Planning & Design Practice Ltd is delighted to secure planning permission for amendments to a Reserved Matters approval on land to the South of Jetting Cottage and Jetting Forge, Fallgate, Milltown, Ashover, in Derbyshire, for our clients Churchway Homes Ltd.
Planning permission was originally granted for 5 large detached homes on a former quarry site. The principle of residential development had already been established following the grant of planning permission (application refs: 18/00291/RM and 19/00393/RM) and as works had previously begun on-site the permissions remain extant.
Planning & Design Practice Ltd were instructed by Churchway Homes Ltd to prepare, submit and manage a Section 73 planning application to vary Condition 1 (approved plans) of planning permission 19/00393/RM to allow for various alterations to one of the five houses approved in 2018.
Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows applications to be made for permission to develop without complying with a condition(s) previously imposed on a planning permission.
Planning & Design Practice Ltd worked closely with the Local Planning Authority to secure planning permission under delegated authority by Officers at North East Derbyshire District Council.
Gaining planning permission is a key step in almost any development. Planning & Design Practice Ltd is a multi-disciplinary team of Town Planners, Architects, Architectural Assistants and Design Professionals, and Heritage Specialists. We can take a project through from inception to completion, but we also offer the flexibility to engage a client’s own architects and provide a planning service, whilst our design team can also work with clients who have engaged other town planning professionals.
We have extensive knowledge about the policies and procedures of individual councils and the approach taken by planning officers and Councillors. For a no obligation consultation to discuss your dream project or property, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01332 347371 or via email at enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.
Andrew Stock, Principal Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd.
Planning & Design Practice are pleased to have secured approval of Reserved Matters for a development of 10 houses in Ashover, after having originally secured the outline planning permission in 2017.
The outline planning permission restricts the approved development on the site to “bungalows” in the description of development, and also by a condition of the permission which states that “the dwellings hereby approved shall be single storey only.”
The design challenge then for this site was to create a scheme of single storey dwellings for this development that looked great and could be built to a high standard by our client who will be building the houses.
The design of the house types was carefully considered as well as the layout, and extensive pre-application discussions took place with North East Derbyshire District Council and also Urban Design at Derbyshire County Council.
The theme chosen for the site, in this edge-of-settlement location, was that of traditional agricultural buildings – in appearance and materials as well as in the courtyard-type layout.
Inspiration came from existing barn conversions and other rural developments that retain an agricultural character to the finished development, which is essential for a semi-rural location such as this. The building materials for the houses includes materials typical of vernacular rural buildings – stone, timber, and plain clay roof tiles (Staffordshire Blue is proposed to be in keeping with many of the traditional buildings in Ashover).
Another constraint to the development includes that the houses are required to meet the Building Regulations M4(3) standard – which is fully wheelchair accessible. This standard is specific in its dimensional requirements for access into the building, spaces in and around doorways for turning, around furniture, access to windows, storage space for wheelchairs, covered entrances, covered parking at wheelchair accessible size, level access, and bathroom dimensions amongst others.
Therefore it was necessary to design the layout for each house type to meet these stringent requirements whilst trying to maintain the generally linear nature of a converted rural building, to fit with the chosen design theme.
The layout of the site seeks to address social isolation and loneliness. The properties will have living areas to the front overlooking a communal open space with land for a communal garden, and residents will become members of a residents association. The properties and layout are designed to encourage social interaction with all properties overlooking the central access road and communal spaces:
The design of the site layout aims to create an informal courtyard feel, to represent the character of a farmyard through the relationship between the buildings. At the same time, consideration had to be given to access for a Bin Lorry, this involved ‘swept path analysis’ to be certain the vehicle could access the site safely and turn around at the end. Given that the permission for the development itself is for wheelchair accessible dwellings it is essential that the Refuse vehicle can access the full extent of the site, as any residents that are less mobile would find it difficult to take wheeled bins to a designated collection point if it were too far from the house.
The road further up into the site is designed as a shared surface and is proposed to be constructed of permeable block paving. Sections of footway (pavement) are proposed along the lower parts, as this can help the visually impaired be more confident in proximity to vehicles (especially with Guide Dogs).
Each house has its own covered parking area attached to the building, to disabled parking space standards, which is a requirement of the M4(3) standard, along with wheelchair storage areas, and access ramps to all external doors, with level access, and Bin Storage areas under cover. The M4(3) standard also requires that the main entrance is under a covered porch.
Social sustainability
The layout of the site includes a communal garden area in the centre, and this area is currently also earmarked as the location for a Public Art commission. This part of the site is overlooked by almost all of the new dwellings and will provide an active central space that all residents can use, whilst also providing a level of activity and interest to look out over in the neighbourhood for any residents that may struggle to leave the house at any time due to restricted mobility.
Communal areas encourage social interaction and by combining this with the public art, which will be owned by the residents association, it is hoped that this will foster a sense of community for the new residents and create a strong sense of place.
The Sculptor James Sutton has been chosen to produce the public art commission, after a selection process facilitated by Junction Arts. https://www.jamessutton.co.uk/
The communal gardens are located at the centre of the widest part of the site, actively overlooked by all but the southernmost house on the site (which can provide interesting social activity for those with restricted mobility or housebound to look out onto) and the gardens are easily accessible by all residents. A central footpath draws the eye up thought the centre of the gardens and between the two houses at the top end of the site, framing the view of the countryside beyond.
Biodiversity Enhancement
It is proposed to plant new hedgerows along some of the boundaries, consisting of mixed native species, which will provide a biodiversity enhancement for the site. Other boundaries are proposed to be post & rail fencing to maintain the rural character and keep the feeling of openness of the site. Post & rail is also proposed between the individual gardens, along with native mixed hedging to provide some privacy to the occupiers. There will be some sections of new dry-stone walling that are also of great benefit to wildlife, overall the boundary treatments are considered to be rural in character and not suburban, so will actually contribute to the landscape character of the area.
Commissioner: John Stockton, Planning Design Ltd Where: Milken Lane, Ashover, Derbyshire Artform: Public realm artwork(s)
Project Background
Junction Arts are supporting John Stockton to commission an exceptional artist who will design, deliver and install a new public realm artwork for a private development of 10 bungalows to wheelchair accessible standards on a greenfield site in Ashover, Derbyshire.
Project Brief
An opportunity has arisen for a creative or team of creatives to produce a visually engaging and locally sympathetic public realm artwork for a new small housing development in Ashover. The new work will add a creative and positive aesthetic to the development after completion and will enable residents to develop a sense of connection to the area. We are interested in work that can be incorporated into the fabric of the development and can be a long lasting element of the scheme for the benefit of new residents and visitors alike.
Artform
We invite artists of all backgrounds to submit proposals that incorporate natural, traditional and/or digital artforms. Please see the latest version of the site layout below for reference. The artworks will need to be resilient to inclement weather and factor in the ability to withstand vandalism. Future maintenance and costs of maintenance must also be taken into account.
Budget
The total artist fee is £10,000 (inclusive of all expenses, preparation, materials, travel, manufacture, installation and VAT).
Public Art Site
Ownership
It shall be agreed that upon completion of the public artwork, with final payment to the contracted artist, property, maintenance and ownership of the artwork shall pass to site management company. Any maquettes, models or preliminary drawings shall remain at all times the property of the artist.
Decommissioning
If no immediate plans are in place for decommissioning of the final artwork, information regarding the build should be kept for reference by the new owner of the work (see above). Therefore the body, or organisation, which has taken responsibility for the ownership / maintenance of the work, will be responsible for the decommissioning. Where appropriate the local residents should be involved in deciding the fate of the artwork.
Copyright
Copyright remains with the selected artist. The commissioned artist will give permission to the Commissioner to use images of the artwork for promotion and publicity purposes. Further details regarding copyright will be included in the final artist contract, supplied by John Stockton.
Application Process and Deadlines
The creative(s) should submit a written proposal of no more than 2 sides of A4 showing your approach and ideas for how you would deliver the project to amy@junctionarts.org
Please include: • An outline of relevant public artwork experience • An outline of how you would allocate your time for planning and design, delivery and installation (see timetable notes below) • A budget breakdown taking into account preparation, materials, build and installation time including a contingency • In addition to the written proposal please include up to 5 images to evidence your previous work • CV(s) including your contact details and names of 2 referees • Confirmation of Public Liability Insurance to a minimum value of £5m • Confirmation of availability for the week commencing Monday 9th September, if called for interview.
CV and website links submitted without a written application will not be considered.
Please make sure your application is submitted via email as one combined PDF and no more than 5MB in size.
Please also note that artists ideally should have a current Driving License and Public Liability Insurance due to the nature and location of the project.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 1st September 2019
Shortlisting and Interview Process
• Successful applications shortlisted for interview will be notified by Friday 6th September • If you do not hear by the 6th September, please assume your proposal was not shortlisted. • Interviews will be held on Tuesday 10th September • The successful creative(s) will be informed of the decision by Friday 13th September • Written feedback will be available upon request.
If called for interview you will be asked to deliver a 10 minute visual presentation about one public art project that best highlights your approach and experience for this type of commission.
Contracting and Design
The selected artist will be contracted directly by the Commissioner, John Stockton. The design for the public artwork will need supplied to John Stockton by Friday 27th September 2019, so that it can be agreed and submitted as part of the Commissioner’s discharge of Public Art condition application to the local authority in October 2019. John Stockton will provide the artist with the schedule, instruction and necessary payment for works as the development progresses.
Please note: The agreed artwork would not need to be installed until after summer 2020, once the housing development itself is underway.
For more information on the project brief, please contact Amy Smith, Project Coordinator, Junction Arts: amy@junctionarts.org / 01246 209 219
