Welcome - Meet the Team ABOUT BEECHCROFT Beechcroft has over 30 years experience of assisted living and retirement development and is one of the few house builders that specialise in this type of accommodation. The Company develops, builds and sells cottages and apartments on sites located primarily in the South of England. The company has a long and successful history of winning national design and landscaping awards, having just won small house builder of the year at the 2017 Housebuilder Awards. Developments are carefully crafted to complement local architectural styles. Beechcroft s cottages and apartments are ideal for people downsizing from a large family home, where space is no longer needed and maintenance has become a costly burden. Prospective purchasers will have a need for a small amount of assistance with day to day living and this is provided by the many services on offer in the proposed care home on site. This could be the preparation and provision of meals, or assistance with shopping or laundry. Gardens are fully maintained and communal throughout the development, providing enjoyment without the hassle of upkeep. Beechcroft residents can live more independently for longer knowing that help and care is on hand as the years pass. The company takes an active role in the management of its completed developments through The Beechcroft Foundation, specialist housing for older people which will meet both their current and future needs. Recent local developments are underway in Thame and Wallingford, with a further scheme proposed in Wheatley (subject to planning permission). Careful design and the use of high quality materials adopting VICTORIA LAND Victoria Land provides specialist advice and expertise in acquisition, planning and marketing. Our principle focus is identifying new development opportunities and working with land owners, developers and Local Authorities to unlock development potential and achieve successful and viable planning consents. HUNTER PAGE offering a personalised service to individuals, companies and closely with Beechcroft for the past 6-7 years providing planning advise on potential development sites and negotiating planning applications on their behalf. BHP HARWOOD Architects BHP Harwood have been involved in several successful schemes for Beechcroft and have experience with many schemes in sensitive locations. The practice has won Civic Trust Awards for housing in conservation areas, work to historic buildings and new-build developments.
Site & Location THE SITE The site is located on the junction of Pyrton Lane and Shirburn Road, to the north of the centre of the village. The site offers an important gateway into Watlington, marking the start of the built up area as you pass into the village. The site is just outside of the Shirburn Conservation Area, which extends to the north. The site is separated from the Watlington Conservation Area by the recreation ground to the south. There is limited existing soft landscaping within the site giving glimpses of the large industrial style buildings inside. At present the site is used as a storage and transfer facility for a vast array of goods, given its ease of access to the progressively more run-down and industrial, with many large vehicle movements occurring throughout the day as goods are delivered, stored and moved to other locations. Planning Background While the site sits within Pyrton Parish, it is physically closer to Watlington, which is a considered a location where further development can be accommodated. The redevelopment of the site will meet the objectives of the current core strategy and emerging local plan, which seeks to place additional housing within and around the larger rural settlements. This great scope for meeting housing numbers from a previously developed land holding As Existing Site Plan BY OTHERS Employment Presently the site is used for industrial storage with limited on-site employment. Typically there will be 3-5 people on nature of the use on site. The Beechcroft proposal here includes a care home and assisted living development, which will generate a greater level of employment (around 60 staff in total, with a smaller number on site working shifts at any one time). This means that the proposal actually generates more employment, whilst enhancing the appearance of the site and providing much needed accommodation for the family accommodation, providing improved housing choice and availability for growing families in time of well publicised housing shortage. Pre-application discussion Pre-application discussions have been held with South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) who acknowledge the site for re-development given it would meet Beechcroft have been in discussion with local employer Sanctuary Care about taking on the care beds available within the proposal. Their existing facility in Watlington is popular and expansion with more employment and greater choice for residents would complement their current operations. SODC have also suggested that the redevelopment of this site could be appropriate if it helps to facilitate the Watlington Relief Road, along with the other proposed developments that are coming forward around the northern fringe of Watlington. Pyrton, although due to the location of the site, any development in this location will have a more direct relationship with Watlington, which is considered to be an as a sustainable larger village in the emerging South Oxfordshire Local Plan. Pre-application meetings have also been held with both discuss the development proposals for the site and how the redevelopment of the site could help facilitate a productive working relationship with both neighbourhood plan groups as well as surrounding developers, as the site
Existing Site Photographs View of the site in it s current use View of the site in it s current use View of the site in it s current use
Constraints & Opportunities Constraints: Protection and enhancement of the character of the area as the site is on the edge of the conservation area. Sustainable reuse of the site to provide a more appropriate use within a visually important area. Provision of high quality landscaping and amenity space whilst providing an appropriate level of car parking for both the proposed use and the location of the site within the town. Scale, massing and design of new buildings to respect context of neighbouring properties. Opportunities: Create an attractive development sympathetic to the local character. Create managed green space within the site. Provide an assisted living housing use and a care home, both of which are needed within the locality. in need of care and support, downsizing creating increased family housing stock back to the market. Pyrton neighbourhood plan The site lies within walking and cycling distance of the main High Street with it s shops and facilities. Provision of Safeguarded land for a new road link Generation of employment through the provision of a care home The site is allocated with South Oxfordshire District Council s Housing & Economic Land Availability Access land for future road proposals Key Site Area Existing Building Trees to be retained Land Allocated for Link Road P16/S2576/O Outline application for the erection of up to 100 residential dwellings including vehicular access, public open space, car parking, landscaping and drainage Natural Trail Chiltern AONB Shirburn Conservation Area Registered Park and Gardens Watlington Recreation Ground Main Road with Pavement Gradient Existing Footpath
rfddsffds PROPOSED CARE HOME & ASSISTED LIVING DEVELOPMENT (C2), Proposed Layout Proposed Site Plan
P16/S2576/O BY OTHERS Wider Scale Proposed Site Plan
Contact views and issues into account when planning a new development and we value your feedback. We would be grateful if you informed of progress Hunter Page Planning, Thornbury House, 18 High Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1DZ or info@hunterpage.net hunterpage.net/watlington Examples of Beechcroft Developments