I was recently made aware of the sale of land at Longedge Lane, Wingerworth (https://www.rightmove.co.uk/commer.../property-90163400.html). Myself and a number of residents have voiced their concerns and expressed our frustration at the on going battle with inapporopriate housing in the village. I want to share with you some of the information which I have found and hopefully shed light on the situation. To me it seems unlikely that any development on the plot would be approved and I would personally oppose and fight any attempts to build on this or any other green space.
The land is in fact part of the Green Belt (see photo below). This means, according to paragraph 145 of the National Planning Policy Framework, that 'inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances'. This does not mean that building is impossible and the land unfortunately is not untouchable, however, the land, even if sold, is given some protection and large scale development is unlikely.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a number of private companies who specialise in unlocking the Green Belt for developers. New building is classed as inappropriate on Green Belt sites but applicants can submit cases to grant grounds for development. 'Limited infilling in villages which would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt' is one of the grounds on which development can be permitted.
According to the website of one of these Green Belt developing companies, 'previous case law has classified infill developments as sites that are within or immediately adjacent to built-up areas, given the sites have good physical infrastructure provision and transport connections, and would have already been developed if not for their status as Green Belt land'. I would argue that Wingerworth does NOT have the physical infastructure provision to support further infill housing. There are already concerns about whether the existing infastructure can support the current housing stock. There is intense pressure on schools and local services as it is and the village already has limited green space.
The website continues to argue that 'infill developments do not ‘harm’ the Green Belt because they do not constitute urban sprawl and therefore do not impede the openness or purpose of the Green Belt'. I completely and utterly disagree with this. Green Belt areas in and around our communities are vital and further development harms the communities which live by them.
The land in question is also outside of the Settlement Development Limit (see photo) voted on and approved by the public in the Wingerworth Neighbourhood Plan (WNP) in 2016. Any land outside of the Settlement Development Limit is classed as countryside and page 14 of the WNP (which can be found on the Wingerworth Parish Council website) commits to preventing 'the sprawl of development into the countryside, help protect the special and attractive riral setting of the Parish and protect the counryside'.
WNP also details limited and specific housing allocations - the locations outlined are the Avenue Site, the land to rear of 1-59 Adlington Avenue and any planning applications granted prior to April 2011 such as Hanging Banks, Deerlands Rd and Mill Lane. Any potential future developments, such as that on Langer Lane, would contravene the plan approved in 2016.
It is recognised in the WNP that new housing proposals outside of the Settlement Development Limit will occur, such as the conversion of disused agricultural buildings. The plan commits to assessing these in accordance with Policy W2, which states...'Land outside the Settlement Development Limit for Wingerworth will be treated as countryside. In the countryside, development proposals will be carefully controlled and limited to that which is appropriate in a rural location or supports thriving rural communities within it' (page 15, WNP)
I was NOT a member of the council when this plan was drafted and approved in 2016, but as a current councillor I would argue, and I know others would too, that any proposed development on the Longedge Lane plot (or any other green belt/countryside land for that matter) is completely against the WNP and the best interests of the village.
As mentioned above, a large portion of the development in Wingerworth was already approved prior to 2011 or a part of the WNP. Hopefully, once these developments are complete the village will start to see a reduction in major housing development and the WNP (which lasts until 2033) will continue to reject inappropriate development on valuable green space.
I am personally committed to working with the community to ensure that inappropriate planning which furthers eats into our limited green space is rejected. Our village has seen excessive development over the years and it is time that green spaces are protected for those who already live in the area.
In sum, I believe it would be highly unlikely that any development on this plot would be allowed but it is not unprecedented. Therefore, we must be sure to raise awareness if a planning application is ever submitted and to strongly object to it.
Green Belt Map
Settlement Development Limit
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