The development proposals are for a total of 204 dwellings at Land at Castle Gresley. As part of the access design, the existing Swadlincote Lane will be realigned into the development in order to form the minor arm of a new priority junction within the development. The section of Swadlincote Lane which will be realigned into the development will be widened to 5.5m, allowing for two vehicles to pass each other safely.
The primary highways benefit of the proposed development is the proposed connections to the existing shared use footways / cycleways in the area. A 2m wide footpath has been proposed within the site, which connects to the shared footway / cycleway at both Bexley Drive and Swadlincote Lane. The existing shared footway / cycleway which runs along the Swadlincote Lane / Brunel Way roundabout has been extended into the site access, promoting sustainable travel to the residents. As part of the application, a Travel Plan has been produced which seeks to reduce the number of single occupancy car trips across a 5-year period.
The traffic impact of the proposed development on the local highway network has been assessed and will have a negligible impact on the performance of key local junctions in the vicinity of the development. Therefore, it has been determined that the proposed development will not lead to a significant increase of queueing at the key junctions in Swadlincote.
The site was previously intensively managed arable fields which have now been colonised by an established species poor grassland sward. Several native species poor and native species rich hedgerows are present forming boundary around the site and forming boundary between field compartments. Several semi-mature trees are associated with a small number of hedgerows. No hedgerows have been identified as ‘Important’ under the hedgerow regulations 1997. Hedgerows are the only habitat identified as a habitat of principal importance. Habitats providing higher ecological value include hedgerows and broadleaved trees. The species poor grassland provides low ecological value at a site level importance. Current proposals for the development have retained all semi-mature trees and have retained the vast majority of the hedgerow resource. There is scope within the development to establish further hedgerow and tree planting as mitigation and enhancement.
The Environment Agency (EA) Flood Map for Planning demonstrates the proposed development to be located entirely within Flood Zone 1 (areas deemed to be at a low risk of fluvial flooding). The EA surface water flood risk mapping demonstrates the site to predominantly possess a very low risk of surface water flooding with the exception of minor low risk areas which are predominantly associated with the existing lines of hedgerow and topographical low points. Flood risk from all other sources has been deemed to be low.
A desktop ground investigation demonstrates the site to be underlain by a mudstone bedrock and as such the use of infiltration drainage devices is deemed to be unfeasible. An existing ditch network flows adjacent to the site’s northern boundary. The existing ditch forms an ideal gravity outfall location for the discharge of surface water runoff produced onsite.
The proposed development is to discharge runoff from the site at the existing greenfield runoff rate as to mimic existing runoff conditions and ensure that flood risk is not increased elsewhere as a result of the development. The primary attenuation provided onsite will comprise of an attenuation pond. The pond is to possess a permanently wet area within its structure, this will provide additional benefits to the site beyond the remits of flood risk and drainage. Additional sustainable drainage features are to be considered and incorporated within the development’s drainage design where feasible to enhance the treatment of surface water runoff produced onsite and mitigate against pollution.
The foul drainage strategy is being developed in conjunction with Severn Trent Water and a connection point to the existing foul sewer network will be provided.
The underlying ground conditions comprise topsoil or made ground (disturbed soils related to surface and shallow workings), overlying Middle Coal Measures strata (mudstone weathering to sandy gravelly clay). A number of coal seams outcrop across the site area, resulting in coal recorded at shallow depths. The site is within an area of historic coal mineworkings, with both recorded and unrecorded workings (from shallow depths) present beneath the site area.
The intrusive investigation works undertaken at the site have confirmed that it is suitable for residential development and that appropriate remedial measures comprising treatment of the historic coal workings (by injecting grout fill into the ground to stabilise it) will be completed to allow development to proceed.