Planning & Development - Nov 2020

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Carter Jonas has sold an 10.23-acre residential development site at Kingsgrove, Wantage to Taylor Wimpey, marking another milestone in the development and delivery of a new 1500-home community.

This completion will enable the start of the fourth residential phase to deliver new homes at the 227-acre scheme where St. Modwen is acting as master developer, working closely with landowner Crabhill Developments and its consultant Carter Jonas.

Following a competitive tender process, leading housebuilder, Taylor Wimpey, was selected as the preferred bidder in March, before lockdown restrictions came into force. Contracts were exchanged in July to develop Phase 4, known as Downlands, which will comprise 171 private and affordable homes located south of the emerging neighbourhood facilities where a new primary school opened its doors to pupils in September.

The sale marks the fourth residential phase of the new community. The first three phases, totalling 428 homes, are currently being developed by St. Modwen Homes, CALA Homes and Bellway Homes since a start on site in 2018.

James Bainbridge, Chairman of Carter Jonas, commented: “We are very pleased with the progress and continuing investment into this significant project, with a further housebuilder joining our clients’ vision to create a community with aspirations for design and place-making. This fourth serviced residential parcel sold by the landowners at Kingsgrove will also significantly increase the rate of delivery of much needed new homes in Science Vale.”

Carter Jonas, which acted for St Modwen and Crabhill Developments in the sale, has been involved with this development for more than ten years. Together with Lands Improvement Holdings, the national property consultancy obtained outline planning permission for the 227-acre site in July 2015 from the Vale of White Horse District Council for up to 1,500 homes, a new primary school, a neighbourhood centre, including a pub/restaurant and local retail accommodation, sports pitches, employment space and community amenities set around a central park. St. Modwen subsequently signed a development agreement with the landowners to take forward the delivery of the masterplan and infrastructure in June 2017. St. Modwen Homes is expected to deliver up 50% of the homes on site. 

For further information, please contact a member of our team:

James Bainbridge 
Chairman
07887 834070

Carter Jonas recently secured a resolution to grant outline planning consent for up to 24 dwellings and public open space in Warboys, Cambridgeshire on behalf of the landowners. Full planning permission was also approved subject to s106 for the demolition of the existing dwelling and outbuildings within the conservation area.

Carter Jonas had initially promoted the site through the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036 resulting in the site being allocated for housing. The representations and submitted evidence ensured that vehicular access could be achieved within the applicant’s land and that the principle of the demolition and development within the conservation area was established. The representations made on the specific wording of the allocation policy proved to be critical to the success of the planning applications.

Upon submitting the outline application, Carter Jonas’ planning, development, urban design and masterplanning teams worked closely with the Council to achieve a high-quality indicative layout. Part of the site was located within the conservation area and in the setting of listed buildings. To address an objection from the Conservation Officer, Carter Jonas prepared illustrations and a written rebuttal relying on the specific wording of the allocation policy. This resulted in a recommendation of approval from the planning officer. Carter Jonas’ planning consultants presented the proposals to the planning committee in November, culminating in a unanimous approval from Huntingdonshire District Council.

For further information, please contact a member of our team:

Paul Belton
Partner
07780 618141
paul.belton@carterjonas.co.uk

On behalf of the landowners, Carter Jonas has successfully secured outline planning permission, including means of access, for up to 232 dwellings on 6.75ha of agricultural land at Mill Lane, Normanton.

In parallel with pre-application discussions, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening request, setting out details of the proposal and a summary of the relevant screening criteria, was submitted. This set out how the site and surroundings lacked environmental sensitivity, concluding that an Environmental Statement was not required.

The LPA disagreed with this view, issuing a screening opinion stating that the proposals were for EIA development and required an Environmental Statement.

Having reviewed the cost implications of this, Carter Jonas were instructed to challenge the outcome via a Secretary of State screening direction to the national Planning Casework Unit. A formal screening direction took place, which confirmed that the proposals were not EIA development. 

Carter Jonas subsequently managed the technical information required to support the outline application with all matters except access reserved for subsequent approval. Following the resolution of all technical issues, the application was taken to planning committee with an officer recommendation for approval, which was subsequently endorsed by members.

Emma Winter
Associate Partner 
07973 505576
emma.winter@carterjonas.co.uk

Carter Jonas has helped to secure planning permission on behalf of Barratt London and the Hyde Group for 1,266 new homes and 11,733 sq ft (1,090 sqm) of non-residential commercial space at Eastman Village in Harrow, following the signing of the Section 106 agreement in early November 2020.

Located on the former Kodak factory site, Eastman Village is set within the Harrow & Wealdstone Opportunity Area and the Heart of Harrow Housing Zone. The mixed-use scheme will continue to comprise a variety of tenures to support the needs of the local community. In this phase, 40% of new homes (472 in total) will be affordable.

The project design team included Pollard Thomas Edwards as the lead architects, with additional blocks designed by Piercy and Co, East Architecture and Makower Architects. 

The 11,733 sq ft (1,090 sqm) development of non-residential commercial space will see the creation of new community and leisure facilities, including cafes, a small restaurant and retail – bringing new employment opportunities to the area. 

This development includes improvements to the green link across the wider site. Planned work on the green link will include a series of tailored public spaces which have been carefully designed to connect to the earlier phases and existing residential streets that surround the Kodak site.

Carter Jonas has now helped to secure planning permission for just over 2,000 new homes on the wider site owned by Barratt and Hyde over the last three years.

For further information, please contact a member of our team:

Alister Henderson
Partner 
07786 333709
alister.henderson@carterjonas.co.uk