ARMSTRONG RIGG PLANNING
Site: Land at Chesham Road/Molyneaux Avenue, Bovingdon
Client: Cala Homes Chiltern & Homes England
In August 2023 we submitted a full planning application for the erection of 43No. dwellings with associated car parking, open space, landscaping and new access arrangements on behalf of Cala Homes Chiltern & Homes England on land at Chesham Road/Molyneaux Avenue, Bovingdon. The site previously formed part of the Green Belt but was removed following its’ identification as a housing allocation in the Dacorum Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) (Site Allocation LA6). A Masterplan document produced and adopted by the Council as supplementary planning guidance is intended to be read alongside the allocation.
Site Allocation LA6 and the adopted Masterplan expect land at Chesham Road and Molyneaux Avenue to deliver 60 new homes and open space and set out a series of key principles for the development of the site. The principle of housing development was therefore established, but the exact number of dwellings and the form and layout of the development was expected to be established through the planning application process.
The LA6 Masterplan includes a site analysis section based upon technical work undertaken at that stage identifying from this a series of constraints that any future proposals should take into account: these being the retention of the existing reservoir; effect of National Air Traffic Control (NATS) beacon upon maximum building heights; the need to protect and retain where possible existing mature hedgerows and trees; location of the gas pipeline crossing the site; and, the need to protect the amenity of adjoining residents on Hyde Lane and Mitchell Close.
Following the acquisition of the site, Cala Homes’ development team spent time investigating the constraints and opportunities of the site to establish the realistic level of built form that could be achieved while making adequate provision for any necessary mitigation. That further technical work revealed some constraints not cited in the LA6 Masterplan, namely the need to include a 20 metre no-build zone around the deep-bored soakaways that lie within the site along the perimeter of the retained reservoir and make provision for an attenuation basin in the southern in part of the site. That work also revealed some further opportunities with further discussions with NATS confirming greater flexibility with regard to building heights.
These additional constraints reduced the developable area of site, and therefore the number of dwellings that could be achieved from 60 to 43 dwellings. These constraints meant that only the northern part of the site could be developed and there was, accordingly, a need for some deviation from the adopted Masterplan.
The preparation, submission and determination of the application was the subject of a formal Planning Performance Agreement arrangement which encouraged a very positive and collaborative relationship between officers, statutory consultees and the applicants with planning permission being issued under delegated powers within 5 months of submission.
