A suite of technical surveys and assessment work has been carried out to inform the proposed scheme.
A summary of the key technical work is set out below.
Ashberry Strategic Land and Bellway Strategic Land have used Highway Consultants David Tucker Associates to conduct a thorough appraisal of the existing conditions of the local transport network, and the impacts a development such as this could create. Shipston on Stour is considered a sustainable location for new homes and both sites benefit from good walking and cycling links providing easy access to services.
Expert highway consultants have provided advice to the design team and the detailed designs will ensure that high levels of highway safety remain with any potential impacts mitigated as necessary.
The outline planning applications will be accompanied by a Transport Statement which will, amongst other things, consider the impacts of the proposals on the operation of off-site junctions cumulatively with other recently completed developments. This will help to understand whether improvements are needed to the local highway network to address impacts of the proposed developments.
The sites are outside areas at risk of flooding from rivers and sea and within Flood Zone 1. Both sites include part of an existing ditch network which will be free from development and used to receive water via an attenuation basin, the purpose of which would be to hold surface water run-off from the development and discharge it at greenfield rates. This means that the amount of water running off the site would be no more than the current rates as an undeveloped field. This will ensure that flood risk is not increased elsewhere as part of the proposed development.
Ashberry Strategic Land and Bellway Strategic Land have undertaken a variety of surveys on the sites to establish its baseline ecology value and in order to shape the proposals. The main features of ecology interest on-site are existing field hedges and trees given the farmed nature of the site.
The masterplanning exercise has been informed by the principle of retaining existing trees and hedgerows wherever possible. Only a limited amount of hedgerow and tree loss will occur to allow for internal access, and substantial new tree and other planting will occur throughout the site.
As part of the ecology work, detailed surveys have been carried out to help formulate the development proposals and will be submitted alongside the planning application. The development will also include mitigation and enhancement measures to provide a benefit to those species which may be found locally, this will include bat and bird nesting boxes, hedgehog houses, and wildflower planting.
As a result of these measures, and the extensive diverse planting across the site, the development will deliver at least a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, in line with national policy. This will ensure a significant improvement in the biodiversity over and above its existing condition.
Ashberry Strategic Land and Bellway Strategic Land have used desktop and survey evidence to ensure that these sites will not result in loss to any significant heritage assets. Both sites are outside and some distance from the Shipston on Stour Conservation Area and any listed buildings and development of the sites will not harm the significance of those heritage assets. There is some evidence of Roman and subsequent occupation in the area, along with a 19th century tramway which was completely dismantled in the early 20th century. There is no evidence to suggest that the site has any archaeological potential and limited further investigation is recommended to identify any historical artifacts that may be uncovered in line with current best practice.