A landscape worth fighting for.
Below are some of the general reasons we believe this is the wrong development in the wrong place. We are actively gathering further evidence on landscape and visual impact, heritage impact, loss of productive arable land, and loss of local wildlife habitats. We will update this page so please check back or contact us for updates.
Landscape and visual impact
The proposed 40 acres sits on a high, exposed ridge between Charlton and Holcombe, sloping north into the parish. The developer's promise of "additional landscape planting" amounts to a small amount of screening for one footpath in the low-lying east corner of the site. It does nothing to address the panoramic visibility from the rest of the parish.
Loss of productive arable land
The site has been organic arable land for many years. The site will jeopardise Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land. The developer's claim that "continued agricultural use in the form of sheep grazing" replaces lost arable production is not credible. Occasional sheep grazing under solar panels is not equivalent to long-term organic food production. The loss of food production from this land is effectively permanent for at least a generation.
Unacceptable negative impact on local heritage
The proposed development would harm the setting of several designated heritage assets. Ammerdown House and Ammerdown Column were laid out as part of an integrated designed landscape, and the Hackmead site sits within the visual envelope between them. Photographs from the Column also show the proposed site in the same frame as Downside Abbey, placing the development in the wider setting of three separate heritage assets.The visibility of a 40-acre industrial site from these heritage viewpoints is itself a material harm to their setting and significance.
Loss of local wildlife habitats
The developer's claim of "significant biodiversity gains" is unsupported. There is no proper allowance in the application for the protected species that already live here (we are developing a list).
HOW TO OBJECT
This development is in the pre-planning stage. If a planning application is submitted by Tyler Hill Consulting and Zenexa Renewables, we will be updating this page with details on how you can write an effective objection. A short, well-targeted objection is more powerful than a long emotional one. Anyone living in the parish, and indeed beyond it, is entitled to object.