Two weeks ago, South Cambridgeshire District Council announced it was extending the consultation period for the new draft Local Development Plan by two week and would provide some revised housing data information, intended to rectify an omission. The StopBAD campaign had its first victory in its fight to stop the Bourn Airfield Development by highlighting a “mistake”.
That revised SHLAA document was released yesterday Monday 3rd September 2013, and the extension of 2 weeks means that the statutory consultation period of 6 weeks is achieved. But what is the correction that has warranted this new document?
The reason given, as stated in my previous article, was that some SHLAA data which had been used in preparation of the draft plan, had been omitted from the consultation documents. It was therefore preparing the revised SHLAA document to be released to the public for consultation alongside the new plan.
The revised document Appendix 7i consists of 134 pages, which all make for snoozy reading. However, only the first 12 pages are relevant to Bourn Airfield Development, and can be downloaded here.
To give the reader a quick summary, here are relevant extracts from the document, focusing on the site capacity issue:
Developable Area
So, here we have it. 141.7 hectares which is showing in the draft local plan document for the developable area of Bourn Airfield Development has now changed to 282 hectares. Go figure.
Site Capacity
As a result of the change in “developable area”, the densities now look more reasonable. Whereas, based on the original 141 hectares, the densities would have had to be 62 dwellings per hectare. Ouch!!
Density
Conclusion
By its own words, SCDC states that the site has limited development potential. But then hedges its bets with the second statement …..
The reader can draw their own conclusion ……
Local plan exhibition is taking place today at Calecote Village Hall from 2.30pm to 7.30pm. See you there.
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