Site LPS 26: Back Lane / Radnor Park, Congleton

The development of Back Lane / Radnor Park over the Local Plan Strategy period will be achieved through:

  1. The delivery of, or a contribution towards, the Congleton Link Road;
  2. The delivery of around 750 new homes (at approximately 30 dwellings per hectare) as set out in Figure 15.31 of the LPS;
  3. The delivery of around 7 hectares of employment land adjacent to Radnor Park Trading Estate as set out in Figure 15.31 of the LPS;
  4. The delivery of around 1 hectare of employment or commercial development adjacent to the Congleton Link Road junction as identified in Figure 15.31 of the LPS;
  5. The retention and enhancement of Back Lane Playing Fields which has Village Green status;
  6. The delivery of improved recreational facilities linked to Back Lane playing fields and the proposed primary school site;
  7. The provision of appropriate retail space to meet local needs;
  8. The provision of pedestrian and cycle links set in green infrastructure to new and existing employment, residential areas, shops, schools, health facilities and the town centre;
  9. The provision of public open space, as a new country park adjacent to Back Lane Playing Fields; as set out in Figure 15.31 of the LPS;
  10. The provision of children's play facilities;
  11. The provision of a new primary school with linked community use as set out in Figure 15.31 of the LPS;
  12. Contributions to new health infrastructure; and
  13. The provision of land required in connection with the Congleton Link Road as set out in Figure 15.31 of the LPS.

Site Specific Principles of Development

  1. Contributions towards the Congleton Link Road / complimentary highway measures on the existing highway network.
  2. The provision of a network of open spaces for nature conservation and recreation, including access to and enhancement of the River Dane Valley Corridor as shown in Figure 15.31 of the LPS. Development should retain and enhance areas of landscape quality / sensitivity.
  3. The timely provision of physical and social infrastructure to support development at this location.
  4. The achievement of high quality design reflecting the prominent landscape location of the site and creating a vibrant destination and attractive public realm.
  5. The site should be developed comprehensively consistent with the allocation of uses set out in Figure 15.31 and the principles of the North Congleton Masterplan.Development should integrate with the adjacent uses, particularly through sustainable transport, pedestrian and cycle links.
  6. The delivery of appropriate public transport links to connect with employment, housing and retail / leisure uses in the town.
  7. The provision of pedestrian and cycle routes to provide clear and safe links to surrounding communities.
  8. A desk-based archaeological assessment will be required for any future application on this site.
  9. The site will provide affordable housing in line with the policy requirements set out in Policy SC 5 'Affordable Homes'.
  10. Future development should have reference to the River Dane Local Wildlife Site and Ancient Woodland.
  11. Future development should also have consideration to Policy SE 14 'Jodrell Bank'.
  12. In order to ensure a sustainable, mixed use scheme is delivered on the site, the council will require all housing proposals to demonstrate, through the execution of a s106 Agreement or appropriate alternative, how the delivery of employment land as an extension to the Radnor Park Trading Estate will be positively supported.
  13. The visual, noise and pollution assessment of development should be undertaken with the assumption that the link road is in situ and suitable screening / mitigation provided accordingly. Noise and visual mitigation measures should be provided between future and existing employment / residential areas. This could include separation distances, acoustic fencing, earth mounding, tree planting and building orientation.
  14. Any replacement and/or new sports provision should be in accordance with an adopted up to date and robust Playing Pitch Strategy and Indoor Sports Strategy and with Policy SC 2 ‘Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities’.
  15. Future development should provide an appropriate buffer with the Ancient Woodland along the River Dane corridor.
  16. Future development should provide an east to west greenway with pedestrian and cycle links across the site linking together proposed and existing leisure uses, local retail and other community facilities at this site with other sites to the north of Congleton. This should include a footbridge over the River Dane for pedestrian / cycle use.
  17. The Congleton Link Road will form the boundary for development; except for a single area shown in Figure 15.31.
  18. A minimum of a Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment for contaminated land should be carried out to demonstrate that the site is, or could be made, suitable for use should it be found to be contaminated. Further work, including a site investigation, may be required at a pre-planning stage, depending on the nature of the site.
  19. The proposed route of the Congleton Link Road is as shown in Figure 15.31. Development should be undertaken with the assumption that the link road is in situ. The land required for the construction and delivery of the Congleton Link Road will be safeguarded from development.

 Justification

15.338 The Congleton Link Road is the single largest infrastructure project the council has undertaken to date. It is vital to the successful delivery of sites to the north of Congleton and to resolve long-standing economic and environmental impacts arising from congestion in the town. The link road will also improve connectivity across the borough and access to the M6. The council has recognised that it may have to provide gap funding upfront in order to deliver the Congleton Link Road. As the link road is an essential component in the delivery of sites to the north of Congleton, the council will seek appropriate contributions towards the link road from development unlocked by the link road. In the event that the road is committed (as evidenced through a construction contract let by the council) and / or completed at the time or planning permission(s) being granted, the council will seek appropriate contributions to the Congleton Link Road on a retrospective basis.

15.339 The council’s stated aims for the delivery of the sites to the north of Congleton are that they should be delivered on a comprehensive basis in line with the North Congleton Masterplan. The site cannot be comprehensively delivered without additional highways capacity provided by the proposed Congleton Link Road and, as such, the council will seek to ensure appropriate contributions to the Congleton Link Road. The council will be mindful of the costs of bringing the site forward in such circumstances and will consider affordable housing provision, on a case by case basis, where it is demonstrated through robust viability evidence that 30% affordable housing would render the development of a site unviable (in line with paragraph 7 of LPS Policy SC 5 'Affordable Homes').  The council’s expectation is the site is delivered on a comprehensive basis in the form of outline planning application(s), in line with the North Congleton Masterplan, to secure appropriate contributions towards the delivery of the Congleton Link Road and appropriate contributions to the infrastructure requirements of individual sites as set out in policy requirements and in line with Policy IN 1 'Infrastructure' and IN 2 'Developer Contributions'. In the event that changing circumstances impact on the sites / infrastructure delivery in line with the stated programme then the council will consider measures as set out in Chapter 16 (Monitoring and Implementation) of the LPS, including the use of its Compulsory Purchase Powers, in order for the stated objectives of the site to be met.

Access a larger version of Fig 15.31 Back Lane and Radnor Park LPS 26 (PDF, 779KB) (Opens in a new window)
Fig 15.31 Back Lane and Radnor Park LPS 26 (PDF, 779KB) (Opens in a new window)

15.340 Future development should prioritise pedestrian and cyclist permeability and achieve a green infrastructure network across the site to improve / integrate networks, and improve connectivity and provide safe direct access to the town centre and surrounding areas.

15.341 Development should provide green links to the River Dane Local Wildlife Site. It should promote the inclusion of areas of good quality open space, including natural and semi-natural habitat and wildlife corridors, within the strategic master planning of this area, to promote and enhance its biodiversity and nature conservation potential.

15.342 The Village Green at Back Lane will be retained and enhanced as part of a comprehensive master plan for this area. Adjoining developments should include proposals for either complementary recreational facilities or improvement measures at the playing fields or proposed country park. A new primary school is proposed off Back Lane. This will form a key focus for future community life. The school should be designed either to allow convenient dual use for community events or with a stand-alone community facility.

15.343 Future development should avoid the functional floodplain and include SuDS, where possible, to manage surface runoff and reduce the amount of surface water entering the combined network. This should include a surface water drainage strategy to consider measures such as attenuation ponds / detention basins and other measures. The provision of green and blue infrastructure will be key to the future master planning of this site.

15.344 Average residential density should be 30 dwellings per hectare across the site. A varied density profile across the site may be necessary in response to site characteristics including visual sensitivity, topography, landform and the existing character of the site. 

15.345 Planning application 13/2746C relating to land between Black Firs Lane, Chelford Road and Holmes Chapel Road, for the erection of up to 170 dwellings, public open space, green infrastructure and associated works now has planning approval.

15.346 The site has potential for contamination to be present therefore initially a Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment for contaminated land is required.

15.347 Any development proposal should take into consideration  the policy requirements set out in Policy CO 2 'Enabling Business Growth Through Transport Infrastructure', and the need to improve sustainable travel options particularly in the wider cross border context.

Indicative Site Delivery

Policy information

 

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