Page 23 - Ashbourne Park

STEPS TOWARDS AN AGREED STATEMENT OF FACTS
And stipulations

5.2 Documents Supporting the Application (Continued)

The Design and Access Statement includes the following illustrations;

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Figure 6: The ancient woodland

The East Sussex. Communities, Economy and Transport Environment Team (In a letter to
MSDC dated 20 June 2018) has made it clear that use of the ancient woodland in the way
th
proposed is not acceptable. Besides that, there are a steep drops within the woodland and a
SUDS pool nearby. Both make the area dangerous for young children and suggest it should be
secured, rather that used as proposed in the application.

5.3 Town Planning Statement: Frank Taylor
This critical document, by a leading town planning expert, was relied on by the architects in
the Design and Access Statement. It initiated the “starkly urban” label for the existing site and
the justification for the “urbs in rure” design.

The circular and unfitting classification of the existing site as “starkly urban” is relied
on to justify an urban design and over-development.

The report also gives a misleading impression of compliance with the 2016 pre-application
discussions with MSDD and how they have been addressed (see page 7 Table 3).

The Statement continues:

• “The WH Life Improvement Centre does not form part of this application;

• It is not necessary to include the highway access in the application:

• The general character of this part of the site is starkly urban. The current, if unsightly, built
form does show how it is possible to have an urban character of development here
without affecting its wider semi-rural setting. …[with] Urbs in rure it is therefore possible
to achieve the most effective development of the site;

• A contemporary design is the best way to realise the potential of the site, including its
capacity to produce affordable housing;

• The neighbourhood plan does not specify the capacity of the site….Instead quoting an
approximate capacity of 50+ which is indicative of an acceptance that capacity is
substantial and greater numbers of units can be produced here subject to design: