Armthorpe Master Plan

Transcription

1 Armthorpe Master Plan INTRODUCTION Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC) is in the process of formulating its Local Development Framework (LDF), which is a folder of local development documents that outlines how planning will be managed in Doncaster and its surrounding areas until This is a statutory process, which will include DMBC s planning proposals for anything from an extension on a house to a new shopping centre. As part of the LDF, parts of Armthorpe will (amongst other things) be assessed for future employment and housing developments. Representations have already been received by DMBC to include areas of land to the north of and adjacent to Fernbank Drive and Mercel Avenue, together with areas to the south of and adjacent to Parkway and Fiddlers Drive, but it must be stressed that these areas have not yet been allocated for development. These areas can be seen on the DMBC website. It may be that these and other parts of Armthorpe will undergo substantial development and as such Armthorpe Parish Council (APC) consulted by leaflet every household on key issues affecting the Parish. It also held at Armthorpe Community Centre a public consultation meeting and a three day consultation period. Prior to the consultation period APC produced a document, entitled the Draft Armthorpe Village Master Plan, to set out a vision of what the people of Armthorpe expect with regard to the planning process, including proposals to expand the village. Although not intended as a legally binding document, its intention is to give planners and developers an idea of what Armthorpe expects in the period up to CONSULTATION During the consultation process on this document, it became very clear that residents and Parish Councillors believe that they are not involved enough in the decision making process, with the power to make decisions taken out of their hands. It is imperative for all proposed developments, that the Parish Council and residents are consulted from the very beginning of the planning process. Once a potential developer has identified a site, it is considered that DMBC should inform them that they must contact the Parish Council, so that they can be provided with a copy of this Approved Master Plan. The developer will then be expected to carry out a pre-planning consultation with members of the public and Parish Council, before any planning application is submitted. It must be noted that even if a developer includes items mentioned within this document, the Parish Council may still object to the development if they believe it will have a detrimental affect on the village and its amenities. APC welcomes the contents of the document entitled, The Coalition: Our Programme for Government, which (amongst other things) provides that the planning system will be radically reformed to give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of the places in which their inhabitants live

2 1 ROADS & TRANSPORT Congestion Traffic congestion in Armthorpe, is already a very real problem. Every effort must be made during the planning process to ensure that any increased traffic does not destroy all the other work done to improve life in the village. The fear of gridlock through the centre of Armthorpe is one of the major concerns of all residents. To help mitigate this all new developments should be able to access roads that circumnavigate the Heart of Armthorpe. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. There must be full consultation with the Parish Council. By-Pass/Ring Road As mentioned above, the need for increased traffic levels to avoid the Heart of Armthorpe is an absolute necessity. This could be achieved via the option to provide a by-pass to link Cantley with the M18 and A630, another to link to Doncaster via Leger Way and a ring road linking Nutwell Lane to Armthorpe Road or Doncaster Road, which must be considered when further developments are discussed. Without these Armthorpe would grind to halt. Planning department and developers at the planning stage must consider this proposal to ensure provision of a by-pass/by-passess. There must be full consultation with the Parish Council. Funding to be by developers through planning agreements and/or Community Interest Levy (CIL). This should also include monies from DMBC and Central Government. (iii) Bus Services At a time when the use of public transport is being encouraged, every major development (whether residential or industrial) must have access to a bus service. It is not unreasonable to expect a bus stop within 400 yards of your home or place of work. All planning permissions must be subject to SYPTE buy-in for services.

3 (iv) Bus Interchange Existing public transport links are less than adequate and one way to potentially combat this would be a mini-interchange in Armthorpe. This could not only provide links to Doncaster but also to Thorne, Robin Hood Airport and any proposed employment and holiday parks. DMBC to include this proposal in the LDF and make concerted attempts to secure external funding from central government and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE). (v) Cycleways The current cycle routes need to be improved. All new developments should have dedicated cycle paths. Existing roadways should be upgraded to include Cycleways, particularly those areas close to schools, to encourage safer and greener access for our young people. DMBC to comply when upgrading and maintaining roads and paths. DMBC and developers to comply with this proposal.. (vi) Pedestrian Links Pedestrian links need to be improved, with the potential to create a route across to Hatfield Moors. All existing public footpaths and public rights of way need to be secured, cleared and signposted. The LDF provides the opportunity to create a series of trails and also links to business and schools. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. There must be full consultation with the Parish Council. Funding to be by DMBC and developers through planning agreements and/or Community Interest Levy (CIL). (vii) Road Safety The roads in Armthorpe are extremely busy and there are real concerns that road safety is being overlooked when new developments are being planned. There should be an extension of the 20mph speed limit to all but the main roads through the village (Nutwell Lane, Mill Street, Hatfield Lane and Church Street Doncaster Road), with a fully planned and phased introduction of traffic calming measures. Further pelican crossings are required on Hatfield Lane, Nutwell Lane and Church Street (in the vicinity of Rose Grove), together with the

4 introduction of fixed speed cameras on the main roads to help curb excess speed at non-peak times. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. There must be full consultation with the Parish Council. Funding to be by DMBC and developers through planning agreements and/or Community Interest Levy (CIL). (viii) Dedicated Lorry Park Armthorpe is also currently facing the problem of lorry drivers parking up and sleeping at the side of roads within industrial and residential areas. The lack of facilities for these drivers has negative implications for the area and with the proposed future expansion of industrial sites this will only get worse without mitigation. A dedicated site within an industrial area is essential if lorry drivers are to continue rest within Armthorpe. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. There must be full consultation with the Parish Council. 2 HOUSING Affordable (Low-cost) & Social Housing Owing to current economic circumstances, many young people are leaving Armthorpe, partly because of the lack of social and affordable housing within the Parish. If the community spirit is to be secured for the future there is a need to ensure that those people born and bred in Armthorpe can afford to remain in the village if they so wish. To this end, new housing developments should provide a percentage of low-cost and social dwellings as a matter of course. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. Funding to be by DMBC and developers through planning agreements and/or Community Interest Levy (CIL), together with Housing Association investment.

5 Retirement/Sheltered Accommodation Many of Armthorpe s ageing population wishes to remain within the community into which they have become an integral and vital part. To this end, further developments of privately owned bungalows, along with retirement and sheltered accommodation are to be encouraged. These need to be placed as close to the essential amenities as possible, but also away from areas of potential disturbances that might upset elderly residents. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. Funding to be by DMBC and developers through planning agreements and/or Community Interest Levy (CIL), together with Housing Association investment (iii) Quality of Living Above all else there is a need to ensure that all new housing developments deliver the quality of life to which residents aspire. Planners should learn from past mistakes by ensuring that all new estates are easily integrated into the life of the village. They should not be satellite developments. They need to have character and individuality, yet be practical and fit for purpose. The site layout and house types must feature highly in any pre-planning discussions. Estate layouts must not have a detrimental affect on the amenity of any adjoining housing, for example, 2+ storey houses should not be overlooking existing bungalows. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. full consultation with the Parish Council. There must be (iv) Street Scene Developers (in conjunction with DMBC) should publish a Street Scene Management Plan as part of any planning application. This should cover a minimum 10-year period, where minimum standards and timeframes are in place to maintain new developments. The cost of maintenance should be funded by developers, in conjunction with DMBC, to ease the burden on the public purse. The following, by no means exhaustive list, should form the basis of the plan - litter removal, refuse collection, grass cutting, maintenance of footpaths and roads, the upkeep of street lighting, maintenance of open spaces and hedgerows and the provision/emptying of litter and dog-waste bins. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. full consultation with the Parish Council. There must be

6 (v) Amenities All applications for new housing developments must include provision for access to essential amenities. These amenities, for example shops and bus stops, must be in close proximity to the dwellings to allow access for everyone, including those with limited mobility. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. full consultation with the Parish Council There must be (vi) Access All new housing developments must be easily accessible by car, foot and public transport. Some recent developments have none of the above and lessons need to be learnt from this before any new plans are granted. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. full consultation with the Parish Council. SYPTE buy-in required. There must be (vii) Public Utilities Full consultation must be undertaken with the local energy supply companies and the water authorities to ensure that they have the capacity to deal with new developments. Residents are already seeing fluctuating electricity supplies and overflowing drains and the problems will only increase without mitigation during developments taking place. Many of the drains in Armthorpe have been in use for well over 50 years and were not designed for use in a village that as expanded so much. These drains are no longer sufficient and a full study of the capacity and state of repair of all drains in Armthorpe must be undertaken before any further development takes place. DMBC and developers at the planning stage must comply with this proposal. There must be full consultation with the Parish Council, the water authorities and the Armthorpe Drainage Board.

7 3 SPORTS AND LEISURE Teenagers distractions It is imperative that a new centre is created for young people to go to out of school hours. The present youth club is not fit for purpose. A new purpose built facility is a must if youth nuisance is to be combated on our streets and to help further their development of young people. This new centre could also be the permanent base for the Parish Council s Sports & Recreation Officer and his/her team. It may be possible to link this into BSF, or secure funding from developers through f planning agreements and/or Community Interest Levy (CIL). Additional funding should also come from DMBC and the Parish Council. No matter how this is achieved, it must done and it is imperative that it is done soon. Open spaces Every effort should be made to meet the National Playing Field minimum standard of 6 acres per 1,000 population. This must be included in any planned new developments, along with a continued effort to secure the former pit tip (Markham Main Heath) as a good quality open space fit for the full use of all of the community. All open spaces should be well planned to ensure they are used to their full potential. With the potential redevelopment of the Heart of Armthorpe, a central village green and relaxation area must be considered. If the former pit tip can be secured for the use of the community, it has the potential to become part of a wider country park along with Shaw Wood and Sandal Beat. Planning department and developers at the planning stage to ensure open space requirements are met, with thorough consultation of the Parish Council. The Trustees of the Armthorpe Miners Welfare Scheme to work in conjunction with the Parish Council to make full use of the open space presently owned by them. DMBC and the Parish Council to continue to try to secure the former pit tip. Funding to provided from developers through planning agreements and/or CIL. (iii) Allotments Allotments need to be secured for future generations. To this end there is a need to expand the allotment provision to secure facilities for the growing population. Alternative sites should be provided, including a strip of land running the full length of an area of land at the rear of Mercel Avenue (odds side) to join the existing allotment site.

8 Parish Council to purchase more land, with funds raised by means of the precept, to expand the existing allotment provision. Developers of large residential sites to put aside a small area for new allotments, or community gardens, as part of the planning agreements and/or CIL. (iv) Leisure Centre Although the Armthorpe Leisure Centre has recently had a refurbishment of the gym and changing areas, other work is still required. At present the exterior of the building makes it less than welcoming and this needs to be addressed. It may be possible in the future to improve access to the centre by upgrading the link from Church Street. It has also been suggested that the Leisure Centre may have a desire to expand to include outdoor facilities like those seen at other centres in the borough. This expansion may be possible on it s own, but would be far more effective if done in conjunction with the BSF (Building schools for the Future) program. DMBC investment and as mentioned above included as part of BSF. (v) MUGA s (Multi-Use Games Area) The inclusion of a Multi-Use Games Area on any new housing development is to be encouraged. If properly planned and executed they can provide a safe environment for children to play and exercise. These MUGA s must however be designed for the use of all ages and provision of separate safe play equipment for young children is essential. DMBC and developers at the planning stage to ensure provision for safe play areas. Funded by the developers as part of the planning agreement and/or CIL 4 ENVIRONMENTAL Carbon neutral Every effort must be made to ensure that all new developments are carbon neutral. This will involve more rigorous criteria being placed on the developer, than at presently demanded by planning law. Armthorpe not only aspires to but demands to lead the way in sustainable development. Developers need to be pressed into innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions, whether it is though insulation, renewable energy, or sustainable building products. Long gone are the days when the mere minimum will suffice for the people of Armthorpe.

9 DMBC and developers at the planning stage. Minimum targets to be set by DMBC and Parish Council, over and above legal requirements. Flood Risk Owing (amongst other things) to the height of the water table and the number of soakaways being provided on new developments in Armthorpe, there is a real concern that continued development will increase the risk of flooding. Studies should be carried out in consultation with the Environment Agency, Water Authorities and Armthorpe Internal Drainage Board for each development and published for public information. DMBC and developers at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council. (iii) Flora & Fauna Much of our natural habitats and the species that live there are disturbed or destroyed by new developments. All developments should be re-planted with the species that were already present. Where possible natural pathways of existing habitat should be protected to allow the free movement of the wildlife. Trees over a certain age should be retained. DMBC and developers at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council, Natural England and Friends of the Earth. (iv) Green Corridors As many of the areas identified in the LDF for development are surrounded or adjacent to open countryside and woodland, it is imperative that the inclusion of Green Corridors within site layouts is given serious consideration. These corridors could be placed between the existing residential areas, and the new developments, therefore helping to maintain a countryside vista for those properties presently enjoying open views. The corridors could be used as footpaths and cycleways, as well as potentially working woodland and a safe haven for wildlife. However and this cannot be stressed highly enough, these and all aspects of an application must be after full consultation with the local residents, as some maybe opposed to such a feature, due to the potential for anti-social behaviour. DMBC and developers to consider at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council, local residents, Natural England and Friends of the Earth.

10 5 RETAIL Passing Trade Whatever alterations occur in the centre of Armthorpe, it is essential that this does not have an adverse affect on the passing trade of the retail outlets. DMBC and developers at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council. Car Parking There are real concerns that there are not enough car parking spaces at the existing retail outlets. Any new developments must ensure that sufficient spaces are included in the plans. Far too often parking spaces are sacrificed to squeeze in another unit! For these developments to thrive, they must be accessible not only to the people living around them, but also potential customers from farther afield. DMBC and developers at the planning stage. (iii) New Shops More commercial premises, whether, for example, shops or restaurants, will be needed to fulfil the needs of a growing population. These should be integrated into the new housing developments, with specific emphasis on small business premises, rather than large supermarkets. DMBC and developers at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council. 6 EMPLOYMENT All areas of employment should be easily accessible as discussed above. All new industrial development should be kept as far away from domestic dwellings as possible, whereas retail and leisure opportunities should be integrated right into the heart of the village.

11 Every effort must be made during the planning process to ensure that all industrial developments are of mixed use to enable as wide a range of career and job opportunities as possible. DMBC and developers at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council. 7 SCHOOLS BSF (Building Schools for the Future). It is expected that The Armthorpe School will be included in the BSF program. This is a great opportunity to really improve the facilities of the village secondary school and subsequently the life chances of its pupils. There is a real opportunity to ensure that if the BSF program takes place, the new school is fully integrated into the community, providing out of school hours facilities, both leisure and academic, to the wider public. This really is one of the most important developments of recent years within the village,and it is imperative that the Parish Council is consulted during the whole process. DMBC and developers at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council. Funded by Central Government (BSF program) and DMBC. Integrated schools Although integrated primary and secondary schools are likely to face a lot of opposition; they must still be openly debated. There are many advantages tin freeing up open space currently occupied by the primary schools. However, there are also significant disadvantages into centralisation. This cannot be easily dismissed, and should be part of any debate regarding BSF. Local Education Authority and Governing Bodies of schools. Full consultation with Parish Council and the public essential. 8 HEALTH Access to healthcare At present Armthorpe has two doctors surgeries and one dental practice. If the village population is to increase significantly over the next 20 years, it is essential that additional facilities are provided to ensure adequate access to healthcare. The ratio of health

12 professionals to population must be a very serious consideration when assessing plans that will significantly increase the population of the village. Primary Care Trust, DMBC and developers to consider at the planning stage. Full consultation with the Parish Council 9 GENERAL The Parish Council will be objecting to and making representations to DMBC to the effect that development should not take place on land to the north and south of the existing residential areas within the village. If the Parish Council is unsuccessful in this respect, it has determined : - (a) in order to retain the identity of the village as a separate entity, there should be a buffer between: - (iii) the northern end of the existing residential areas of the village (at Mercel Avenue and Fernbank Drive) and the West Moor Link Road to prevent coalescence with Edenthorpe; and the southern end of the existing residential area (and proposed residential/commercial sites) of the village to prevent coalescence with Old Cantley. new developments and the burial ground in order to ensure the peaceful nature of the burial ground for visitors to the same; and that such buffer zones consist of a grassed open space surrounded by a bund planted with a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees, which may or may not include fruit trees to provide a public orchard, as well as acting as a screen.; (b) as opposed to purely commercial developments, the following sites should be residential with mixed uses of retail, sports and leisure (including the National Playing Field minimum standard of 6 acres per 1,000 population):- the area of land to the north of Mercel Avenue and Fernbank Drive; and land to the south of Parkway on either side of Nutwell Lane. DMBC and developers at the planning stage to ensure provision. Full consultation with the Parish Council. June 2010