Archived decisions

APPENDIX 1

Contact: Martin Leeds, ext 6733 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The County Council seeks planning consent for the construction of 80 bed Nursing Care Accommodation on a site within the existing Tatchbury Mount Hospital site, Loperwood, Calmore, near Totton. Netley Marsh Parish Council has raised objection and the local Member has requested that the application be presented to this Committee. The recommendation is to grant approval.

2. Site

2.1 Tatchbury Mount Hospital is an established health care complex within a rural area to the west of Calmore. The Hospital formerly provided mental health care but, with the change in health care services, the buildings on the site have latterly been used for National Health Service (NHS) office and administrative purposes. In addition, a limited number of direct health care services are also provided. The Hospital grounds are accessed from the public highway called Loperwood which follows the northern boundary of the overall campus (see attached location plan). There are approximately 12 private dwellings within 500 metres of the main vehicular access to the Hospital.

2.2 The site of the proposed new nursing accommodation is situated approximately 85 metres from one of the access points off Loperwood. The site is relatively level but has a slight slope towards the east and from this direction faces onto existing hospital buildings, the nearest being approximately 30 metres away. To the south-east lies the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Tatchbury Mount Hill Fort; to the south-west is farmland which slopes away from the general area of the proposed development and to the north-west are further trees/farmland. The site currently comprises a large area of car parking and two blocks of temporary buildings - an Administration building which is in use and a

derelict former dining room and kitchen. The temporary buildings would be demolished to make way for the new development and approximately 30 existing staff will move off-site to Southampton. Access to the site is from an existing service road which is also designated Footpath 23, Netley Marsh.

3. Background

3.1 To meet the challenge of delivering urgent new nursing care facilities in Hampshire, an initiative has been developed in partnership between Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority, which has received funding from the Department of Health. The initiative involves the creation of new nursing care homes linked to and located at Hampshire County Council Residential Care Homes or on Health Trust land. A total of 500 nursing care bed spaces will be created by December 2005. The viability of this programme relies upon more efficient use of County Council and Health Trust land. Construction is well underway on six sites making up the first two phases of the programme, and planning consent has been granted for a further three schemes, so that each Primary Care Trust (PCT) has at least one Home. The proposed development is the scheme proposed for the New Forest Primary Care Trust and Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust. The nearest alternative schemes are located at Eastleigh (under construction) and one to be constructed at Ringwood. The nursing care accommodation for the current proposal will be owned and administered by Hampshire Social Services.

4. Proposal

4.1 The proposed new buildings, which would be set in landscaped surroundings, would provide 80 bed spaces with associated facilities within five linked blocks to reflect the groups of bedrooms and administration facilities. The blocks would be two-storeys in height under a low-pitched roof and have facing brick walls with some timber cladding. The complex has been designed to give a homely rather than an institutional appearance. Such a theme is designed into the other sites currently being developed. The buildings would be located to present as many rooms as possible with a view towards the New Forest. The majority of bedrooms would either be orientated towards the east or west.

4.2 It is proposed to provide 25 car spaces, 4 of which would be for disabled persons' parking. The 25 spaces would cater for staff and visitors since the frailty of the residents of the new Home would make it unlikely that they would be able to drive a vehicle. In addition, it is intended to provide secure sheltered bike storage to encourage staff to cycle to work. Since this is a new development, a travel plan will need to be developed and a travel survey of all new staff would need to be conducted at an appropriate time to help and support the introduction of the unit's travel plan. The maximum number of staff employed at any one time is likely to be in the region of 25.

4.3 The site adjoins the Scheduled Ancient Monument, Tatchbury Mount Hill Fort and therefore a controlled archaeological dig will be undertaken prior to the development commencing, with a watching brief during the groundworks period of construction. The dig will be carried out to the requirements of English Heritage.

5. Development Plan

5.1 New Forest District Local Plan 1999 shows the site as being within the defined Tatchbury Mount Hospital site and also within the New Forest. The relevant Policy is TA-1 which will allow development within the developed part of Tatchbury Mount subject to not conflicting with other policies in Part D (New Forest) of the Local Plan.

5.2 An overall development plan for the Hospital campus, which included the nursing care use of the proposed site, was approved by New Forest District Council in 2003. The proposed development is therefore in principle in accordance with that Plan and the current adopted Local Plan.

6. Consultations

6.1 New Forest District Council - comments awaited.

6.2 Environmental Health Officer - comments awaited.

6.3 The local Member, Councillor Bright, has been informed but has requested the proposal is brought to the Regulatory Committee, due to local concerns by residents in the general area.

6.4 Netley Marsh Parish Council "strongly object to the planning application" for the following reasons:

"(i) It is felt that the provision of a national health nursing home on the site is detrimental and object to the development because of the current increase in activities on the site since the mid-1990s.

(ii) The infrastructure digresses from the original.

(iii) There already is an intolerable level of danger to our local roads and an application of this magnitude takes no account of the safety on the roads for residents and other users.

(iv) There does not appear to be any real transport plans for the site."

6.5 The Highway Adviser has no objection in principle, subject to conditions and provision of a Travel Plan. As a result of concerns by residents in the general area on the impact of the wider redevelopment proposals for the Tatchbury Mount site, of which the nursing care proposals are a minor part, there is a proposal to undertake a traffic study of the immediate area, with particular emphasis on the movement of heavy goods vehicles and possible Traffic Regulation Orders..

7. Representations

7.1 No representations have been received as a result of the Public Site Notice, or the Notice in the local newspaper.

8. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

8.1 The proposed nursing care accommodation is within the campus of the existing Tatchbury Mount Hospital, where such development is acceptable in terms of both the adopted New Forest District Local Plan and the recently approved development plan.

8.2 The objections of the Netley Marsh Parish Council are understood to relate to changes in the function of Tatchbury Mount as a mental hospital and also the increase in traffic using the local road network. Activity on the site has increased since the mid-1990s, as the services provided have changed to cater for the needs of modern health care facilities.

8.3 It is acknowledged that during the construction, there will be an increase in vehicle movements along certain roads in the area. The County Council's appointed contractor will be responsible for enforcing a Site Traffic Management Plan involving designated routes to reduce the impact of traffic on the neighbourhood. The designated site traffic route would avoid the use of Loperwood Lane and Paulets Lane.

8.4 Hampshire Social Services has prepared a generic Travel Plan for implementation by the local managers upon occupation of the completed scheme. The plan submitted with the current application sets down the criteria for identifying measures to encourage staff members to consider alternative modes of travel rather than individual travel by car.

8.5 In summary, the proposed development is in accordance with the adopted Local Plan (1999) and the recently approved development plan for the overall Hospital campus. The proposed use is compatible with the existing land use as a health service facility, therefore there should be no objection in principle to the provision of the development within the Hospital site. The objections from the Parish Council have been considered and it is therefore acknowledged that the proposed scheme provides the most suitable solution and it is recommended planning permission be granted.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of new nursing care accommodation with associated external works at Tatchbury Mount, off Loperwood, Calmore (Application No. 82653) be granted for the following reason and subject to the following conditions:

Reason for Approval

It is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with the development plan and would not materially harm the character of the area or the amenity of local residents and would be acceptable in terms of highway safety.

Conditions

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of five years from the date on which this planning permission was granted.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

(2) Within two months of the start of construction works, details of the proposed structure for the covered cycle spaces shall be submitted in writing to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The agreed details shall have been implemented and the cycle spaces made available for use before the new extensions are brought into use.

Reason: To secure a satisfactory development.

(3) Samples and/or details of the materials and finishes to be used for the external walls and roofs of the proposed buildings shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing before the development commences.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and to secure a satisfactory development.

(4) Before any works are commenced on-site, measures shall be taken to protect from damage those trees on the site which are to be retained. Such measures shall be maintained for the duration of the building contract works.

Reason: In the interest of preserving the natural features of the site.

(5) Within two months of construction works starting, details of the proposed planting shall be submitted in writing to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The agreed details shall be implemented within the first available planting season following completion of construction works.

Reason: To secure a satisfactory landscaped development.

(6) Before the development is occupied a Green Travel Plan shall be submitted in writing to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The agreed details shall be implemented within three months of occupation of the new development and evaluated in accordance with an approved programme.

Reason: To minimise trip generations associated with the development by the private car and encourage the use of alternative means of transport.

(7) Provision shall be made for the parking and turning on site of operatives' and construction vehicles during the contract period. Such provision shall be implemented before the development commences and retained for the duration of the construction.

Reason: In the interest on highway safety.

(8) Measures shall be taken to prevent mud and spoil from vehicles leaving the site during the demolition/construction works being deposited on the public highway. In the event that any mud or spoil is deposited on the highway, it shall be cleaned off on each day of working.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(9) Occupation of the buildings shall not commence until provision for the parking, turning, loading and unloading of vehicles has been made within the curtilage. The areas of land so provided shall not be used for any purpose other than the parking, turning, loading and unloading of vehicles.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(10) No work relating to the construction of the development approved, including works of preparation prior to operations, the delivery of construction materials, skips or machinery, nor the removal of waste materials, shall take place before 0800 hours or after 1800 hours Monday to Friday inclusive, before 0800 hours or after 1600 hours on Saturday and not at all on Sunday or recognised public holidays, unless otherwise agreed beforehand in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the amenities of occupiers of nearby properties.

(11) No development shall take place within the site until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written statement of investigation which has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: The site is of potential archaeological interest and to secure the need for a Watching Brief.

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