Page 268 - MJC submissions

• The MSDC Brownfield Land Register [Attachment 9] shows a total of 50 dwellings on the
combined “Wealden House” sites of 1.6 hectares: that is a density of 32 DdHa. There is
no explanation of how this incorrect area was calculated, although it is likely to consist of
1.2 hectares of the WH:EDF site (Site 13) and 0.4 hectares of the WH:LIC site (Site 14). If
this is the case, it is again in error because the combined net developable area is 1.2
hectares (0.8 hectares of the WH:EDF site and 0.4 hectares for the WH:LIC site).

In any event, the brownfield report signals an integrated development of 50 units rather than
around 120 as implied in the Design and Access Statement of the original April 2018
application - DM/18/1548

• The Steering Group (consisting of AWVC members and planning experts: see
paragraph 2.3 and Attachment 19) responsible for the 2014 and 2015 Sustainability Reports
(see Attachments 1 and 2) made it clear that the WH sites1 should be developed at a “similar
scale” [to Ashbourne Park] “but careful design would be

needed to respect the character of adjoining and neighbouring buildings”;
Plans---- variations ----

• The area of the WH:EDF site is inconsistently recorded as 1.60 hectares (“TBC”) in the
AWNP “Sites Submitted as at February 2014” [Attachment 3] and 1.47 hectares in
application DM/18/1548 [Attachment 4 Question 21]. In fact, I believe the developable
area (after excluding ancient woodland) is 0.8 hectares;

• The number of dwellings assessed as “potential housing capacity” for the WH:EDF (Site
13): in the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment - SHLAA 470:
Attachment 5a] is shown as “50+” but this density - of 64 dwellings per hectare (DdHa) -
conflicts with the “justification” given one line below on the same attachment which
states:

“Two apartment blocks, totalling 14 flats, have been built on a former part of the site and
development at a similar scale would be acceptable, but careful design would be needed to
respect the character of adjoining and neighbouring buildings”.

The 14 flats referred to are in Ashbourne Park which has a scale of around 28DdHa. Applying
this scale, as specified, would result in an approximate capacity of 22 units for the WH:EDF
site and not “50+”;

• The calculation of “50+” appears to be in error and has inflamed an expectation that
massive over-development is possible on the WH sites: in the process increasing the size
of the village by around 15% and triggering serious sustainability, environmental, traffic,
social and other problems;

• The Wealden House sites are specifically protected by two local policies (AWNP 9
[relating to the WH:EDF site] and AWNP 10 [relating to the WH:LIC site]). These state
that:

• Schemes must reflect and respect the predominant character of the area with particular
regard to the unit type, scale and massing;

• --- have a layout which reflects and respects the spacious character of the locality; Page32

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Objectives\CONSOLIDATED SUBMISSIONS\5 Response to disclosures of 8th December.docx