May 2017
Catherine Maguire writes:
Don’t want to see this? #SaveHogsBack
Object to development on Blackwell Farm
Guildford Borough Council’s Local Plan contains proposals for an extension to the Surrey Research Park and 1800 homes (the University of Surrey would like the figure to be closer to 3000) on Green Belt Land at Blackwell Farm. Blackwell Farm contains high quality agricultural land and is part of the iconic Hogs Back Landscape. It is featured in the Campaign to Protect Rural England‘s recent ‘The Countryside Next Door’ video as part of its ‘Our Green Belt’ campaign to highlight the value of the Green Belt (see the video clip below). The proposed development would also involve a major new highway slicing past ancient woodland and disfiguring the Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) at the Hogs Back.
LGBC, CPRE Surrey and Guildford residents know that this development is not necessary and would set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the Green Belt. As LGBC Chair, Richard Knox-Johnston, stressed in our recent Press Release: “If development is allowed on Blackwell Farm, there really is little hope for the rest of our Green Belt.”
Don’t let the straw that breaks the Hogs Back break London’s Green Belt. Let Guildford BC know you object to these proposals by sending them the postcard below by July 24.
Save Hogs Back – Guildford Local Plan Objection Postcard
Alternatively, object online at Guildford BC Local Plan page, making the points below.
We object to Guildford Borough Council’s changes to the draft Local Plan and the inclusion of Blackwell Farm as a development site [Policy A26 & para. 4.1.9], which:
- disregards an independent expert landscape study, which demonstrates that part of the site merits Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status following Natural England’s forthcoming boundary review [para. 4.3.8]
- directs more office space to an extended business park [Policy E4], which will increase peak time congestion – particularly around the hospital and A&E – and will also encourage rat-running through residential areas
- ignores independent expert traffic studies, which show the impact of development at Blackwell Farm on the local network and question the viability of the development [2.14a]
- adds to air pollution in neighbouring areas, which already exceeds safe EU limits for Nitrogen Oxides.
NB: It is important to restrict your objection to these points as the consultation is only on changes to the plan and comments which do not refer to changes will not be accepted.
Our full press release is below:
Campaigners fear that the Guildford Borough Council Local Plan could spell the end for the London Green Belt
The London Green Belt Council [1] has linked with CPRE Surrey [2] in their campaign at Guildford to stop development of Blackwell Farm and save the Hogs Back
The London Green Belt Council (LGBC) is giving the campaign to Save Hogs Back its full support and has urged Guildford Borough Council to remove Blackwell Farm and other Green Belt sites ear-marked for development from its Local Plan [3].
The latest version of the Local Plan still contains plans to build 1800 houses at Blackwell Farm, and to extend the Surrey Research Park, despite vehement opposition during previous consultations in 2014 and 2016. The University of Surrey, which owns the land, made it clear in its response to the 2016 consultation that it would like to see 3000 homes built on the land [4].The proposed development would also involve a major new highway slicing past ancient woodland and disfiguring the Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) at the Hogs Back.
Blackwell Farm is featured in the Campaign to Protect Rural England‘s ‘The Countryside Next Door’ video as part of its ‘Our Green Belt’ campaign to highlight the value of the Green Belt [5]. An excerpt of the video, showing the impact development would have on the iconic landscape at risk can be viewed here.
Richard Knox-Johnston, Chair of LGBC said “If development is allowed on Blackwell Farm, there really is little hope for the rest of our Green Belt.
LGBC unequivocally supports the Save the Hogs Back Campaign. We object to all inappropriate development in the Green Belt but we see the development proposed for Blackwell Farm as not only devastating for the countryside of Guildford but for the Green Belt as a whole. To propose to build on such an iconic landscape, consisting of high-grade agricultural land, which so clearly fulfills the purposes of the Green Belt – to prevent urban sprawl and protect the countryside – sets an alarming precedent.”
LGBC, along with the Surrey Branch of CPRE and its Guildford District, also point out that the proposals fly in the face of new government proposals to require councils to explicitly search for ways to densify existing development before considering using the Green Belt [6].
Tim Harrold, Chair of CPRE Guildford District, is categorical in his objections to the proposals: “There is plenty of room available for promised student accommodation to be built on university campus land currently allocated for surface car parks. By delivering more student housing on its campuses, the University would free up more than 1,000 affordable homes in the town centre for key workers and their families, and this would avoid the need to provide these homes in the setting next to an AONB. The University should also increase the density of buildings and offices on its neighbouring Surrey Research Park, rather than seek to harm our best countryside”
Campaigners additionally draw attention to the University of Surrey’s failure to build on land already taken out of the Green Belt at Manor Park 15 years ago – only one third of the planned university residences has been built since then. They stress that there are therefore no grounds to justify Green Belt land being taken under exceptional circumstances with this obligation still outstanding.
Save Hogs Back Campaigner, Karen Stevens, added “Conservative election campaign material from 2015 shows local councillors posing by a Blackwell Farm sign and clearly states that plans at Blackwell Farm were ‘strongly opposed by local Conservative candidates’. We want our newly elected representatives to stand by their promises.”
Local Parish Councils are opposed to the Blackwell Farm development and have undertaken research into how practical the new development would be in terms of infrastructure impact, sustainability, and congestion. Other concerns include water supply, sewage, and flooding.
Richard Knox-Johnston emphasised that the LGBC Is keen to work with both local politicians and campaigners: “I have been in touch with Anne Milton MP and other local politicians to urge them to put an end to such a harmful proposal. The London Green Belt Council will also be working with CPRE Surrey and local campaigners to raise this development both locally and nationally as a threat to the Green Belt that has worked so well to both protect the countryside and regenerate urban areas.”
ENDS
NOTES
[1] The London Green Belt Council is a grouping of about 80 organisations with a concern for the Green Belt around London. These organisations campaign locally against development on Green Belt land and collectively they represent over 50,000 people. [2] The Surrey Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is a voice for everyone who wishes to save the Surrey countryside and open spaces. It works to defend the Green Belt and to ensure that development is kept within sustainable limits. It strives to protect country lanes and protect the unique character of Surrey’s villages and towns. Its AGM will take place on 21 June from 2pm-5pm at Painshill Park with Su Sayer, CPRE National Chair, as guest speaker. [3] The Guildford Local Plan is available to view on the Council’s website at www.guildford.gov.uk/newlocalplan and the consultation will run from June 9 until July 24. [4] University of Surrey GBC Consultation Response, July 2016 [5] The CPRE ‘Our Green Belt’ Campaign stresses the benefits of the Green Belt for our health and wellbeing as well as food production, flood prevention, climate change mitigation and much more. The full CPRE video can be viewed here . [6] The Government White Paper, Fixing our broken housing market proposes to amend national policy to make clear that authorities should amend Green Belt boundaries only when they can demonstrate that they have examined fully all other reasonable options, including:making effective use of suitable brownfield sites and the opportunities offered by estate regeneration;- making effective use of suitable brownfield sites and the opportunities offered by estate regeneration;
- the potential offered by land which is currently underused, including surplus public sector land where appropriate;
- optimising the proposed density of development.