Transport and Sustainable Travel

A new vehicle access is proposed off West Buckland Road with a dedicated right hand turn lane. There would be excellent access from the development to the M5 via Chelston roundabout. 

Pedestrian and cycle connections to local bus stops and services are included at the northeast and southwest corners of the site. Day-to-day services for homeowners within the development would be found within Westpark, Chelston Business Park and Jurston Fields, with bus, walking and cycle pedestrian routes from the site into Wellington town centre.

Landscape and Visual Impact

Although on the edge of the settlement, the site is already enclosed by the built-up areas of Westpark, Juston Fields and Chelston Nurseries. The site is not within the Council’s Green Wedge. A landscape buffer is proposed between the proposed housing and West Buckland Road to assimilate the development into what is a transitionary site from urban to rural. 

Flooding and Drainage

The site is in Flood Zone 1 which is defined by the Environment Agency as being at a low risk of flooding. Surface water flows from the development would be attenuated within a balancing pond and sustainable drainage features across the site to make sure that increased impermeable areas and rainfall through climate change are accounted for. 

Environment

Ecology surveys have been carried out to establish whether any protected species are using the site, the value of any habitat present and the means of securing biodiversity protection and enhancement within the development. A future planning application would ensure that hedgerows are retained and extended, extensive new tree planting is included and allow for a commitment to 10% betterment overall in terms of overall biodiversity value of the site in line with current legislation.