Gladmans Planning Application refused by AVDC

I was pleased to see that AVDC have refused the planning application by Gladmans for 80 homes off North End Road.

The reasons for refusing the application are are as follows:

1 The proposal would conflict with policy GP35 of the Aylesbury Vale District Plan and would not constitute sustainable development. It would fail to comply with the core planning principles of the NPPF to recognise the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, to conserve and enhance the natural environment and to reuse land that has been previously developed. The development is of a scale and nature on a greenfield site in the open countryside which would cause harm by the significant adverse visual and landscape character impact on the area of the development site and its surrounding landscape and to the settlement identity of the village of Steeple Claydon which is contrary to the Development Plan and the NPPF.

2 The applicant has not made any provision for a footway between the application site and Steeple Claydon Village Centre along North End Road and therefore the absence of footways would lead to conditions of danger to pedestrians walking to or from the proposed development. The development is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework in that it would not promote sustainable transport and the aims of Buckinghamshire's Local Transport Plan 3

3 The location of the site is such that it has only limited access by non-car modes of travel. The absence of adequate infrastructure and the sites remoteness from major built up areas is such that it is likely to be reliant on the use of the private car contrary to local and national transport policy. The development is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework in that it would not promote sustainable transport and the aims of Buckinghamshire's Local Transport Plan 3

4 The Design and Access Statement refers to the development as including 2.5 storey dwellings with a height of 10.5m and a span depth of upto 12.5m. Buildings of this height and scale are not a feature of the village and taking into consideration the prominent edge of village location, such buildings would be visually intrusive and lend the development an urban appearance not in keeping with its rural location. Therefore, the proposal would be contrary to policy GP.35 of the Aylesbury Vale District Local Plan and paragraph 56,57, 58, and 64, of the NPPF.

5 Had the above reasons for refusal not applied, it would have been necessary for the applicant and the Local Planning Authority to enter into a Section 106 Agreement to secure the provision of 30% affordable housing on site, a financial contribution towards off site sport and leisure facilities as well as the maintenance of on site open space, the provision of a financial contribution towards additional grammar school facilities, and off site highway measures. In the absence of such a provision the proposal would be contrary to the requirements of policy GP2 and the Affordable Housing Policy Interim Position Statement (June 2014) and policy GP94 of Aylesbury Vale District Plan and the NPPF.


Congratulations to all residents who actively opposed the application.

Steeple Claydon Post Office

I wholeheartedly support the campaign to retain the Steeple Claydon Post Office in its existing location, and have written to the senior implementation manager of the Post Office Network Transformation Programme as follows:

Dear Sir,

 

As District Councillor for Steeple Claydon I am very concerned to learn of your proposals for Steeple Claydon Post Office.

 

The existing Post Office is a greatly valued village facility and I am opposed to any proposal which would reduce the level of services available.

 

Steeple Claydon is a large and growing village several miles from the nearest towns and the Post Office serves a wide local community as well as the village itself.  It will have increased demand from the proposals for High Speed Two, with a nearby maintenance depot.

 

I should be grateful if you could preserve the existing facility.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Cllr John Chilver

Steeple Claydon Ward

AVDC

 

His reply:

Dear Mr Chilver

 

Thank you for your email of 23 March addressed to our Consultation Team about Steeple Claydon Post Office. As Senior Implementation Manager I have been asked to reply to you direct.

 

I would first like to stress that the Network Transformation Programme is not a closure programme and that those areas that currently have a Post Office service will not be left without a service as a result of the programme.

 

The aim of the Network Transformation Programme is to ensure that branches are viable and sustainable in the future. Our plans are about maintaining the network and ensuring that no community is left without Post Office services going forward.

 

Over the coming weeks we will be working closely with the postmaster of Steeple Claydon to find the best possible solution for Steeple Claydon Post Office as we progress through the Network Transformation Programme.

 

May I thank you for your interest in this matter.

 

Kind Regards

 

	Stewart Swabey  Senior Implementation Manager Network Transformation (SI, CT, Hardships & ECT)
	Post Office Ltd 1st Floor, 148 Old Street,  London EC1V 9HQ Ntexecutivecorrespondence@postoffice.co.uk Please add your voice by email, post or signing the petition at the Post Office counter or online at: https://www.change.org/p/the-post-office-ltd-stop-the-closure-of-steeple-claydon-post-office

District Council Elections 7th May 2015 The Claydons and Hillesden

Below is the text of my election manifesto:

For residents of the Claydons, it has been a great privilege to serve as your District Councillor for the last four years, and I would be very grateful for your vote to enable me to continue to do so in the forthcoming election on May 7th.

For residents of Hillesden, which has been added to the Steeple Claydon Ward, I would value the opportunity to represent you and look forward to getting to know you and your concerns.

I have worked hard to protect the quality of life in our villages.  I have lobbied to get our roads improved, our potholes fixed, our drains and pavements repaired, new salt bins installed, and our roads properly gritted in the winter.  I have supported plans to improve the amount of affordable housing available, but have opposed the proposed large scale Gladmans development in Steeple Claydon.  I believe it should be up to residents to decide where housing growth should take place, not have it imposed by developers.

I have supported the improved superfast broadband which has recently come to our area through the Connected Counties programme, and welcome the additional funding recently provided by AVDC.

Supporting the rural economy, including new startups and those working from home is a Council priority and has my strong support.  I have also lobbied to retain and improve our local bus services.

High Speed Two continues to threaten to have a major impact on our communities.  I have supported efforts to try and mitigate its impact in our area.  Our local Councils and residents have sent in many excellent petitions to Parliament and we need to make sure that the Select Committee are fully aware of the issues we face.

As Chairman of the Community Liaison Group for the incinerator at Calvert I have ensured the concerns of our residents are heard and addressed.  I have discussed damage by construction vehicles and excessive floodlighting of the site with management who have taken action. 

I have enjoyed participating in so many events and  activities in our villages over the past four years,  from pantomimes to firework displays, Theatre in the Villages, Music in Quiet Places, and  village fetes and shows.  It has been great to see the success of the Community Library in Steeple Claydon,  and a privilege to attend the award ceremonies for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to the  Steeple Claydon Age UK day centre and for Volunteer of the Year to one of our residents.

I welcome the formation of a new Civic Pride group in Steeple Claydon to actively improve the village.  I have worked closely with our local PCSOs on issues such as illegal parking, vandalism, graffiti and anti social behaviour.

As a member of the District Council I have had the honour for the past four years of serving as Chairman of the Finance and Resources scrutiny committee and have been closely involved in our strategy to deliver value for money, reform services, cut waste and improve communications.  

I am delighted that we are able to help residents by freezing Council Tax this year.

I grew up in Buckinghamshire and have lived in the area for over twenty years. If elected I will do

everything I can to keep Hillesden and the Claydons a great place to live.

First step towards a Steeple Claydon Neighbourhood Plan

The Parish Council has taken the first step towards the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan, which will plan the village's development over the next 20 years.

People are being asked to comment on Steeple Claydon Parish Council's application to AVDC to designate the whole parish as a neighbourhood area.

A consultation has been launched, with all responses due in by 26 March.

If the application is approved following the consultation, it will be the parish council's first step on their way towards preparing a neighbourhood plan.

A neighbourhood plan can establish planning policies for the development and use of land, including where additional new homes and offices should be built and what they should look like.

Residents of Steeple Claydon would be given the opportunity to be involved in the preparation of the neighbourhood plan and, ultimately, will have the right to vote for or against it at a referendum. No plan can be adopted unless it passes a referendum.

This current consultation is not a consultation on a neighbourhood plan, but rather one on the boundary of where a future neighbourhood plan can be prepared for.

The parish council is suggesting the whole of the parish area should form the boundary, but if people think it should be a bigger or smaller area, they should let AVDC know.

A copy of the neighbourhood area application is available to view on the AVDC website

People are able to submit comments on the application, specifically on the area which Steeple Claydon Parish Council proposes to designate as a neighbourhood area, until 5pm on 26 March.

Comments can be made either by email to planningpolicy@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or by post to Aylesbury Vale District Council, Forward Plans, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 8FF.

For more information, call the planning policy team on 01296 585679.