Land North of Broadwindsor Road Beaminster WD/D/18/000115
Outline planning application for residential development of up to 100 dwellings.
Comments by The Beaminster Society
The Society supports the planning application for 100 houses on part of the BEAM1 Local Plan site.
We support the concept of clusters of housing incorporating 35% affordable housing, evenly distributed across the development. The density of development and the proposed landscaping around and within the development is supported and would be appropriate for this rural location on the edge of town.
Overall, the illustrative layout goes some way to achieving the Society's "aspirations" for the development, although there are many "reserved matters" that are not decided at this stage.
The Society's aspirations include:
1 Housing should be a mix of traditional and “new vernacular" styles to create a dynamic development for 21st century living that would be appropriate to the landscape, the setting and the Dorset vernacular. Essential elements would be stone external cladding, traditional roofs (slate or thatch) and timber windows.
2 The inclusion of Live-Work facilities in some of the house designs in designated areas to reduce commuting and promote small enterprises.
3. A high proportion of affordable housing.
4. Housing to be eco-friendly, with high standards of insulation and innovative heating and water usage, water recycling and rain water capture.
5. Separation of the housing and parking to provide parking away from the houses. Parking in courtyards.
6. Informal road and pavement design to give a "country" rather then "urban/suburban" appearance to the layout and to reduce storm water run-off.
7. Public access through the estate with links to the open countryside - footpaths and bridleways
8. Footpaths and cycle paths into town
9. Fringe landscaping could be productive by including a small orchard, trees for coppicing and areas for vegetable growing.
(Ref:
We support and are encouraged by the "Statement of Historical Significance" by architect Kim Sankey in para 6.2: "The master plan is outline but proposes a medley of both traditional vernacular buildings in a farmstead idiom (reference to Barrowfield farmhouse) and low density edge dwellings both constructed of locally sourced materials. The application has regard to the visibility from two elevated approaches … from the Tunnel Road across farmland and along Broadwindsor Road."
And 6.4 "Good design will ensure that resident and visitor parking is adequate and well-integrated into the scheme so that vehicles are not dominant."
Paragraph 6.3 goes on to say the proposed houses would have simple clay tile roofs, and be of stone or render consistent in scale and appearance with the surrounding dwellings.
The Design and Access Statement has a "Character Appraisal" with "Built Form in the Centre" and "Details and materials in the centre". We hope the appraisal will be used to influence the design and appearance of the new housing.
We have reservations, however, about one aspect of the illustrative layout. The playground should be positioned in a more central area away from the attenuation pond. As proposed, this pond would be a health and safety hazard to children unless secured by fencing, which is usually unattractive.
We would flag up our reservations, too, about houses with gable ends forming the southern edge along Broadwindsor Road (reference 6.3). Gables are normally and traditionally found in Beaminster at the side rather than the front of houses. To make a feature of gable ends would introduce an uncharacteristic appearance to the development along Broadwindsor Road and in relation to the town as a whole - an issue for later stages of the design.
Philip Golding
Chairman
12 March 2018