A pre-application enquiry for potential residential development of 100 homes and a flexible community use space was submitted to the council by Hollybrook Homes last year.
We offer a paid-for service to developers providing them with an informal opinion prior to submitting a planning application. Hollybrook took up this service.
A series of meetings with key consultees such as Ecology, Heritage and Transport took place as part of that process. The applicant originally looked at two options for residential development at the Benfield Valley site, on land accessed from Hangleton Lane.
We encourage developers to consult early with local residents on their proposals. The applicant carried out a public consultation exercise at Hangleton Manor in November 2023 to seek the views of local people on the proposals. They also carried out a leaflet drop to ward councillors, local groups and residents and met separately with ward councillors and key stakeholders.
In February 2024 the applicant submitted a request for a Screening Opinion under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations. This sought to establish whether the proposal could, in principle, result in significant environmental impacts and constitute ‘EIA’ development.
This request and our response, which concluded that the proposal would not constitute EIA development, are published on our Environmental Impact Assessments pages.
The advice given by the council and other stakeholders at pre-application stage have shaped the proposals in the new application.
Summer 2024 - A formal planning application for the proposal has now been submitted to the council for consideration.