Alder View. Introduction. Alder View. Harwell. The Vision. The Team. Taylor Wimpey

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1 Introduction Welcome to the public exhibition for, a development by Taylor Wimpey on the land south of Grove Road,. This exhibition will provide an overview of the development proposals for the site and will also give members of the local community an opportunity to provide comments. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask any members of the consultant team. The Vision Taylor Wimpey s vision for the site is to deliver sustainable residential development of the site, to achieve: A high quality residential development for up to 60 new homes; Create a development that positively responds to local character in ; Provide affordable housing which will be available to local residents; and Create a mixed community providing a variety of house sizes, but primarily family housing. The Team Taylor Wimpey are being supported by a team of specialist consultants, including:- Taylor Wimpey Taylor Wimpey is one of the UK s largest housebuilders with an ethos of engaging with the local community to deliver housing for local people. The site subject of this consultation is within the control of Taylor Wimpey, and represents an opportunity for a residential development within the settlement of. The company understands the importance of sustainability, providing strong, vibrant and healthy communities whilst also protecting and improving the natural, built and historic environment. Boyer Planning, who are providing planning and architectural advice; Wessex Archaeology, who have been completing research into the heritage of the site; Barton Willmore, who are advising on the landscape and visual impact; David Tucker Associates, who are providing highways and transport support; AAE LLP, who have completed ecological surveys for the site; JP Associates, who are advising on Arboricultural matters.

2 Site Location The site is approximately 2.6 hectares in size, and rectangular in shape. The site currently comprises two agricultural fields divided by a line of mature Alder trees. A second row of Alder trees are located along the western boundary of the site. Grove Road lies along the northern boundary of the site. A footpath and Manor Green is situated immediately to the east of the site, and Primary School and Westfield are to the south. To the west lie more agricultural fields. The topography is generally flat, although the site gently slopes towards the western boundary. The existing access to the fields is through a gateway off Grove Road. A concrete pathway runs parallel to the road near the boundary. Site Location Plan Local Amenities The site is well located in the context of the local facilities within : Primary School 200m Nursery 500m Pub 400m Royal British Legion 400m Newsagent /Off Licence 250m Butchers 250m Hairdressers 500m Village Hall 400m Bus stops 350m Local secondary schools are located in nearby Didcot:- St Birinus School (for boys) 2.8 miles Didcot Girls School 1.9 miles Some of the key local facilities are shown on the plan on board 7 (Access & Movement).

3 Planning Policy The provision of housing is a national priority, reflected in Government planning policy. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) seeks to deliver more new housing across the country to meet growing housing needs and to assist in stimulating economic prosperity. The council are required to maintain a supply of housing equivalent to a minimum of 5 years of the overall provision. The Vale of White Horse is currently consulting on the submission version of the Local Plan document which will set out the planning policies for the District for the period from 2006 to During this period, the council is aiming to provide 13,294 new homes at a rate of 578 dwellings per year. The council has acknowledged that they are currently unable to do this and development of will help the council to restore their housing supply. One of the key objectives identified in the draft Local Plan is: Promoting thriving village and rural communities whilst safeguarding the countryside and village character: by identifying an appropriate level of growth across the rural areas, by focusing development in the rural areas to the Larger Villages to help maintain their services, and by supporting modest growth in the smaller villages to help meet local needs and improve their sustainability. is defined as a Larger Village wherein development on the outskirts of such settlements will be acceptable where it is adjacent, or well related, to the existing built area of the settlement or meet exceptional circumstances set out in the other policies of this plan.

4 Site Overview This section identifies the key characteristics of the site. These opportunities and constraints must be considered in the design to create an appropriate development at the site. Site boundary Key existing trees Topography Existing access Surrounding footpaths Plan showing site characteristics Trees The site has two rows of Alder trees one row is located along the eastern boundary of the site; and the other running north-south centrally through the site, dividing the site into two distinctive parcels. A third line of Alder trees is also located just beyond the western site boundary. The site also has a number of established trees along the boundary. Trees should be retained and enhanced where possible in the proposals for the site, although particular consideration must be had towards amenity issues relating to shadows cast by the trees. Topography The topography is generally flat, although the land slopes gently towards the western boundary. The topography does not create significant views within the site. However, any development should consider the impact of any change upon views of the site from the surrounding area. Archaeology There may be potential for archaeological remains at the site. Additional investigations are recommended to identify the presence of archaeological remains, and will be agreed with the local planning authority. Access and Movement Grove Road runs along the northern boundary of the site, and is aligned with trees and hedgerows. Gaps in the vegetation create glimpse views of the site to the south. Access into the site is currently provided through a gateway from Grove Road. A concrete track runs parallel to Grove Road, and a public footpath runs along the eastern boundary. Proposals for the site should look to retain the vegetation along Grove Road, whilst improving the site access and movement through the site. Surrounding Area Residential development is located to the east and south east of the site. The housing along Manor Green has rear gardens backing onto the public footpath and site. The side/rear gardens of houses along Westfield adjoin the southernmost part of the site. Primary School is located to the southwest, and agricultural fields lie to the north and west of the site. Development should positively respond to the surrounding area, and create a sensitive transition between the urban and rural areas.

5 Access & Movement The proposed site access junction with Manor Green and internal site layout accord with relevant transport design guidance. Similarly, parking levels for the dwellings will comply with relevant local standards. The site is located within close proximity to Primary School. Other amenities in the village include the local shop, butchers, The Hart of public house, St Matthew s Church, and the recreation ground. Bus stops are located within walking distances of the site on Drewitts Corner, with an hourly bus service to Abingdon, Didcot, Oxford and Wantage. Bus route Bus stop Cycle route Footpath Bridleway Byway open to traffic Retail Education Public house Place of worship Recreation Community Site Plan showing movement and local facilities Based on existing travel patterns from residential properties elsewhere, the site is estimated to generate an additional 36 trips per hour during the morning and evening peak periods onto the local road network. A Transport Assessment Report is being prepared and will be submitted as part of the application. As part of this review, traffic counts are being undertaken at the junctions of Grove Road/ The Croft, Drewitts Corner/ Grove Road/ Kings Lane and Barrow Road/ Townsend to help understand the local traffic pattern. A study of the effect of the additional traffic from the site on the junctions suggests that there will be no noticeable increase in delay and no adverse effect on highway safety.

6 Landscape The site is located 450 metres north of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which comprises a landscape of open downland, ancient woodland and chalk streams, within which a rich and diverse concentration of archaeological and historic features are located. The site is located within the Lowland Vale, where development is required to respect the landscape, particularly long distance views. The Opportunities and Constraints plan has been prepared from a pure landscape and visual impact perspective, having undertaken a full Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) of the site and surrounding area. It has assessed the existing vegetation both on the site and in the surrounding area and how this intervening vegetation, topographical variation and existing built form influences what available views are obtained into the site. Existing hedgerow and tree vegetation will be retained, reinforced and positively managed. Built form can be accommodated on the majority of the site, whilst respecting the existing boundary vegetation and tree belts which act as visual foils and subdivide the site into 2 distinct areas. The western area has a lower density edge to the west which responds to the longer distance views obtained from the main road further to the west. Both areas proposed for residential development have a lower density edge to the north responding to the adjacent Grove Road and the existing public rights of way. The existing footpath corridor adjacent to the eastern boundary is also proposed to be enhanced by a positive eastern boundary treatment. Ecology Drainage Bat Boxes: Provision of bat boxes on existing trees to provide enhanced roosting opportunities for bats. Existing Trees and Hedgerows: Retention of existing trees and hedgerows where possible to provide cover and foraging habitat for a range of wildlife. Bird Boxes: Provision of bird boxes to provide nesting opportunities for existing bird populations and to attract new species. Having undertaken ground investigations it has been resolved that the ground is suitable for infiltration of drainage from surface water. As such the surface water run-off will (as required by national policy) be less than currently exists. Furthermore, preliminary investigations with Thames Water has identified there is sufficient capacity both within the storm sewers and foul sewers to serve the development and if any reinforcement works are required to support the development this will be undertaken by Taylor Wimpey. Hedgerow Planting: Supplementary planting to strengthen existing hedgerows using a native species-rich mix.

7 Character of conservation area boundary Grade II* listed building Grade II listed building Predominantly modern urban extensions Site boundary Character Influences in Character Influences The character of can be defined by the following features: Built heritage, including Conservation Area and listed buildings; and Modern urban extensions. Built Heritage The history of goes back for over a thousand years. A significant number of buildings from the medieval period onwards still survive and have an important role in contributing towards the character of the village. The special character of the historic core has been recognised in its designation as a conservation area in The conservation area includes 56 listed building, five of which are Grade II* listed buildings. The site is located approximately 115m to the west of Conservation Area. There are two listed buildings located within 200m of the site. Bayllols Manor is a thirteenth century manor house and situated approximately 190m to the east of the site; and the Cobwall and Outbuilding, an eighteenth century wall, is located approximately 180m to the east of the site. Modern Urban Extensions significantly expanded in the twentieth century, with the construction of new homes at The Croft and Didcot Road, and later development including housing at Orchard Way, Westfield, Tyrells Close and The Park. The character of the modern development varies considerably, and includes 1950s single storey bungalows, 1990s two-storey houses in cul-de-sac, and 1960s semi-detached houses. Although architectural styles and materials vary, the modern development is contemporary of its time, and adds another stage to the growth and development of. Character Opportunities There is an opportunity for development at the site to positively respond to the character of both historic and modern areas of. Development at the site will add another stage to the growth of, and would create a positive transition between the urban and rural setting. The setting of the conservation area and listed buildings is unlikely to be affected by the development due to the distance, topography and level of screening provided by modern development.

8 Design Principles The analysis of the site and surrounding area has allowed a series of design principles to be identified, which will be used to positively inform new development. Design principle 1: Existing vegetation The existing trees are an important site characteristic and should be retained and enhanced where possible in the development proposal. This will ensure that the trees remain an important feature of the new development, and help to contribute towards its sense of place. Design principle 2: Relationship to the surrounding area The development should positively respond to the surrounding area. The existing built form should act as a cue to the location of new buildings, with new development blocks to create a positive street environment. Design principle 3: Movement patterns The proposal should create new connections to the existing movement network, with a potential pedestrian connection with Westfield to form a direct route to the school. Routes within the site should follow desire lines and create a pedestrian-friendly environment with areas of shared surfacing. Design principle 4: Open space The development should include a central open space to provide additional amenity space, as well as become a focal point within the development. The open space should be easily accessible for both proposed and existing residents. It should also be positioned to avoid excessive shadowing from trees to create a pleasant environment for users. Design principle 5: Development areas Development should be positioned to overlook the open space and key routes through the site. There are also opportunities to terminate views within the development with built form, to help create an attractive street environment.

9 Draft Proposal (Concept) The design principles have been used to produce a detailed layout of the proposed development. The key features are described below. Site boundary Proposed residential development Indicative frontage Main road Shared surface Square Open space Existing trees Existing planting Tree belts The tree belts through the site will be retained and enhanced in the development, to create a green backdrop to the houses. The loss of the trees will only be required to secure access to the western parcel, and tree removal will be kept to a minimum. New Access from Manor Green The existing highway would be re-aligned to change the priority along Manor Green. This will help reduce traffic speeds along the road. The new access would be provided from Manor Green, with buildings and landscaping creating an attractive entrance into the site. Central Open Space The open space will create an open setting to the eastern parcel, and be easily accessible for both new and existing residents. The open space will include landscaping and a children s play area. Amenity The proposed houses have been set back from the neighbouring properties to protect residential amenity. The proposed houses have also been arranged to avoid areas of significant shadowing from existing trees. Shared Surfacing Areas of shared surfacing will create a pedestrian-friendly environment, and encourage the reduction of vehicle speeds throughout the site. Building Arrangement Houses have been arranged to front onto the public realm, ensuring that there is sufficient overlooking over roads and open spaces. Buildings have also been designed to terminate views to create an attractive streetscene.

10 Draft Proposal (Detailed) Whilst the previous board illustrates how the proposed development has evolved through an understanding of the site s constraints, the draft masterplan below shows how the development may look. The illustrated scheme is for 60 units and provides a mixture of terraced, link-detached and detached properties. Whilst a mixture of dwelling sizes is required to satisfy the council s requirements, the properties will be predominantly family dwellings.

11 Next Steps Thank you for attending this public exhibition for at Grove Road,. Taylor Wimpey will continue discussions with the parish council, the Vale of White Horse District Council and other key stakeholders in the lead up to the submission of the application. We would welcome your comments on the proposals. The opinions of local residents are important to Taylor Wimpey and its consultant team and will help to inform the evolution of design principles for the site. Please pass on your comments regarding the scheme to the team by one of the following methods: Feedback form: Complete the feedback forms available today and put them in the ballot box in the hall. any comments to We would be grateful if all comments could be completed by Friday 22nd March 2013 to allow these to be considered. your comments Thank you for coming