Community

2. NUMBER AND TYPE OF UNITS PROPOSED 

4.1 Overview of the Fawkham Manor Estate

It will be useful to provide at this point an overview of the “Fawkham Manor Estate”. This was part of a larger estate from medieval times which covered most of the parish of Fawkham, purchased in the late 1800s by the Hohler family, which remained largely intact until 1949 when it was sold to the Billings family. In this response, references to the “Fawkham Manor Estate” should be taken to be the area bound by Manor Lane to the east which is accessed by a private road, named “Fawkham Manor Farm”. Some plots within this estate were sold in the 1960s and now form separate residences. Properties on the estate in addition to Fawkham Manor comprise: The Bungalow at Grange Park Farm, Lot 12, Oakwood House, The Coach House, Stables Cottage, 1 Stables Cottage, Parkwood, Park Field, The Spinney, The Cottage and North Lodge.

In the immediate vicinity of the manor house is the accompanying stable block, also designed by Lamb, which has been converted into three residences: The Coach House, Stables Cottages and 1 Stables Cottage. These are not mentioned in the Planning Statement [2.3.1] despite them being the nearest properties to the manor house.

FPC has again sought the views of the residents on the estate, plus those living close by on Manor Lane, and these are reflected in our response.

4.2 Car Parking

4.2.1 The plans include too few parking spaces for the location, and a reduction to 59 from the existing 78, according to the Design and Access statement, although the Planning statement retains the previous 71 at 4.8.2 which may be an editing error – clarity is needed as to which is correct. The comments below assume 59.

4.2.2 Although the proposals adhere to KCC’s minimum vehicle parking standards, we ask that SDC exercises its right, under Policy TN2, to depart from these to take account of special local circumstances and request significantly further parking, both for residents and for visitors/deliveries, for the following reasons:

• There is no easy access to public transport (a bus stop some 1.3km+ away can only be accessed via PROWs across fields and through woods – obviously unlit and at times very muddy).
• Residents will be reliant on private cars, as are the vast majority of residents in Fawkham.
• The latest census data shows a third of houses in Fawkham have 3 or more cars. Given that there will be 18 four bed townhouses, these are likely to have more than 2 cars each.
• There is no “on street” parking available anywhere close to the site: Manor Lane is a single track road and the estate is served by a single track private access road. Any parking on either of these would block the route, including for emergency vehicle access.
• Given that the proposed car parking spaces are close to or, in many cases, within the 15m buffer zones for the ancient woodland, it will be important to ensure that parking in kept to with the marked bays, rather than extending further into the buffer zones.
• The “tandem” parking arrangement proposed for Blocks B and C is contrary to KCC’s parking standards which state that parking spaces for such units should be independently accessible.
• We feel the current amount of parking spaces per unit is likely to cause blockages and access problems for residents on this site and those elsewhere on the Fawkham Manor estate, and also for emergency vehicle access.

4.2.3 The parking arrangements are contrary to EN1 of the Core Strategy.

4.3 Transport

4.3.1 To reach any services or facilities, future occupants would need to negotiate Manor Lane, a single track lane with steeply sunken sides, many bends and few informal passing places. It represents an unsafe walking environment due to the apparent speed of the traffic, absence of a footway and absence of lighting. Manor Lane is frequently covered with flints washed down from its steep sides, making walking unsafe, especially in the dark. For similar reasons cycling is unlikely to be desirable and would require a level of confidence, fitness and proficiency that future residents may not possess. It is therefore likely that future occupants would be car dependent, as are existing residents of Fawkham, as shown by a recent survey of Fawkham (January 2019): only 15.5% of respondents regularly walk as a form of transport and only one stated they regularly cycle, with only six (4.7%) cycling occasionally.

4.3.2 The Transport Statement suggests that people can use PROWs to reach services at New Ash Green, but the recent survey quoted above would suggest that is unlikely to happen in practice. The footpaths in the area reflect ancient settlement patterns and do not lead directly to New Ash Green Village Centre, which was built in 1967. It is unrealistic to think people will walk across fields along PROWs to reach a bus stop some 1.3km distant, to access a very limited bus service, which does not go to destinations such as Swanley, Dartford and Sevenoaks.

4.3.3 Section 1.3.7 of the Transport Technical Note states “existing passing bays are provided”. Please can the developer be asked to advise the location of these as we are not aware of any passing bays. Manor Lane is at its narrowest along the boundary of the Fawkham Manor estate, which is around 0.5in length. There are 2 or 3 informal places along this 0.5 miles where cars  can pass by each other by driving up the hedgerow/ancient woodland’s bank in a manoeuvre not all drivers are happy to/capable of doing. There is much reversion around blind bends for long distances to reach a wider section of the road. Thes e informal places have been created over time by vehicles going up the steep-sided hedge banks, causing erosion to them and damage to tree roots. None of the places has been designed. One passing place is on front of a field access gates, and all are probably on private land, rather than on the public highway. It is only possible for one car to pass in each direction. The traffic patterns that will be seen under residential use, with school runs and work commutes, are likely to result in traffic congestion issues.

4.3.6 Section 1.3.10 of the Transport Technical Note talks of residents using the services and facilities in New Ash Green, however a survey of Fawkham residents in 2019 shows residents are far more likely to use the services and facilities in Longfield, and access these via Valley Road. The majority of journeys will be westwards, along the narrowest parts of Manor Lane, to reach Valley Road, and from there to Longfield, Bluewater or Swanley.

4.3.7 Manor Lane leads onto Valley Road at a blind bend where Valley Road is less than 4m wide. The Transport Statement acknowledges that the visibility splays at Manor Lane’s junctions are substandard [2.1.3] and it is our view that this junction could not be improved.

4.3.9 In terms of wider road network, Valley Road represents a quicker route from the M20/A20/ M25/A2 than using an alternative route via the Ash Road and so it is our belief that most traffic movements to/from the site would use Valley Road. Valley Road is a narrow C- graded road in poor condition, liable to flood in a number of places, with several blind bends and subject to a 7.5T except for access restriction. KCC Highways has previously stated [DLPS7505] that “additional movements on Valley Rd and Fawkham Road … would not be desirable”. It has also previously been noted that “access to major routes [from Fawkham] is not easy, due to the narrow rural nature of local roads, despite the relative proximity of the motorway network” [SDC’s Conservation Area Appraisal for Baldwins Green, Fawkham].

5. OTHER ISSUES

5.1 In terms of footprint, should the current footprint used in calculations exclude buildings which are only entered to service equipment, for example, the plant room?

5.4 S106

FPC does not object to the lack of affordable housing on site, as the last Local Housing Needs survey in 2017 did not show a need for affordable housing. However, we feel that a s106 payment contribution equating to two (down from three) houses elsewhere too small. We note that the NPPF says that where “vacant buildings are redeveloped, any affordable housing contribution should be reduced” however, it is only the Manor House itself that is being redeveloped, with 8 apartments, and the remaining 18 are being newly built. We are disappointed that the planning framework does not account for a change of use from hospital to residential in this regard.

5.5 CIL

5.5.1 We note that the applicants are seeking a large reduction in their CIL liability to take account the existing floor area which has been in lawful use – does a change in use to residential affect this suggested reduction?

5.5.2 Clearly use as a hospital does not affect local community infrastructure in the same way as residential properties. The GP surgery is under particular pressure and has no capacity. The village school is a 0.5 form entry and heavily over-subscribed.

5.5.3 The proposed 26 units represents an increase in housing stock for Fawkham of 12%, which will have an impact on the local infrastructure which, we contend, should be liable for full CIL payment. As CIL Regulation 40 (as amended) is highly technical we rely on SDC to undertake the appropriate calculation.

5.5.4 We feel a development of this size should need to deliver improvements to infrastructure and, in addition to seeking to greatly reduce the CIL liability, no such improvements are being suggested by the applicants.

5.6 Ecology/Ancient Woodland/Biodiversity

Should planning permission be granted, we would like to see the suggested new woodland, woodland management plans, enhancements, and protected species protection measures made conditions. The Ancient Woodland should be protected in line with statute. We would also want to see Lighting specified under condition, and the biodiversity enhancement offered at 4.9.9 also made a condition.

5.7 Valley Road: planning condition

Should permission be granted, FPC would wish to see a condition that no delivery/ construction traffic is to access the site via Valley Road (which would represent a quicker route from the M20/A20/M25/A2 than using an alternative route).

SUMMARY

Fawkham Parish Council