OBJECT

The frontage of the site owned by KG Moss Will Trust at land off Home End in Fulbourn is designated as an Important Countryside Frontage in the adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 -see Policy NH/13. As set out in Policy NH/13, “Important Countryside Frontages are defined where land with a strong countryside character either: a. Penetrates or sweeps into the built-up area providing a significant connection between the street scene and the surrounding rural area; or b. Provides an important rural break between two nearby but detached parts of a development framework”.

It is considered that the land off Home End does not meet the definition of Important Countryside Frontage. The development framework is not detached in this location, and the neighbouring buildings to the south and west fall within the framework boundary, and as such criteria (b) is not applicable. The land off Home End is surrounded by buildings and a car park. The site is surrounded by trees and hedgerows. There are sport and recreation facilities and associated car parking areas between the site and the countryside beyond. The sport and recreation facilities include a skateboard park, bowling green (surrounded by a hedge), tennis courts (with a fence), and multi-use games area (with a fence), an equipped play area, and a sports pavilion building. The surrounding rural area is not clearly visible from the site because the sports and recreation facilities intervene, and therefore there cannot be a ‘significant connection’ between the site and the rural area. The characteristics of this site have changed significantly since the Important Countryside Frontage was first designated but the designation has never been subject to review. The site does not provide a ‘significant’ connection between the street scene and surrounding rural area, and therefore the Important Countryside Frontage Designation should be deleted from the land off Home End in Fulbourn.

In addition, there are a variety of designations that prevent or limit the opportunity for development in Fulbourn including Green Belt, Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings, Protected Open Space and Protected Village Amenity Areas. It is considered that the Important Countryside Frontage designation adds a further policy layer preventing the delivery of development in those villages where it applies.

It is considered that a suitably designed development could be delivered at land off Home End in Fulbourn to retain the character of the site frontage, protect the setting of heritage assets, and provide additional landscaping at the site boundary. This approach would allow for some small-scale growth at Fulbourn to meet housing and identified affordable housing needs.

Requested Change

It is requested that the Important Countryside Frontage designation at land off Home End in Fulbourn is deleted because the characteristics of the site means it does not meet the definition for such a designation.