MORETONHAMPSTEAD

OUR DEVELOPMENT

OUR MORETONHAMPSTEAD DEVELOPMENT

Welcome to our community website where you can learn more about our proposals for new homes on Land at Thompson’s Yard, Moretonhampstead. The site is allocated for residential redevelopment in the adopted Dartmoor National Park Authority Local Plan and similarly identified for homes in the new draft Local Plan. Our proposals only concern the area of land highlighted, in which we have acquired an interest. B. Thompson and Sons (Transport) Ltd continues to own the whole site and we understand that the remaining land will continue in its present use. Following a comprehensive programme of community consultation, we submitted a full planning application to the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) in April 2019.

PROPOSALS

PROPOSALS

We are proposing a high-quality development of 35 new homes on this brownfield site, including the conversion of the former goods shed. Vehicular access would be off Station Road which would be separate from the access into the retained part of the depot to the east. The proposed mix of housing is summarised below:

• 2 x two-bedroom flats;
• 4 x two-bedroom houses;
• 14 x three-bedroom houses;
• 12 x three-bedroom bungalows; and
• 3 x four-bedroom houses.

Parking will be provided in accordance with the DNPA’s standards. To ensure sufficient parking on the development, we will always provide over-sized garages and comfortable levels of on street parking for residents and visitors. An area of public open space fronting on to Station Road will be retained; this will include both the existing mature oak tree and pedestrian route to the former train station. The development will also facilitate a footpath connection to the Wray Valley Trail which runs a short distance from the southern boundary of the site. A Local Landscaped Area for Play, which will include natural play elements, will be provided in close proximity to that footpath.

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DESIGN

DESIGN

To recognise the site’s heritage as a railway station and industrial space a number of features will be incorporated into the design, alongside materials that are predominately found locally, to link to the site’s past. We have developed a layout that creates well defined streets and raised pathways. A gateway to the western point of the site will lead to a courtyard formed of key landmark buildings to create a natural focal point within the site. We will retain and convert the former goods shed into new homes and reinstate the former gate posts at the entrance to the site.

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ACCESS

ACCESS

We recognise the importance of road safety at this site. Our plans seek to reduce traffic speed and ensure safe access to the development.

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We propose to:

  • Introduce a new footpath on the southern side of Station Road to improve pedestrian access and ensure safe passage to Moretonhampstead (subject to on-going discussions with Devon County Highways). This will narrow Station Road where it passes the site and we believe that this will help to reduce the speed of vehicles entering the town along Station Road;

  • create a new access point further to the east on Station Road, specifically to allow HGVs to enter and exit the retained goods yard without meeting residential vehicles accessing the development;

  • narrow the existing entrance in order to provide access only to vehicles entering and leaving the development. We will also pedestrianise part of the former access to allow easy access through the site and onwards to the Way Valley Trail; and

  • we will also create a cycleway formed of railway sleepers at the southern edge of the development to ensure a fitting entrance point to the Wray Valley Trail.

BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY

BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY

Our proposals conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Park by using suitable brownfield land within one of its main settlements for homes, thus reducing the need to build on greenfield land. That is a key benefit. However, there are many others. We are:

  • cleaning up and regenerating a former industrial site within the town for which no alternative employment use has been found;

  • permanently reducing the number of HGV movements through the town by changing the use on part of the site;

  • reducing vehicle speeds on Station Road and enhancing road safety, by providing a public footpath into the town, thus narrowing the carriageway;

  • preserving key heritage aspects on site, by reusing materials and architectural features;

  • facilitating a footpath connection to the Wray Valley Trail and providing an information board on site to promote opportunities for the enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park by the public;

  • providing a mix of housing for local families, including much in demand three-bed bungalows (lifetime homes) to replace the larger traditional houses originally proposed;

  • creating up to 50 jobs for local contractors during construction;

  • investing c. £7.5 million in the DNPA;

  • generating up to £1 million of additional household spending, to the benefit of local businesses and clubs;

  • significantly enhancing the entrance to Moretonhampstead by the provision of high-quality, well-designed new homes.