parks / GIS Mapping /List of NorthamptonshireCountryParks-NorthamptonshireCounty Council
Special Landscape Areas / GIS Mapping/Aerial Photographs /Corby Borough Local Plan 1997 (Saved Policies)
Floodplain / watercourses / Corby Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2006
Conservation Areas / GIS Mapping/Corby Borough Designated Conservation Areas
Parklands / GIS Mapping/Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England- English Heritage
Woodlands / GIS Mapping/Aerial Photographs
Rights of Way / GIS Mapping/Public Rights of Way- Northamptonshire County Council
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / GIS Mapping/Data provided by Natural England
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / GIS Mapping/Local Wildlife Sites- Northamptonshire Biodiversity Partnership
Ancient Woodland / GIS Mapping/Ancient Woodland Inventory for England- Natural England
Flood Zones and Rivers / Corby Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2006
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / BAP priority habitat mapping provided by Wildlife Trust (as of February 2010)
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / GIS Mapping/Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England- English Heritage
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / GIS Mapping/Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England- English Heritage
Ancient Woodland / GIS Mapping/Ancient Woodland Inventory for England- Natural England
Scheduled Monuments / GIS Mapping/Northamptonshire Sites and Monuments Record
Archaeological sites / GIS Mapping/Northamptonshire Sites and Monuments Record
Conservation Areas / GIS Mapping/Corby Borough Designated Conservation Areas
Listed Buildings / GIS Mapping/Listed Building Register

4.5Each section of the Site Assessment Matrix (Visual, Biodiversity and Heritage) was then given an overall rating of high, medium, low or no impact. This rating is based upon the information recorded within the Matrix. This rating is then duplicated within the LDF background paper “Assessment of Potential Development Sites” in order to assess landscape elements alongside the broader housing site assessment criteria. In order to translate this information into a ‘score’, the following numbers have been allocated to each of the ratings:

  • High impact = -3
  • Medium impact = -2
  • Low impact = -1
  • No impact = 0

Category / Comments
Site Summary
Site Reference / CBC001
SELA Reference / C1 (Part within Corby administrative boundary)
Site Specific Proposals Reference / E17
Site Name / Priors Hall
Address 1 / Weldon North
Address 2
Settlement
Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / Greenfield
Visual Amenity / Site has now been cleared for large scale mixed used development therefore providing little in terms of visual amenity
Country Parks / Not applicable
Special Landscape Areas / Not applicable
Floodplain / watercourses / Predominantly category 1 flood risk
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Parklands / Not applicable
Woodlands / Not applicable
Rights of Way / PROW on site
Level of Impact / Low impact Site has been cleared in preparation for large mixed use scheme
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / Not applicable
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / Local Wildlife site onsite
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Flood Zones and Rivers / Predominantly category 1 flood risk
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / Lowland meadow
Lowland calcareous grassland
Undetermined woodland
Level of Impact / Major impact Local wildlife site and 3 BAP priority habitats onsite
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / Not applicable
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Scheduled Monuments / Small section of site within Sites and Monuments list
Archaeological sites / Small section of site listed as Archaeological site
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Listed Buildings / Not applicable
Level of Impact / High impactSite contains scheduled monument and archaeological site
Category / Comments
Site Summary
Site Reference / CBC002
SELA Reference / C2
Site Specific Proposals Reference / E5 and part of E1
Site Name / North of Birchington Road
Address 1 / Gretton Road
Address 2
Settlement / Corby
Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / Greenfield
Visual Amenity / Large Greenfield site on outskirts of Borough with views to open countryside.
Country Parks / Not applicable
Special Landscape Areas / Not applicable
Floodplain / watercourses / Predominantly category 1 flood risk
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Parklands / Not applicable
Woodlands / Not applicable
Rights of Way / Not applicable
Level of Impact / High impactDevelopment would result in loss of large Greenfield site with views to open countryside
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / Not applicable
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Flood Zones and Rivers / Predominantly category 1 flood risk
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact site contains none of the biodiversity factors considered
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / Not applicable
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Scheduled Monuments / Not applicable
Archaeological sites / Not applicable
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Listed Buildings / Yes
Level of Impact / Medium impactVery small section of site contains one listed building
Category / Comments
Site Summary
Site Reference / CBC003
SELA Reference / Part C3 and Part C11
Site Specific Proposals Reference / Part E4
Site Name / Phoenix Parkway
Address 1 / Gretton Brook Road
Address 2
Settlement / Corby
Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / Brownfield
Visual Amenity / Brownfield site adjacent to industrial. No amenity green space provision/landscaping onsite
Country Parks / Not applicable
Special Landscape Areas / Not applicable
Floodplain / watercourses / Category 1 flood risk
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Parklands / Not applicable
Woodlands / Not applicable
Rights of Way / Not applicable
Level of Impact / Low impact Brownfield site providing little in way of visual amenity to the surrounding area
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / Not applicable
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Flood Zones and Rivers / Category 1 flood risk
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact site contains none of the biodiversity factors considered
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / Not applicable
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Scheduled Monuments / Not applicable
Archaeological sites / Not applicable
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Listed Buildings / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact Site contains none of the Heritage factors considered
Category / Comments
Site Summary
Site Reference / CBC004
SELA Reference / C4
Site Specific Proposals Reference / Part E6
Site Name / Cockerell Road
Address 1
Address 2
Settlement / Corby
Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / Brownfield
Visual Amenity / Brownfield site adjacent to industrial and railway. Non amenity green space
Country Parks / Not applicable
Special Landscape Areas / Not applicable
Floodplain / watercourses / Category 1 flood risk
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Parklands / Not applicable
Woodlands / Not applicable
Rights of Way / Not applicable
Level of Impact / Medium impactBrownfield site currently undeveloped however no amenity green space provision
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / Not applicable
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Flood Zones and Rivers / Category 1 flood risk
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact site contains none of the biodiversity factors considered
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / Not applicable
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Scheduled Monuments / Not applicable
Archaeological sites / Not applicable
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Listed Buildings / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact Site contains none of the Heritage factors considered
Category / Comments
Site Summary
Site Reference / CBC005
SELA Reference / C5
Site Specific Proposals Reference / Local Plan J13 and J14
Site Name / Car Storage Site
Address 1 / Willowbrook East
Address 2
Settlement / Corby
Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / Brownfield
Visual Amenity / Car storage site within industrial area. No amenity green space provision
Country Parks / Not applicable
Special Landscape Areas / Not applicable
Floodplain / watercourses / Predominantly category 1 flood risk
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Parklands / Not applicable
Woodlands / Not applicable
Rights of Way / Not applicable
Level of Impact / Low impact car storage site within industrial area. Provides little in way of visual amenity
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / Not applicable
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Flood Zones and Rivers / Predominantly category 1 flood risk
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact site contains none of the biodiversity factors considered
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / Not applicable
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Scheduled Monuments / Not applicable
Archaeological sites / Not applicable
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Listed Buildings / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact Site contains none of the Heritage factors considered
Category / Comments
Site Summary
Site Reference / CBC006
SELA Reference / C6
Site Specific Proposals Reference / E3
Site Name / Stanion Plantation
Address 1 / Long Croft Road
Address 2
Settlement
Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / Greenfield
Visual Amenity / Former plantation cleared for distribution centre proposals
Country Parks / Not applicable
Special Landscape Areas / Not applicable
Floodplain / watercourses / Category 1 flood risk
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Parklands / Not applicable
Woodlands / Not applicable
Rights of Way / Not applicable
Level of Impact / Low impactsite has been cleared in preparation of distribution centre proposals
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / Not applicable
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Flood Zones and Rivers / Category 1 flood risk
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / Undetermined woodland
Lowland calcareous grassland
Level of Impact / High impact site contains two BAP priority habitats
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / Not applicable
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Scheduled Monuments / Not applicable
Archaeological sites / Not applicable
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Listed Buildings / Not applicable
Level of Impact / No impact Site contains none of the Heritage factors considered
Category / Comments
Site Summary
Site Reference / CBC007
SELA Reference / C7
Site Specific Proposals Reference
Site Name / Land at Geddington Road
Address 1 / Long Croft Road
Address 2
Settlement / Stanion
Visual Impact
Factor / Comment
Greenfield/Brownfield / Greenfield
Visual Amenity / Large Greenfield site/open countryside with substantial plantation
Country Parks / Not applicable
Special Landscape Areas / Not applicable
Floodplain / watercourses / Category 1 flood risk
Conservation Areas / Not applicable
Parklands / Not applicable
Woodlands / Not applicable
Rights of Way / PROW on site
Level of Impact / High impactEdge of Borough site with views to open countryside. Substantial plantation also contributing to visual amenity
Impact on Biodiversity
Factor / Comment
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) / 2 SSSIs within the site
County Wildlife Sites; Local Wildlife sites / Local Wildlife Site
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Flood Zones and Rivers / Category 1 flood risk
Northamptonshire BAP Priority habitats:
Eutrophic standing waters, Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water bodies;
Reed beds, floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland meadows & Wet woodland;
Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows, Lowland wood-pasture and parkland, Lowland mixed deciduous woodland;
Lowland calcareous grassland Lowland dry acid grassland & Cereal field margins. / Undetermined woodland
Lowland calcareous grassland
Level of Impact / High impact site contains a number of key biodiversity considerations
Impact on Heritage
Factor / Comment
Registered Parks & Gardens / Not applicable
Historic Parks recorded in Northamptonshire SMR / Not applicable
Ancient Woodland / Not applicable
Scheduled Monuments / Not applicable
Archaeological sites / Not applicable