Policy GB10: (Safeguarded site) Land to the north west of Saunders Lane, Mayford, GU22 0NN

Policy GB10: (Safeguarded site) Land to the north west of Saunders Lane, Mayford, GU22 0NN

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This 19.59 ha site is safeguarded to meet the long term development needs of the Borough between 2027 and 2040, in accordance with Policy SA1.

The key requirements for developing the site will be set out as part of the review of the Core Strategy and or the Site Allocations DPD to be informed by up to date evidence at the time. Sufficient land has been released to deliver the Core Strategy. In this regard, this site will only be released for development as part of the review of the Core Strategy and or the Site Allocations DPD.

Reasoned justification: This site lies within the Heathlands ward. It is presently overgrown but was last used as pasture land. The land is classified by DEFRA as agricultural Grade 4 (poor).

The site allocation includes the residential curtilage of Little Gorsewood, Saunders Lane, as well as Mayford Village Hall and adjacent recreational uses. However these would not be redeveloped but instead are included within the site boundary to ensure a strong defensible Green Belt boundary would later be formed along Saunders Lane.

To the north and west lies residential ribbon development fronting the south side of Hook Heath Road, within the Conservation Area. To the east the site abuts fields, beyond which is Proposal Site GB10. The southern boundary of both of these sites is defined by Saunders Lane.

This location is within the designated escarpment and rising ground of landscape importance, however it lies on the lower levels, which are relatively shallow sloping, such that it could be developed without compromising the integrity of the escarpment.

The Green Belt boundary review (GBBR) recommends the site as an opportunity to deliver new homes in accordance with Core Strategy Policies CS6, CS10, CS12 and CS13, without adverse impact upon the purposes of the Green Belt.

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GB10

Estimated capacity of the site will be determined as part of the review of the Core Strategy and or the Site Allocations DPD.

Key evidence base to justify safeguarding of the site:

•  Green Belt Boundary Review (Parcel 20 - WGB020d);

•  Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAAHEA019);

•  Technical studies supplied on behalf of the stakeholder, received January 2014: Green Belt

  assessment (by CSa Environmental Planning), accessibility and transport assessment (iTransport, June 2011), ecology survey work (CSa Environmental Planning). Further ecological surveys were carried out in 2014;

•  County Highway Authority transport review of Woking Green Belt sites (officer comments, October 2014);

•  Sustainability appraisal;

•  Habitat Regulations Assessment;

•  Strategic Transport Assessment;

•  Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Avoidance Strategy.

  (The majority of the site has previously been referred to as land to the north of Saunders Lane)