Will biodiversity net gain (BNG) be delivered as part of the project?

Habitats assessments have been undertaken and this application will not lead to any net loss in habitat and hedgerow units on-site. In order to achieve the minimum 10% BNG, the proposals seek to enhance the existing habitats on site. Where this is not possible from delivering on-site habitat enhancements and creation, off-site offsets will be used, whereby the developer pays for creation of such habitats and these are then maintained for a minimum of 30 years.

What ecology surveys have been undertaken?

A suite of protected species and habitat surveys have been undertaken at the Site and additional surveys are underway which will form part of the supporting information informing the planning application submission in due course. Some minimal bat activity has been recorded along the northern edge of the site where trees will be retained by the proposed development. No other protected species have been noted on site.

Will these homes be net-zero?

Homes will be designed in accordance with the 2025 Future Homes Standard as currently set out, in accordance with future iterations of the Building Regulations to deliver homes which are Net Zero Ready.

Are you installing air source heat pumps into the homes?

In line with the 2025 Future Homes Standard homes will not include the use of fossil fuel-based heating systems. Bellway is in the process of testing new technologies, including Air Source Heat Pumps to test the most appropriate method for reducing energy demand and carbon emissions from homes.

How will people access the site?

The primary point of vehicular access to the site will be from Orton Lane via a 5.5-metre wide carriageway. 2-metre wide footways will extend through the site along both sides of the access road.

The site frontage includes a row of trees and therefore the existing footway on the western edge of Orton Lane, to the south of the site, will be extended along the site frontage along the western edge of the existing trees to prevent damage to the tree roots. A dropped kerb crossing with tactile paving will be included on the site access, and the footway will extend to the north-eastern corner of the site.

A new dropped kerb crossing with tactile paving is to be provided on Orton Lane at the northern edge of the site boundary providing access to the existing footway on the eastern edge of Orton Lane.

What is the level of on and off-road parking provided?

In line with the local authority’s car parking requirement for a housing development of this size, allocated spaces would be provided, with 2 or 3 spaces per dwelling dependent on the size of the property.

Will Electric Vehicle Charging Points be available for every home?

Yes, Bellway Homes are committed to providing electric charging points for every new home they build.

Will there be cycle storage?

In line with the required parking standards – each dwelling should have provision of a secure cycle space.

The local council’s policy states that homeowners should use garages to provide secure, weatherproof and accessible cycle parking. Where this is not possible as the house doesn’t have a garage, cycle parking should be located in accessible rear gardens within a secure shed.

Will the surrounding roads be upgraded to cater for these new homes?

The level of proposed development does not require significant off-site works to be undertaken. Therefore, crossings are to be provided in close proximity of the site, along with a new footway to tie into existing facilities.

What flood protection / drainage are you proposing to mitigate against flood risk?

The site is located in flood zone 1 (lowest risk of flooding). External levels on site will be designed to channel any flood water away from buildings and away from site boundaries where there may otherwise be a risk of flooding to neighbouring properties.

Permeable paving and green Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) features such as swales and attenuation basins shall be utilised for storage which will reduce surface water volumes by evapotranspiration.

The surface water drainage networks shall be designed with contingency to accommodate an extreme storm event.

Will there be a specific design code for these new homes?

The new homes will be designed to complement the existing vernacular of Wombourne. This will include palette of elevational treatments based upon that traditional style of houses that are found locally.

Are you planting any additional trees?

Yes, new tree planting is proposed along the streets and around the infiltration basin. Areas of enhanced boundary planting are also proposed.

Will there be communal green spaces for families?

Given the small scale of this site, provision of Public Open Space will be accommodated for through contributions to existing facilities, the closest of which is located less than a kilometre from the site (Bratch Park). This approach is compliant with the emerging South Staffordshire Local Plan.

Will there be new footpaths and cycle routes?

Footpaths are provided alongside the primary and secondary streets. Additional dedicated pedestrian/cycle are also proposed, providing improved links to Orton Lane.

How many affordable homes will be provided?

10 affordable homes will be provided on site (31% of the total number of new homes) which accords with the Council’s emerging policy. The tenure of these homes has been guided through Pre-Application discussions with South Staffordshire Council Planning Officers and will include 5 dwellings for social rent, 3 dwellings as first homes and 2 dwelling as shared ownership units.

What provision will there be for older residents?

To meet the needs of older residents or residents with mobility issues, around 10% of the homes proposed for the site are bungalows.

What work has been carried out to understand the heritage on site?

To date, a desk-based assessment has been undertaken, reviewing all available sources to establish the archaeological potential of the Site.

This includes consulting and analysing the following:

• National Heritage List for England (which holds information on statutorily designated sites i.e scheduled monuments);

• Staffordshire Historic Environment Record (which holds information on known archaeological sites and monuments as well as archaeological investigations undertaken in the vicinity of the Site);

• Historic maps;

• Aerial photographs; and

• LiDAR data.

A review of this information established that there are no known archaeological features within the Site. Nor is there any evidence for known features in proximity to the site which would suggest that there are archaeological features of significance within the Site.

Why are you proposing development for green belt land?

In 2018, South Staffordshire Council safeguarded this land for housing in the Site Allocation Document (SAD) within the South Staffordshire Local Plan – a legal planning framework that contains sites for new developments.

From our discussions with officers, we understand that this site is included in the emerging Local Plan which the local authority has been updating. However, it is currently on hold pending further information and clarity on the updates to national planning policy e.g. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Does the proposed development include local services e.g. schools?

As part of the Section 106 agreement, Bellway Homes will provide developer contributions to the local council. These contributions are calculated by the local authority who working with local bodies and providers determine how this funding is allocated to benefit the local community.

Will more housing in the area put pressure on the local services?

From our research using a publicly available local authority resource, no school in Wombourne was listed as oversubscribed this year (September 2023). On local GP and medical services, using the latest public data from the NHS, all but 2 of the 32 GP surgeries within a 4-mile radius of the site are accepting new patients (Warstones Surgery 1.9 miles away and West Park Surgery 3.5 miles away). This includes the two surgeries in Wombourne itself (Gravel Hill Surgery and Dale Medical Practice) who are both accepting new patients.