This is an illustration of the planned layout for the Miller Homes Development on the Land West of Warwick Road. I must point out that this is only a proposed plan and is subject to change. There will be approx 300 homes and 90 affordable properties. At the top of the site is planned allotments.
Another developer is planning houses on Hanwell Fields!!!
Amber Developments have submitted a screening opinion to CDC for 160 new houses. What is not too clear at the moment is exactly where, though it is proposed to be north of Hanwell Fields. Again I’m not sure if this is in addition to the 400 houses from persimmon or instead of the 400. They are planning to hold a presentation at the community centre in the beginning of January. The planning consultants are Frampton’s in Banbury; they have stated they would like permission for the screening opinion before Christmas. According to Mr Bateman of Frampton’s “the proposed development site fell within the approved area of the Cherwell Local Plan which outlines preferred areas for development over the next 20 years”. I think Frampton’s need to realise that the local plan has not been approved and these site are just provisional.
UPDATE: Amber Developments is owned by none other than Mr Donger – the Landowner. I can only presume until we see the plans in the New Year, the 160 new houses would be in addition to the 400 by Persimmon, as Donger owns the land next to the planned Persimmon development
Don’t forget – Those that want to be part of the committee should attend the meeting on Monday Evening 7.00pm at the community centre.
We may have representative from Bloxham Parish Council attend so that we can share some information about how we can all fight against the council.
Other news – The council are fighting a development at Saltway using the argument that it defines the southern boundary to Banbury and defines the edge of the town and that the proposed development would breach this strong existing boundary. Errr hello CDC that is our argument against the BAN5 and BAN2 and yet CDC seem to think it’s fine that the northern boundary be breached. Just can’t believe it. It really is a joke.
Land West of Warwick Road – Miller homes are still continuing their campaign for development on this land. Both W of W Rd and Saltway would be our preferred choices for development.
We have started to compile a list of alternative sites based on the recommendations of Tony Baldry, he said that we should seek these sites to remove focus on the areas to the North of Banbury. We are not particularly happy about doing this as it will only pass the issues to another area. However, that is what we are doing.
| BAN5 | Distance to |
| Primary School | 1.7km |
| Comprehensive Sch | 1.5km |
| Local Shop | 1.7km |
| Employment area | 2.3km |
| Supermarket | 3.6km (Tesco) |
| Doctors | 2.1km (part-time) |
| Dentist | 1.7km |
| Hospital | 4.9km |
| SALTWAY | Distance to |
| Primary School | 1.3km |
| Comprehensive Sch | 0.7km |
| Local Shop | 2.0km |
| Employment | 1.0km (CDC HQ) |
| Supermarket | 1.17km (Sainsburys) |
| Doctors | 2.8km |
| Dentist | 2.4km |
| Hospital | 2.9km |
According to the Draft Local Plan the top 3 employers in Banbury are
2 of these 3 sites are easily within walking distance of Saltway. There are shops and schools closer to this area. Both the North and the South of Banbury have 2 artillery roads connecting the site. North has Southam Road and Warwick Road, Whilst the South has Oxford Road and the Bloxham Road. All are major roadways in to Banbury. According to the local plan a further connecting road is to be built that will connect Bankside to Thorpe Road so this adds to the sustainability of Saltway.
Some would say that Saltway needs to be protected as it’s an ancient walkway. BAN5 has 2.
Our biggest concern is the biased views of the council and why they seem content on destroying the North of Banbury but not the South. Why have none the site been assessed on equal terms. If this were the case then Saltway and West of Warwick Road would both be on the Local Plan. As yet this council can not prove it has approached these site allocations in a fair, honest and open way.
As with previous letters, I send them from all of us, so I try and get as much feedback and comments as I can. So this is the final letter I’m sending to Pegasus Planning Group who represent Persimmon Homes, they are the proposing the 400 houses at the top of estate (BAN5) If you can remember parts of the estate were invited to their little exhibition of plans in the community centre last month. There is no deadline for sending a response to them so we have focussed on sending in the time sensitive reply to the local plan first.
Take a look at the letter [Letter to Pegasus]
Cheers
Malc
Strategic Development: Banbury 5 – North of Hanwell Fields (BAN5)
Old proposals, history of plans for BAN5
As you can see from above the latest map indicates differently to the map below which we obtained from the documentation in August
An area of land to the north-west of Banbury has been identified for development as an extension to the recent Hanwell Fields development. The 27 hectare site lies immediately north of Dukes Meadow Drive, a carefully designed residential spine road which links Warwick Road to the west (adjoining the site) with Southam Road to the east. The road presently marks the northern extent of the town. The site will be developed in a planned, coordinated, integrated way using a single Masterplan for the area as a whole.
The site benefits from its proximity to employment areas, a secondary school, supermarkets and a retail park in the north of the town. It is large enough to accommodate some small scale employment uses in addition to providing local services and facilities to complement those nearby in Hanwell Fields and to the south in Hardwick. It can be readily connected to, and integrated with, existing residential development to the south and there is also the potential to improve local bus services to the wider area.
The site includes grade 2 and 3a ‘Best and Most Versatile’ agricultural land and has ecological value in its small areas of woodland, hedgerows and semi-improved grassland. Bats and badgers have also been recorded. However, the site is considered to have low landscape sensitivity and has no flooding issues. There is scope for wildlife mitigation and biodiversity enhancement through the replacement and improvement of existing features and the extension of green corridors.
Hanwell village is situated about 500 km to the north and the southern boundary of its Conservation Area is approximately 400m from the site. The village also hosts a community observatory. Development of the site can be achieved without harm to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area but the existence of a local ridgeline means that new houses could protrude into the skyline when viewed from the north. Careful design will therefore be necessary to ensure harm to the historic environment is avoided and the impacts on the character of the rural area and local amenity are minimised. This could include the enhancement of the band of semi-mature trees on the site’s northern and western boundaries and detailed consideration of building heights and lighting schemes. The improvement of woodland to the north would help permanently establish a green buffer between the site and Hanwell.
It will also be important that development respects the design and layout of the Hanwell Fields development, sits well in the rural landscape, and ensures that a ‘soft’ urban edge is created in view of the site’s prominent position at a northern gateway to Banbury. Land North of Hanwell Fields has been identified as having the potential to provide up to 400 homes and associated services, facilities and other infrastructure, set out in the policy below:
Policy Banbury 5: North of Hanwell Fields
Development area: 28.04 hectares
Development Description – Located at the northern edge of Banbury, this residential-led strategic development site will provide 400 dwellings with associated facilities and infrastructure in a scheme that demonstrates a sensitive response to this urban fringe location. The development area will require an integrated, coordinated and comprehensive planning approach to be taken with a link road between the various sites to ensure a sustainable and inclusive access and movement strategy for the Development Area to be taken and connection in to the surrounding road network.
Housing
Employment
Infrastructure needs
Key site specific design and place shaping principles