Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Shenley Park SPD

7. The preferred approach

Introduction

7.1 The aim of this section is to present the response of the plan-maker to the assessment of reasonable alternatives presented above.

Reasons for supporting Scenario 1

7.2 The Shenley Park team at Buckinghamshire Council responded to the assessment as follows (N.B. this does not comprise an assessment):

"Option 1 is supported on balance, in light of the assessment. It performs well in a number of respects, although it is recognised that the assessment serves to highlight certain arguments for an alternative approach.

Option 1 best balances the objectives while supporting a policy compliant scheme. It seeks to ensure sufficient land is within the developable area of the site to deliver at least 1,150 homes and the other policy requirements of the site. It supports a landscape led approach with a clear western edge defensible boundary, recognises and responds to the 'on the ground' constraints of the site, including the more sensitive and topographically complex southern half, the archaeological remains, the trees / hedges and the existing communities.

Development on the southern part of the site allows the site to deliver on its policy objectives including the provision of a link road. Furthermore, the CHIA indicates that development is possible on the parcel containing the Roman settlement. The evidence shows that a larger buffer between Whaddon and Shenley Park is not necessary to provide appropriate separation, furthermore a larger buffer here would make the new facilities at Shenley Park less accessible to the residents of Whaddon and would put pressure on the more sensitive southern part of the site to accommodate more development."

Figure 7.1: An example detailed work undertaken for one specific issue