Design and access statement - Ribble Valley1.0 introduction to this design and access statement 3 2.0 the site the subject of this outline application 6 3.0 historical notes 10 4.0

Barrow LandsCompany Limited

design and access statement

prepared by david Lock associatesJanuary 2013

proposed deveLopment of Land to the westof whaLLey road, Barrow, LanCashire

The Barrow Lands Company Ltd

Proposed residential and associated development on land west of Whalley Road, Barrow, Lancashire

Design & Access Statement

Prepared by David Lock Associates

Drawing in part upon work by

Levitt Bernstein

January 2013

Land to the west of Whalley Road, Barrow Design & Access Statement BARROW LANDS COMPANY LIMITED

David Lock Associates January 2012

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CONTENTS: Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THIS DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT 3 2.0 THE SITE THE SUBJECT OF THIS OUTLINE APPLICATION 6 3.0 HISTORICAL NOTES 10

4.0 LOCAL CONTEXT 15

5.0 DESIGN ISSUE - LAYOUT 21

6.0 DESIGN ISSUE - SCALE 23 7.0 DESIGN ISSUE - LANDSCAPE 25 8.0 DESIGN ISSUE - APPEARANCE 30 9.0 DESIGN ISSUE - ACCESS 33 10.0 CONCLUSION 35



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1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THIS DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT 1.1 This Design and Access Statement (‘DAS’) is part of a suite of documents that

accompany an outline planning application for the proposed construction of up to 190

dwellings and associated development (‘the application’) on 8.4 hectares of land to

the south-west of the industrial village of Barrow in Ribble Valley Borough,

Lancashire. All matters are reserved for further approval with the exception of access,

for which detailed approval is sought at this stage. Detailed access proposals

accompany the outline application. The applicant is the landowner, the Barrow Lands

Company Limited (‘BLCL’), and the agent is the town planning and urban design

consultancy David Lock Associates (‘DLA’).

1.2 This DAS has been prepared in full accordance with sections 62 and 327A of the

Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the requirements of Article 4C of the Town

and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 (as amended).

It follows advice from the Department for Communities and Local Government set out

in Circular 01/2006 and guidance from the Commission on Architecture and the Built

Environment (CABE) ‘Design and Access Statements: How to write, read and use

them’.

1.3 This application follows an earlier outline planning application (Application No.

3/2012/0630) submitted by BLCL in July 2012 for up to 504 dwellings and associated

development on 18.26 hectares of land at Barrow, comprising the current application

site and adjoining land owned by the applicant. Ribble Valley Borough Council (‘the

Council’) failed to determine the outline planning application within the statutory 13-

week period and this earlier application is now the subject of an appeal against non-

determination to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. This

appeal has recently been validated and an Inquiry is to be held later in the year.

1.4 The purpose of this new, second, smaller application is an attempt to probe the local

political criticism of the larger proposal by offering another way by which to help

address the severe shortage of deliverable housing land supply (and affordable

housing provision) which persists in the Borough. However, the planning case for the

larger proposal remains.

1.5 The Government's Planning Advisory Service (PAS) advises that for outline planning

applications such as this, Design and Access Statements are required regardless of

what detailed design matters may be reserved for future submissions (in this

application, all detailed design matters are reserved save access). As such, a DAS is



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intended to form a link between the outline planning permission and the subsequent

consideration of reserved matters.

1.6 Notwithstanding the Government's document ‘Streamlining information requirements

for planning applications: Consultation’ launched in December 2012, which declares

an intention to simplify the information requirements for Design and Access

Statements accompanying outline planning applications such as this, at present the

Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 (as

amended), including by Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (Development

Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010), requires applications for outline

permission to include the following information:

• Where layout is reserved (as in this case), the approximate location of buildings,

routes and open spaces included in the development

• Where scale is reserved (as in this case), the upper and lower limit for the height,

width and length of each building included in the development

• Where access is reserved, the area or areas where access points will be situated

must be shown (not applicable in this case).

1.7 PAS advises that a DAS accompanying an outline application must explain how the

applicant has considered the proposal and should show an understanding of what is

appropriate and feasible for the site in its context. It should clearly explain and justify

the design and access principles that will be used to develop future details of the

scheme at the reserved matters stage. PAS says that the DAS at outline stage

should explain and justify how the above parameters of layout, scale and access

have been arrived at. In doing this the following aspects need to be addressed:

layout; scale; landscaping; appearance; and access.

1.8 PAS commends the non-statutory publication by the Commission on Architecture and

the Built Environment (CABE – now absorbed by the Design Council) ‘Design and

Access Statements: How to write, read and use them’, London, 2006. That document

has helped guide the production of this Statement.

1.9 This Statement is adapted from the Design and Access Statement prepared by

consultant team members Levitt Bernstein Architects (LBA) and submitted as part of

the earlier application (Application No. 3/2012/0630) for the larger development of up

to 504 dwellings on the larger 18.26 hectare site, of which this current smaller

application area is part. Drawings and photographs, sometimes edited as appropriate,

are taken from that earlier document except where otherwise attributed.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/8353/2169897.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/8353/2169897.pdf



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1.10 Copies of the Design and Access Statement prepared by Levitt Bernstein Architects

for the earlier larger application can be viewed for background reading in the planning

application file (App. No. 3/2012/0630) at Ribble Valley Borough Council’s offices in

Clitheroe, on the Council’s website http://www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/planning or may be

obtained from the applicant's agent on request, at reasonable cost.

http://www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/planning



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2.0 THE SITE THE SUBJECT OF THIS OUTLINE APPLICATION

Local context

2.1 The site the subject of this outline planning application lies in the Ribble Valley. The

Ribble Valley is the largest district in Lancashire in terms of area, comprising 224

square miles of market towns, villages and surrounding countryside. Its population of

53,000 stretches from Longridge in the west over to Gisburn in the east and from

Mellor on its southern borders up to its northern borders in the Forest of Bowland

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

2.2 The Ribble Valley has good motorway links (M6 and M65) and a regular train service

to Manchester from Clitheroe, Whalley and other Ribble Valley stations. A regular bus

service operates from the new Clitheroe Interchange to all villages and places further

afield.

2.3 The village of Barrow is situated on what was, before the section was by-passed, the

main A59 road from Preston to Skipton in Yorkshire. Barrow lies between Clitheroe

and Whalley and owes its existence entirely to the former Calico Print Works, now

demolished. The reason for the establishment of the Print Works factory at Barrow

was due solely to the existence of Barrow Brook, a fairly fast-flowing stream, which

flows down from the lower slopes of Pendle Hill to join the River Ribble just to the

north east of the village of Mitton. Copious supplies of water were vital to the printing,

and especially the bleaching, industries and before the adoption of the steam engine,

a good fall of water was also essential to provide motive power. The site of the old

printing works is now Barrow Enterprise Park, formerly Ribble Valley Enterprise Park

and Barrow Brook Business Village, and is where the new Print Works building is

located. This is a modern office development occupied by a number of successful

companies.

2.4 The site is located on the western side of Whalley Road, Barrow, just 4km south of

the market town of Clitheroe and forming part of its cluster of settlements including

Whalley some 1.75 km to the south. See Figure 1 overleaf.

2.5 Barrow is connected to the two larger settlements by the former A59 which runs along

the eastern edge of the application site and the A671 which turns into Whalley Road

and then Clitheroe Road, as it approaches Whalley to the south. Clitheroe forms the

major destination to the north of the Ribble Valley with Preston as the next largest

centre to the south west beyond the M6. Further south, Manchester is the closest city



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centre to the Clitheroe cluster. Whalley Road lies on the bus route that links Barrow to

Clitheroe, Whalley, Billington, Langho and Blackburn.

Figure 1 – Application Site (in yellow) in its local context



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2.6 The application site and the area immediately surrounding the site are unconstrained

by any environmental constraints or other special designations, as shown on Figure 2

below.

Figure 2 – Environmental Constraints

f 2.7 The site measures some 8.4 hectares (20.75 acres). It surrounds the existing

allotments and is bounded by Whalley Road and existing housing to the east, the

footpath extension (Public footpath no.7) of Whiteacre Lane to the south, an

established hedgerow to the west, and existing housing to the north. Touching the

south west corner of the site is a locally designated ‘Biological Heritage Site’, which is

actually a surface water attenuation pond.

2.8 The applicant owns about 20.6 hectares of land in the vicinity of the application site.

The application site is shown outlined in red on the Site Plan included at Figure 3 overleaf. The areas of ‘blue’ land are allotments (0.79ha) to the north, the Biological

Heritage Site (1.3 ha) to the south-west (both in the applicant’s ownership) and other

land to the south. The allotments and Biological Heritage Site features are to be

retained with proposed enhancements as set out in the supporting documentation.



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Figure 3 – The application site

2.9 As indicated above, Barrow is an established industrial settlement experiencing

significant growth and change. Areas of new residential and industrial/commercial

development are either proposed or under construction in Barrow at the Barrow

Enterprise Park and outside the settlement, significantly enlarging the village and

filling the gap between the A59 and Whalley Road. The existing dwellings (circa 400+

homes) adjoin the Barrow Enterprise Park, which under the Draft Core Strategy will

continue its role as the Borough’s principal strategic location for employment

development.

2.10 The Barrow Enterprise Park includes the Barrow Brook Business Village, which

currently comprises the Print Works, a two-storey office development; a large £2.9

million warehouse occupied by Total Foodservice; a McDonald’s restaurant; a Co-

Operative petrol filling station and convenience store and very recent new residential

development by Rowland Homes. The total site at the Barrow Enterprise Park

measures about 20 hectares (50 acres) with detailed planning permission for B1

office development capable of accommodating up to 50,000 sq m (500,000 sq ft) in

total. A recent planning application for residential development (104 dwellings) on

committed B1/B2/B8 employment land to the south of the Print Works has recently

been allowed on appeal. The Inspector considered that the appeal development

would contribute to the supply of housing in an area where the Council are not able to

demonstrate a 5 year supply of land for housing. The Inspector felt that the loss of

the site from the Council’s employment land supply would not cause significant harm

as the Council had no policy objection to further employment land to the north.



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3.0 HISTORICAL NOTES 3.1 The name Barrow derives from the Old English meaning ‘a grove of trees’. The

village is situated on what was, before this section was by-passed, the main A59 road

from Preston to Skipton in Yorkshire. According to historical records, Barrow owes its

modern significance to the large Calico printing works, now demolished, at its

southern end. The site of the old printing works is now Barrow Enterprise Park and is

where the new Printworks building is situated.

1895

3.2 In 1895 the Whalley Abbey Printworks site was located along the Barrow Brook -

close to the mission church on Whalley Road. The site included an extensive range of

buildings, equipment, yards and three large water lodges or reservoirs.



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1914

3.3 In 1914 the settlement appears more established with cricket grounds, filter beds and

houses starting to develop at the junction of Whalley Road and the then named

Barrow Lane (now Whiteacre Lane).



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1967

3.4 In 1967 the plan now shows established development along Whiteacre Lane. The

Print Works site still retains its location and the allotment gardens have been

established on site. The Lamb Roe area in the south has developed into a

recognisable cluster of destinations (Spread Eagle Farm and Corn Mill site) along

Whalley Road.



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1975

. 3.5 In 1975 a well established plan shows a bigger reservoir than exists today. The

Whiteacre School is developed along Whiteacre Lane.



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1983-89

3.6 By now the edge of the Whalley Road part of Barrow is well developed - along the

narrow street and the public open green space overlooked by the two storey Trafford

Gardens housing block. The suburban cul-de-sac developments have by this time

also started to develop along the eastern edge of the Whalley Road section of the

village. Residential development in the form of single plot, two-storey houses has

taken over the Whiteacre Lane stretch in this period, with the Whiteacre School now

gone from this area. The Whalley Abbey Printworks site, which became an engraving

centre, has moved further south on Whalley Road and the reservoir has reduced in

size along the eastern edge.



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4.0 LOCAL CONTEXT 4.1 The diagrams in this section of the Statement explain the conditions affecting the

site’s local context.

Grain of the settlement

4.2 The grain of settlement - the village area is covered with a finer grain of houses along

Whalley Road. Some of the suburban development provides a coarser grain within

areas just off the Whalley Road. Very large buildings set within significant parcels of

land lie along the eastern periphery - closer to the A59.



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Growth within the settlement

4.3 As mentioned, Barrow is to see significant growth in coming years. Physically and

geographically, this means an expansion of the settlement eastwards and (with the

current proposal) westwards - reaching towards the Ribble Valley Line railway in the

west, a location where there has been discussion over several years about the

possibility of a new railway station when viable to support strategic growth at Barrow.

4.4 The site is previously developed in part including remains of a disused sewage

system, the former industrial filter beds which served the Calico printing works on the

opposite side of Whalley Road, a modern surface water drainage installation by

United Utilities and access to a light industrial yard. It lies in a natural ‘pocket’

between the Ribble Valley Line railway and the golf course to the north-west, the

footpath extension of Whiteacre Lane to the south, the Barrow Enterprise Park and

housing to the east and the former filter beds, stream and housing to the north.



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Transport and linkages

4.5 The area is presently mainly car-dominated with wide roadways forming major

movement routes. The Whalley Road changes character as it narrows down in the

main built-up part of the village, with bus stops provided along its length through the

village. The Barrow Enterprise Park, including housing on the Enterprise Park, is

accessed via the A59 but has footpath and cycleway connections to the Whalley

Road.



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Different character areas in Whalley Road

4.6 The central section of Whalley Road in Barrow (see Photograph above) has a special

character - in that it provides an attractive stretch of well presented terraced houses

with traditional stone facades - overlooking a narrow street. It now comprises a few

local restaurants and the Primary school building opens onto the street in the

northern section. Unfortunately the last few decades have seen the decline in local

services and facilities in Barrow, with the loss of two public houses, shops and the

post office since 1987. Further south, a few of the houses have a similar appearance

and character to those to the north, which contribute to the local vernacular, separate



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identity and sense of place in Barrow. These are reflective of the industrial history and

character of the settlement.

Local Social and Commercial Facilities in Barrow

4.7 This diagram shows the range of local facilities within the village of Barrow. Along

Whalley Road, within the central section of the village, there are a few remaining local

facilities and the Barrow Primary School is located within the northern section of the

street. Larger non-residential buildings and an industrial site are located on the

eastern and southern peripheries of the settlement, respectively. There are other

facilities at the Barrow Enterprise Park, accessed from the A59. Most of the other

major services and facilities are located in Clitheroe to the north and Whalley to the

south.



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Barrow Primary School

4.8 With the increase in local population and density, there will be the potential to provide

further local facilities within the village. It would be beneficial for these to be located

along Whalley Road - for physical and visual accessibility. There is a convenience

store at the roadside services in Barrow near to the A59, which serves local

convenience shopping needs, but there is an opportunity for further facilities in

Barrow to support new residential and commercial development taking place or

proposed in the settlement.



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5.0 DESIGN ISSUE - LAYOUT 5.1 This Statement supports an outline planning application, so the detailed design of

layout, landscaping and buildings will form reserved matters applications at a future

date. Nevertheless, the capacity of the site to accommodate the proposed

development (up to 190 dwellings) should be demonstrated, and the approximate

location of buildings, routes and open spaces included in the development should be

indicated.

5.2 The proposed development follows the historical pattern of growth that has taken

place on both sides of Whalley Road in Barrow. It will allow for controlled, phased

and planned growth in the short to medium term within the settlement to deliver the

housing and other associated facilities necessary to sustain the historical evolution of

the settlement. In other words, it is important to emphasise that the development

would take place over a number of years, enabling Barrow as a community and a

place to absorb both the additional built form and the new residents. In this way, the

proposal will contribute towards social cohesion. The proposal will deliver a small-

medium residential development and a mixed, balanced community that integrates

well with the existing community at Barrow. This will include a mix of housing and

self-build or affordable housing of different types, sizes and tenures. Overall, the

development will strengthen the community of Barrow through new housing and

supporting facilities that combined with the Enterprise Park will establish a more

sustainable settlement.

5.3 The appropriate urban form is considered to be a loose grid of perimeter blocks to

give maximum permeability and a variety of situations for detailed architectural design

and layout of buildings. This traditional and proven form of urbanism is exhibited in

part in the industrialised areas of Barrow.

5.4 The Illustrative Layout Plan illustrates the adaptation of the grid to the actual

landscape features and pre-existing footpaths on the site and to existing hedgerows

and trees which on this Plan all are shown as retained with suitable settings and Root

Protection Areas (RPAs).



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Illustrative Layout Plan

5.5 The approach taken provides proper village edge conditions to the open countryside

and groups public open space into wildlife corridors and ‘green’ links connecting main

established trees and the wider countryside. This approach is taken in response to

the comments made on the earlier, larger, application for up to 504 dwellings on this

site and about 10 hectares of land to the south.

5.6 Extensive parts of the indicative grid of streets are envisaged as being appropriately

rural in style - with no footpaths, tar spray and stone chip finish, and maintained as

private driveways.



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6.0 DESIGN ISSUE - SCALE

6.1 The existing ground contours on the application site show a consistent fall in a

westerly/south westerly direction from higher land adjacent to Whalley Road (77m

AOD) towards the end of the footpath extension of Whiteacre Lane near Barrow

Brook (66m AOD). The levels of the site adjacent to Whalley Road are similar to

those on the public highway and on the opposite side of the road. However, levels

start to fall towards the west towards the Ribble Valley Line railway and Barrow

Brook.

6.2 These topographical conditions and suitable layout (a reserved matter but indicative

details shown on the Illustrative Layout Plan submitted with the application site)

enables the impact of the proposed development upon existing adjacent development

and the countryside to the west and south to be minimised and avoid any undue

adverse visual or landscape impacts. This is addressed in more detail in the

Landscape and Visual Impact Report prepared by DLA and accompanying the

application.

6.3 All development is envisaged as being principally of two-storey but with single-storey

properties on Whalley Road and some three storey buildings within the site,

especially where the contours are favourable to this type of built form. A mixture of

detached, semi-detached and terraced dwellings is anticipated, in keeping with the

existing urban morphology of Barrow.

Key Built Form



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6.4 The massing/height and likely (maximum and minimum) dimensions of the proposed

buildings are shown in the table below.

Use Quantity Type Maximum Height/Storey Height

Maximum Width

Maximum Depth

Bungalows

Single 6-8m

7-15m 7-15m

Detached

Two-storey 8-10m

10-13m 8-10m

Semi-Detached

Two-storey 8-10m

8-10m 8-10m

Terraced

Two-storey 8-10m

8-10m 10-15m

Residential 190 homes

Detached/ Semi-detached/ Terraced on lower western part of site

Three-storey 12-15m

10-15m 10-15m

6.5 The built form plan is based upon the following design principles:

• The proposed illustrative built form responds to the overall structure, particularly

the key streets within the development and the edges of the site;

• A more continuous built frontage is proposed along the key internal streets to

provide emphasis to these spaces;

• A low rise/low impact built form is proposed to the Whalley Road frontage to

minimise the impact of development on the existing community;

• to the southern and western edges of the development - where the proposals are

adjacent to open land - a predominantly detached form is proposed to ensure a

compatible built form is created;

• To the north of the site, adjacent the existing self seeded woodland a lower

density detached form is proposed;

• The plan also shows how a more discrete area of the site can be developed by

utilising a short mews courtyard form.

6.6 This variety in built form will contribute towards a high quality varied overall proposal.

6.7 The proposal for up to 190 dwellings on 8.4 hectares has a gross density of 23

dwellings to the hectare, which is considered to be compatible with the locality.



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7.0 DESIGN ISSUE – LANDSCAPE 7.1 Landscape impact is the subject of a separate report in the suite of documents

accompanying the outline planning application. The key points are that in the wider

landscape the proposed development will be barely noticeable as it is a marginal

expansion of an industrialised village, set in a mature landscape of hedgerows and

trees which are to be preserved as far as possible at the detailed design stage.

Further, the approach to be taken to the new development is that at the local level it

should address the open countryside and not be fully screened or to be kept from

view.

Photograph of the site and its surroundings

7.2 Within the site, the marked slope towards the western portion of the site is celebrated

by deploying lower rise housing to the higher ground to the east to minimise visual

impact within the village with taller two and possibly three-storey buildings towards

the lower, western element of the site.

7.3 Existing trees and footpaths provide the framework for the green infrastructure of the

development, with green spaces linked for ecological reasons and also ease of

management, and to ensure adequate protection of tree root systems in accordance

with best arboricultural practice.

7.4 The layout is designed to allow detailed design work to maximise the advantages of

orientation for passive solar gain in dwellings and sunny gardens, to enable an aspect

from the maximum possible number of dwellings to enjoy views or glimpses of open

countryside from within the development.



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7.5 Ground conditions are the subject of a separate report in the suite of documents

accompanying the outline planning application, and no special considerations arise

that have a design implication.

7.6 The landscape framework (see plan below) is based upon the following design

principles:

Landscape Framework

7.7 Landscape Structure/Framework Principles

• Creation of a centrally located amenity space as a focus for the development;

located adjacent to the retained allotments, incorporating existing mature

trees and potential for provision of a play space for both the proposed and

existing adjacent community;

• Creation of a connected network of open spaces, primarily structured around

the retention of existing mature trees;

• This network of open spaces provides excellent integration with the wider

context: Woodland to the north; existing linear open space to the east; new

linear open space to the southern boundary; connection to the existing brook

crossing to the south west and a new defined edge to the western boundary;

• Those existing mature trees that are not within public spaces, will need to be

retained within private gardens or managed open space;



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• The existing hedge running east from the south east corner of the allotments

has the potential to be enhanced as a feature within one of the linear open

spaces, maximising connectivity with the existing village;

• Where 'backs' occur to the boundaries of the site, there is an opportunity for

new or enhanced hedge tree planting to establish quality boundaries to the

site;

• In addition to the retained mature trees, there are clear opportunities for

further tree and shrub planting within the public open spaces;

View into the site from along Whalley Road. A 1.5 - 2mhigh hedgerow runs along most of the eastern edge of the site.



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Residential development along Whalley Road

The allotment gardens - edge conditions and overlooking into this area should be improved as part of the new development framework for the site

.



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Whiteacre Lane inside the southern boundary of the site .



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8.0 DESIGN ISSUE - APPEARANCE

8.1 Historically, the village consisted almost entirely of two rows of stone-built terraced

houses, one on each side of the main road (Whalley Road) with the later addition of a

terrace of Council houses to the east of the road in the centre of the village and then

some modern houses and bungalows at its northern end. The suburban setting of the

village has developed at low to medium densities. There is a range of different house

types that together define the character of the village. The following diagrams and site

photographs demonstrate the location and mix of housing typologies. The principle is

that the historic core comprised terraces of housing with later, less dense more

detached development, moving away from the Whalley Road frontage.

The central section of Barrow - a well developed strip of terraced housing with distinct front gardens that overlook the narrower section of Whalley Road. This provides for a medium density development along this stretch.

Larger - individual homes on individual plots, semi detached houses or shorter rows of houses with generous front gardens and parking areas overlook the street and contribute to the sense of place of the area.



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The semi-detached houses and cluster housing along some of the internal network of routes has been the later tradition - providing homes along convoluted streets and cul-de-sacs. These are low to medium density developments.

8.2 The detailed design of the development will be the subject of future Reserved Matters

applications. It is envisaged that in pre-application discussions the architectural

features and palette of building materials that make Barrow distinctive would be

agreed with the local planning authority and deployed in a modern architecture by

qualified architects that would therefore - through being contextual and referential - be

in the canon of local building traditions (to use the language of the Prince of Wales).



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8.3 There is scope for considerable improvement on the quality of recent development in

Barrow.



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9.0 DESIGN ISSUE – ACCESS 9.1 Detailed highway access proposals are set out in the accompanying Transport

Assessment. Vehicular access will be taken directly from Whalley Road, which is the

former A59 before it was bypassed some years ago. Pedestrian and cycle access

points are also illustrated.

9.2 The proposals will follow the existing site gradients and shall be no worse than they

are for the current footpaths that cross the site. As this detailed application relates to

the access arrangements only, information regarding internal levels is not yet

available. However, the internal streets will be designed to comply with current

DMRB, MFS and Local Authority standards to ensure safe means of access for

disabled, service vehicles and refuse collections. The design of the internal roads will

be the subject of reserved matters applications at the appropriate stage but will

comply with the relevant local authority design guidance with respect to disabled

access, service vehicles and refuse collections.

9.3 The access proposals are considered to be practical, safe and convenient for existing

and proposed users, being based on a priority junction arrangement with footways

and the necessary visibility splays.

9.4 The site has good accessibility being well-served by public transport, cycleways and

public and other footpaths. A public footpath runs along the southern boundary (PF7)

and links to others in the locality.

9.5 The site and settlement of Barrow is well-located in the heart of Ribble Valley

Borough and close to Clitheroe and Whalley. Being adjacent to the Barrow

Enterprise Park there is scope to reduce travel by co-locating homes and jobs.

9.6 In terms of movement within the site, the following principles have been followed:

• Primary streets providing key connections, including footways as part of the street

• Low key access streets, mainly shared surface, which is suitable for the scale of

development and the character of the village

• Shared surface mews courtyards

• Rural, private drives on the countryside edges of the development

• Network of linked but segregated footpath and leisure routes

• Connections to the surrounding countryside

9.7 These principles are included on the Movement Network plan shown below:



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Assess

Movement Network



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10.0 CONCLUSION

10.1 The proposal for Barrow has been developed in response to the characteristics of the

site and its wider context. This will ensure that the proposal will deliver a scheme that

is not only of the highest design quality but is sensitive to its locality, integrates well

with its surrounding built and natural environment, preserves and enhances the site’s

existing assets and creates the best possible place for its new community.

10.2 As explained in this Statement, the proposal responds to the physical, historical,

topographical, social and economic factors affecting the site.

10.3 The physical characteristics of the site were considered from the outset to ensure that

any special features of the site’s natural context and environment were not only

preserved but formed key structuring elements of the scheme’s design. As a result,

the indicative or illustrative proposal (it is an outline application seeking to establish

the principle of the proposed residential development of the site and access thereto)

and supporting plans are considered to be the best design solution for the site and

this is demonstrated through a number of key features:

• Use of the site for much needed residential development, which also has the

potential to deliver coordinated and sustainable patterns of development.

Providing residential development at Barrow will enable this site to integrate

effectively with the wider economic/employment growth plans for the settlement

and contribute towards infrastructure improvements to be delivered as part of this

growth;

• The scale of development proposed allows some useful contributions to be made

towards infrastructure improvements in Barrow as well as improved transport and

open space/play facilities that are essential to support the site and the wider area;

• The landscape framework for the proposal provides a substantial green

infrastructure network that seeks to protect and enhance the landscape and

biodiversity value of the site;

• The proposed development seeks to respond to the existing topography of the

site, which will help assimilate the development into the landscape and its

surroundings, and have the benefit of protecting and enhancing the ecological

value of the site as well as creating a high level of environmental sustainability;

• The site is located adjacent to established residential areas and the proposal

seeks to protect the residential amenity and character of these areas by

restricting building heights and densities to reflect those of neighbouring

properties and by retaining hedgerows and trees (with extra planting);



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• The proposal does not affect any existing statutory landscape or other

designations and is free from environmental or physical constraints to

development.

10.4 The social context is reflected in the edge of village location of the site, adjacent to

two established residential areas of Barrow and alongside Whalley Road, has meant

that creating a development that will integrate well with the surrounding community

has been a fundamental consideration in the design process.

10.5 Being adjacent to the Borough’s principal strategic location for employment (Barrow

Enterprise Park) it is also important that the proposal contributes to and supports the

wider growth agenda for Barrow. The following key features demonstrate how this

has been considered and addressed in the proposal:

• The development offers the opportunity to link homes with jobs and deliver some

much needed affordable homes, including self-build and a possible offer of land

to a Registered Provider to deliver such homes immediately. This will encourage

social interaction and inclusion and help support the local economy;

• The proposal includes the retention of the allotments and proposes

enhancements along with new open space and play facilities on the site. These

facilities will be accessible and available to new and existing residents; they will

also help support the social integration of the new and existing communities;

• The development has good accessibility, which will be improved, and

connections to the rest of the village and the Barrow Enterprise Park will ensure

that the proposal is one that integrates physically and socially with the rest of the

village and the wider area.

• Providing a range of homes of various sizes and tenures, including affordable

housing, that responds to local housing needs, meets the needs of all, and will

foster a balanced, mixed community.

10.6 Whilst the proposal does not include any direct employment related development, it

will create jobs and the scheme will make a significant contribution to the wider

growth aspirations for Barrow and the Ribble Valley, supporting existing and planned

employment development at the Enterprise Park with homes for employees and

facilities for local residents.

10.7 The following demonstrates how the scheme supports the economic status of the

wider area:

• The proposal includes direct and efficient physical connections to neighbouring

areas and the Enterprise Park. This ensures that local employment opportunities



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are easily accessible and means that residents have opportunities of sourcing

local employment to reduce their need to travel out of the area;

• The proposal is a residential development that will provide a range of housing

types and therefore will be able to accommodate a range of families and

generations who will have the potential to fulfil a variety of employment

opportunities. Therefore, the development will support a diverse range of

employment opportunities that may be available in the local area;

• The development will provide construction and related jobs and will support local

services and facilities, thereby providing additional or maintaining existing jobs

and commercial enterprises.

10.8 In light of the above, the proposal for residential development at Barrow is considered

to be the best design response for the site and in accordance with national, regional

and local policy objectives and other best practice guidance. Hence it is concluded

that in design, access and other terms the proposal should be considered favourably

and planning permission granted.

daVId LoCK assoCIaTEs LIMITEd50 north thirteenth street, CentraL miLton Keynes, mK9 3BpteL: 01908 666276 faX: 01908 605747 emaiL: [email protected]

Documents

Design and access statement - Ribble Valley1.0 introduction to this design and access statement 3 2.0 the site the subject of this outline application 6 3.0 historical notes 10 4.0