During the meeting of 19th January 2011, the ORA asked questions regarding the Tadpole Farm development of Swindon Borough Council Cabinet.
The ORA representatives asked the following questions:
1. The core strategy states at SC9 part C, “any urban extension(s) to Swindon in Wiltshire should: integrate positively with West Swindon and contribute towards and mitigate their impact on Swindon’s infrastructure”. At Full Council the administration voted unanimously to stand against any development in the Ridgeway Farm area and yet a mile up the road in the Tadpole Farm area the whole Council is supporting the development of this area and other urban extensions, which it could be soundly argued, will have the same negative impact, especially the increase in traffic, on West Swindon and particularly Junction 16 of the M4. Please can you confirm that the Council (Cabinet/Officers) accept that the residents of West Swindon will be detrimentally affected by the Swindon Core Strategy but the same Council are against the Wiltshire Core Strategy affecting the same residents in exactly the same way at West Swindon and if Cabinet do not accept this statement then why not?
The ORA representatives asked the following questions:
1. The core strategy states at SC9 part C, “any urban extension(s) to Swindon in Wiltshire should: integrate positively with West Swindon and contribute towards and mitigate their impact on Swindon’s infrastructure”. At Full Council the administration voted unanimously to stand against any development in the Ridgeway Farm area and yet a mile up the road in the Tadpole Farm area the whole Council is supporting the development of this area and other urban extensions, which it could be soundly argued, will have the same negative impact, especially the increase in traffic, on West Swindon and particularly Junction 16 of the M4. Please can you confirm that the Council (Cabinet/Officers) accept that the residents of West Swindon will be detrimentally affected by the Swindon Core Strategy but the same Council are against the Wiltshire Core Strategy affecting the same residents in exactly the same way at West Swindon and if Cabinet do not accept this statement then why not?
2. Recently the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning said, “As far as I am aware there are no plans to alter Oakhurst Way”, the Deputy Leader said, “Oakhurst Way is not fit for purpose with all it roundabouts and narrowings,” and a senior forward planning officer said, “There will be no development in the Tadpole Farm area without improvements to Oakhurst Way, not through S106 but at the developers cost before any construction work will be allowed to commence”. How has such an important document, affecting Swindon residents in a legally binding way appeared at Cabinet for public consultation when there is no consensus amongst the Council’s senior figures?
Do the Cabinet members agree that developers exploit lack of consensus and, as a consequence of SBC’s division, that community organisations will not be able to allay the fears of local residents that the Council is weak because its’ representatives appear to deal with developers in such an impotent and divided way?
This was the reply from SBC:
Tadpole Farm is identified in the Core Strategy as a suitable location for housing taking into account a range of factors, in comparison to alternative sites, to help meet the identified need for new housing in the Borough. New development wherever it is located will impact on local communities to some degree. We need to ensure that the impact is minimised and that potential benefits of new development are realised. The purpose of the Core Strategy policy is to achieve this.
Any development in Wiltshire will impact on the communities of Swindon, but we can not control such development. As such the impacts will potentially be severe and determined by another Local Authority. With Tadpole Farm, the development and its impacts can be controlled, by the Council.
The important part of this question is that the Core Strategy is before Cabinet for authority to consult. Inevitably it is unlikely to achieve consensus on a document that proposes development across the Borough. The Senior Forward Planning Officer mentioned in this question has been at pains to point out that if a road requires improvement as a consequence of a development proposal then those improvements would be expected to be paid for by the developer; and these improvements will be undertaken prior to commencement of development where this is appropriate.
The access arrangements to the Tadpole Farm site have not yet been determined, as this will depend on the nature and scale of any development proposal coming forward. The development proposal both in terms of layout and infrastructure provision, including schools, shops and public transport, will have a significant effect on resultant vehicle flows on roads in the area. As and when any developer of the Tadpole Farm site submits a planning application they will need to submit a detailed transport assessment report for the site. The figures submitted within the transport assessment, which is one element of the planning application, will be considered and will take account of all these factors and others.
This assessment may or may not identify the need for mitigation measures on affected roads. Should a planning application be submitted by the Local Authority then Highways Officers are aware of the concerns being raised by local residents and Ward Councillors; and these will be taken forward, where appropriate, as part of the Highway Authorities response to any development. Planning Committee will then make a decision on the appropriateness of the development proposals. For information, the Council are presently looking to install a toucan crossing on Oakhurst Way.
The Core Strategy for consideration at Cabinet seeks to ensure that transport issues are fully taken into account in any proposals or decisions made on future applications. The fact that the report is seeking approval for consultation makes it clear that the Council is looking for an input into the proposals in it.
Finally, the Council do not consider that they deal with developers in an impotent way. The Council is aware how the planning system works and operates within it to secure the best possible outcomes for its citizens. The proposals in the Core Strategy establish a clear strategic direction towards sustainable development in the most appropriate locations.
Any development in Wiltshire will impact on the communities of Swindon, but we can not control such development. As such the impacts will potentially be severe and determined by another Local Authority. With Tadpole Farm, the development and its impacts can be controlled, by the Council.
The important part of this question is that the Core Strategy is before Cabinet for authority to consult. Inevitably it is unlikely to achieve consensus on a document that proposes development across the Borough. The Senior Forward Planning Officer mentioned in this question has been at pains to point out that if a road requires improvement as a consequence of a development proposal then those improvements would be expected to be paid for by the developer; and these improvements will be undertaken prior to commencement of development where this is appropriate.
The access arrangements to the Tadpole Farm site have not yet been determined, as this will depend on the nature and scale of any development proposal coming forward. The development proposal both in terms of layout and infrastructure provision, including schools, shops and public transport, will have a significant effect on resultant vehicle flows on roads in the area. As and when any developer of the Tadpole Farm site submits a planning application they will need to submit a detailed transport assessment report for the site. The figures submitted within the transport assessment, which is one element of the planning application, will be considered and will take account of all these factors and others.
This assessment may or may not identify the need for mitigation measures on affected roads. Should a planning application be submitted by the Local Authority then Highways Officers are aware of the concerns being raised by local residents and Ward Councillors; and these will be taken forward, where appropriate, as part of the Highway Authorities response to any development. Planning Committee will then make a decision on the appropriateness of the development proposals. For information, the Council are presently looking to install a toucan crossing on Oakhurst Way.
The Core Strategy for consideration at Cabinet seeks to ensure that transport issues are fully taken into account in any proposals or decisions made on future applications. The fact that the report is seeking approval for consultation makes it clear that the Council is looking for an input into the proposals in it.
Finally, the Council do not consider that they deal with developers in an impotent way. The Council is aware how the planning system works and operates within it to secure the best possible outcomes for its citizens. The proposals in the Core Strategy establish a clear strategic direction towards sustainable development in the most appropriate locations.
