Vehicular Access is proposed via a ghost island right turn junction on the A414 Maldon Road to the north of the Site. This will also include a reconfigured access to Cherry Garden Lane. A new footway is also proposed on the southern side of the carriageway to connect with the existing footway along Maldon Road.
The junction between Cherry Garden Lane and the proposed Site access will incorporate features which are anticipated to provide sufficient deterrence to discourage drivers from using the route to access the A414.
The applicant will also seek to agree off-site works to improve pedestrian links, including the potential to provide a pedestrian refuge point, when crossing the A414.
Future residents will be able to walk or cycle to local facilities within the centre of Danbury, including local schools, shops, sports centres, pubs and public transport links.
A regular bus route provides a service from the site directly to Chelmsford town centre for shopping and additional employment opportunities, as well as providing access to mainline rail services.
A Transport Assessment is being prepared, with initial analysis indicating that there will be no impact on highway or junction capacity in the local road network as a result of the proposed development.
The site does not fall within, or adjoin, any National or local landscape designations, and consequently, is not afforded elevated protection under national or local planning policy in landscape terms. There are no heritage assets within, or adjoining the Site, and the Site is not situated within, or adjoining a Conservation Area.
The development of the Site would afford opportunities for new areas of public open space, enhancing public access through a landscaped green buffer on the eastern edge of the built development and retaining the Public Right of Way. The landscape buffer is designed to provide an element of screening of the development, create habitat for wildlife and include functional drainage solutions. Existing trees and hedgerows would be protected, retained and enhanced as part of the scheme. New planting would include native species of local importance complementing the variety of species found around Danbury.
The Site is within Flood Zone 1 and is at low risk of flooding. It is proposed that flood attenuation basins will be incorporated into the design to ensure surface water drainage will be discharged at a greenfield runoff rate. The sustainable drainage features also provide the opportunity to improve biodiversity, water quality and amenity within the Site.
Foul water from the development will require pumping into the public sewer network. The developer is working with Essex and Suffolk Water to ensure the existing infrastructure has capacity to serve the Site.
Ecology has been at the forefront of the considerations and as such, from the outset, the design has retained the hedgerow and tree lines on the northern, eastern and western site boundary. It is also proposed to introduce a new eastern landscape buffer.
As part of the background work, detailed botanical assessments, as well as bird and bat surveys have been undertaken to assess the ecological baseline of the Site. As part of the development, new habitat creation will result in a net gain in biodiversity which will exceed 10%.
The number and quality of the existing trees at the site area has been assessed by a qualified Arboriculturist (to British Standard 5837: 2012). This survey will guide the development proposals by demonstrating those trees and hedgerows of significance, and how best to protect trees during construction works through standard mitigation measures.
The Site has a good number of oak and ash trees. These species are found within several groups of trees which also incorporate hawthorn and elm.
The Site does not sit within a Conservation Area, nor does it contain any designated built heritage assets. Whilst there are four Grade II listed buildings within 500m of the Site, the Heritage Assessment that has been undertaken to support the proposals, demonstrates that none of these would be impacted negatively.
The Site is not located within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). Air quality monitoring in the wider area shows that air pollutant concentrations are below the current relevant air quality objectives for England, suggesting reasonable air quality within the area. There are no main pollution sources in the vicinity of the site; however, modelling will be undertaken to assess the potential impact of traffic associated with the proposed development at receptors which are considered to be sensitive to air quality.
The existing noise climate is likely to be dominated by road traffic on the A414. A noise survey shall be undertaken to inform a Noise Assessment which will demonstrate that noise standards are met across the Site. It is not expected that there will be a requirement for noise mitigation measures, such as the inclusion of acoustic fencing.
The Site has been utilised for agricultural land uses with no history of contaminative land uses being present on site. No source of contamination has been identified on or near to the Site that would be a constraint to development.