Quality of Life Site Capital Analysis.

Site # 6 : Character Areas 6b. Severn Vale 12a Floodplain Farmland

Criteria Score Constraints And Opportunities

FoDDC Core Strategy

Planning

Garden Communities Principles

Environment

The site fits well within the core strategy and has potential to be sustainable in its design and location with regard to transport links and potential to be energy positive. However, it is constrained by Zone 3 flood Areas

Potential to offer well designed car free well connected infrastructure to encourage active travel yet distinct enough to give a sense of place. It’s sustainability is dependent of global warming and consequential sea level rises levelling off by 2050.

Social

Mitigates biodiversity loss and loss of habitat.

Opportunities to provide green infrastructure.

Economic

The area is adjacent to 2 SSSI’s Walmore common and Garden Cliff and EIA would need to assess potential for such a large settlement adjacent to the sites.

There is opportunity and potential for including green infrastructure within the site. The surrounding of the site are prone to flooding and much of the GI would be mitigation of flooding

Blue infrastructure. The settlements of Rodley and Stantway occupy the high ground of the area towards the Severn and to the east of the A48, the remaining land floods routinely and this is predicted to increase.

Opportunities for sustainability energy.

Benefits and protects existing designations.

Proximity to existing services and community infrastructure.

The aspect of the site is largely flat with low hills this is ideal for solar gain. There is little tree cover and opportunity for biofuel production.

The SSSI and Ramsar of Walmore Common and Garden Cliff are adjacent is adjacent and EIA would be needed to assess the impact of a large settlement.

The area is within close distance of Gloucester and its amenities and services. Minsterworth is close by with community centre primary school doctors surgery and Westbury on Severn has a pub.

Opportunities to place make. The area has a distinctive landscape character of meadows and pasture . It is close to Gloucester but is separated by the river Severn. The peninsular has the character of an island and is quite distinct.

Protects and enhances local heritage assets.

Access to open spaces and recreation areas.

Supports economic growth potential for employment.

Connectivity to other settlements local and regional.

Local food production and higher productivity through diversity.

Supports sustainable transport.

There are ancient hedgerows and grade II listed buildings at Rodley Stantway and numerous dispersed farms in the area. It would be challenging to develop a large settlement and not compromise the heritage assets.

There are few woods in the area and the landscape while having irregular and sometimes small fields is largely open and lends itself to creation of open recreation spaces.

With close proximity to Gloucester and good road access there is good opportunity for local business and light industry within the settlement and in keeping with Garden community priorities

The A48 runs through the site and links Gloucester and down the Severn to Lydney. The main Newport to Gloucester railway runs across the north of the site. Westbury on Severn Northwood Green and Minsterworth are close by.

There is potential for diversifying and localising food production in the local area. The undulating farmland is productive and throughout the area there are orchards and a variety of crops and livestock reared.

The proximity to Gloucester makes it an ideal distance for commuting by bicycle and extending cycle infrastructure. The Geopark trail and the Gloucestershire way follow the course of the Severn could be a cycle path towards Gloucester.