Hartley Gardens Supplementary Planning Document

Policy SAMU2

DEVELOPMENT AT HARTLEY GARDENS, CLACTON

Land north of Bockings Elm and west of A133 shown on the Map SAMU2, is allocated for long term mixed use development for the phased and comprehensive delivery of the following:

a. approximately 1,700 new homes of mixed sizes and types to meet evidenced local housing need within the Council's most up to date Strategic Housing Market Assessment and to include 30% affordable housing as set out in Policy LP5;

b. up to 7 hectares of land for employment;

c. 2.1 hectares of land for a new twoform entry primary school with colocated 56 place early years and childcare facility, 1.3 hectares of land for a second 56 place stand-alone early years and childcare nursery and/or financial contributions towards primary school and secondary school provision as required by the Local Education Authority based on evidenced need;

d. New facilities and/or financial contributions to support new health provision based on evidenced need;

e. Green infrastructure which should provide a multi-functional and connected network, including amenity green space, parks, allotments and natural and semi natural green space (meeting the standards set out in Policy HP5) and providing for attractive green walking and cycling routes;

f. To deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain;

g. A sustainable movement network, including principal points of highway access, a hierarchy of streets, facilitating public transport and prioritising the connection of walking and cycling routes within the site and beyond; and

h. The provision of sufficient utility infrastructure working with the relevant infrastructure providers to ensure that such provision is achieved in a timely manner.

The development will follow a comprehensively master-planned approach to be set out in a site-specific Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) or comprehensive masterplan which has been prepared for approval by the Council. The purpose of the SPD or masterplan will be as follows:

i. provide further detail on the geographical extent and boundary of the allocation, ensuring a defensible and sensitive boundary to the open countryside beyond;

ii. provide the means to inform, assess and determine planning applications and secure comprehensive, co-ordinated and integrated sustainable development; and

iii. facilitate and support the co-ordination and timely delivery of the green, social and physical infrastructure necessary to facilitate growth in this location

The above requirements aim to ensure the comprehensive and co-ordinated development of the site, to ensure the masterplanning principles below are addressed and to provide a clear delivery plan to ensure the right infrastructure is funded and delivered at the right place and at the right time.

In addition, development in advance of the Hartley Gardens SPD or masterplan may be permitted provided that:

• There would be no conflict or prejudice to the delivery of the wider Hartley Gardens development (including its infrastructure requirements) and would not undermine the integrated and co-ordinated approach to the wider development;
• The development demonstrably conforms to the policy requirements and principles of Policy SAMU2 Hartley Gardens; and
• The proposal can demonstrate that it would not compromise the delivery of a site wide highway infrastructure strategy, or the delivery of sustainable modes of transport within the scheme and that the residual impacts upon the transport network will not be severe.

Masterplanning Principles

The Hartley Gardens SPD or masterplan will provide further guidance to meet the following principles and all development proposals should accord with these:

i. create a series of permeable and legible well defined streets which prioritise cycle and pedestrian routes which link into the existing built up area and local facilities (e.g. retail and schools);

j. identify off site highway works required to support new development, their phasing and funding;

k. identify public transport measures to ensure sufficient access to the site by bus, rail, walking and cycling routes within the site with strong and positive linkages to the existing network;

l. create a high quality built and natural environment that respects the built and landscape character and context of the local area and which reflects the guidance in the National Design Guide and the Essex Design Guide;

m. incorporate in the design of new development measures to minimise the contribution to climate change and to ensure new development is resilient and adaptable to the effects of climate change;

n. create a connected multi-functional green infrastructure network which protects and enhances existing site features of landscape and ecological value and any veteran trees, hedgerows and other important landscape features and important habitats;

o. ensure no net loss of biodiversity, and to deliver a 10% net gain as well as securing positive benefits to biodiversity through the restoration, enhancement and creation of appropriate semi-natural habitats within and through the site to maintain, restore and create functional ecological networks;

p. establish a sustainable drainage system across the site that integrates with the green infrastructure network and utilises where practicable existing watercourses (e.g. Hartley Brook and Pickers Ditch), ponds, ditches and any greenways associated with retained hedgerows and maximised habitat value;

q. create a landscape structure that retains and utilises existing landscape features (such as hedgerows, trees, Hartley Brook and Pickers Ditch) and uses new planting and landscaping to sensitively integrate new built development and provide an attractive green setting;

r. use structural planting and the location, orientation and design of new buildings to maintain the landscape setting and separate identity of Little Clacton and to carefully screen and sensitively integrate new infrastructure and buildings from the open countryside to the west to minimise any visual impact;

s. identify opportunities to preserve and enhance the setting and significance of heritage assets, including at Bovills Hall, Earls Hall and Dutchess Farmhouse and Bluehouse Farm;

t. where an archaeological evaluation (trial trenching where necessary) identifies surviving archaeological deposits, an appropriate mitigation strategy for preservation in situ or by excavation should be submitted;

u. demonstrate that no internationally designated sites would be adversely affected by the development either alone or in combination with other proposals as per the requirements of Policy PPL4 and future proposals will need to demonstrate no adverse impact on water quality as per the requirements of Policy PPL5; and

v. demonstrate how a phased approach to development can deliver the required infrastructure in a coordinated and timely manner and to create an integrated and sustainable community.