Residents love the views of a green field wanted for housing – but an expert says that doesn’t make it value landscape.
Landscape and visual planning specialist John Paul Friend said the Hurst field had few characteristics of a value landscape.
“Even if valued locally by people, that does not make [the field] a value landscape,” he said. People could get attached to any landscape. The site’s characteristics were not rare. They were generally commonplace, even in them local area.
He was giving evidence last Thursday for housebuilders Mactaggart and Mickel who are fighting at a planning appeal for permission to build 200 homes between Tape Lane and Lodge Road.
More than 400 residents have objected.
Villagers have told the appeal inquiry the field is much loved. Frances Davis said many relied on it for their ‘mental wellbeing.’
Residents say the scheme would join Whistley Green and Hurst. But Mr Friend said: “In my experience when you travel through the settlement it reads as one settlement. It has coalesced.”
Mr Friend said that tree and hedge planting and green spaces would mitigate [improve] views of the site after 15 years. He admitted that when the Lodge Road access road was created “looking at the entrance there will be a substantial change from day one.”
Hedging there would be removed and replaced by better hedging. He added: “There will be an awareness of that entrance for a short time. The hedgerows once established will come back…
“You would not see into the site. Urban elements of houses sitting in the area would be partly softened by vegetation curtilage.”
There would be street trees and trees in the open spaces, alongside existing vegetation. Footpaths would lead to surrounding areas. The trees would create visual filters.
Some of the 40 villagers at the inquiry last Thursday burst into laughter when Mr Friend said orchards would be planted “to encourage people to pick apples.”
On the first inquiry day the planning inspector David Wildsmith had words with the audience for applauding Hurst Parish Council’s barrister’s statement, saying: “I know there is a lot of pent up feeling but applause or shouting are not appropriate.” He didn’t comment on the laughter. A villager said afterwards on Thursday: “It was spontaneous, we couldn’t help laughing.”
Mr Friend was cross-examined on his evidence last Friday. The hearing continues.
