Project Summary

• Residential development of previously developed land within the Green Belt
• Successfully demonstrated no impact on the openness of the Green Belt
• Significant arboricultural constraints, given near blanket TPO listings in vicinity of the site
• Off-site affordable housing contribution secured by S.106 Agreement

Development Description

The proposal consisted of two planning applications, for 66 No. dwelling and 14 No. dwellings respectively. The site had a complex planning history, arising following the closure of a hospital in 2006. Planning permission has previously been granted for schemes including a mixed use complex in 2005 and a scheme comprising of a care village and 43 No. dwellings in 2013. The care village consent was partially implemented, with the delivery of the C3 residential dwellings by David Wilson Homes.

Planning Process

Although the site is located in open countryside and the Green Belt, its former use means that it is classified as ‘previously developed land’. Policy DM12 of the Sites and Policies Plan outlines that the complete redevelopment of previously developed land is appropriate development in the Green Belt, provided that it would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt, or conflict with the purpose of including land in the Green Belt. CSJ demonstrated that the proposals would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt, as the proposals would result in a net reduction of building footprint when compared to the former hospital buildings on-site.