Clayton Road & Oaklands Close: redevelopment of the Equestrian Centre and the Dell

 

These days, it is difficult to write posts about sites with pending development due to the competing interests; there will be 'negative feedback' from some quarters, even where it is least expected. As a consequence, posts these days may remain unfinished or exist as draft- only versions on the storyboard. 

I took these photos in August during the 'Covid Years', before reports of developing this 50 acre site hit the headlines. It seemed unlikely that a development on such a scale could go ahead, without access from KT9 1DW, as it would be unrealistic to use the existing narrow access roads.

At the time, I had discussions with the Tree Officer, about the different levels created when the lorryloads of spoil/hoggin were brought to the site (planning application 13/10228/FUL & subsequent CEMP 14/10126 requiring the creation of habitat, including woodland). It would be interesting to know how much of the latter - 'here today, gone tomorrow mitigation'- will remain in the new scheme.

The oak trees on site are magnificient and a natural asset to the borough. But we know that the developers have said that this site is 'compromised', 'serving no green belt purpose due to its proximity to the A3', and as the focus of many anti-social behavioural issues, should be defined as grey belt. We can therefore predict how the Tree Reports may describe the Oaks as Cat C's, especially if their root plates were damaged during the execution of the 2014 planning application. 


 The site did appear then to be made 'development ready', with lots of tree surgery, damage to trees, & burnt trees in areas outside the Equestrian Centre . This was unfortunate as many of the tree have TPO orders on in this area of green belt. Now the developer, Poppymill, proposes 2,000 homes on the Greenbelt, to be known as Hook Park https://hook-park.co.uk/. This is said to create a multi- generational community, with family housing alongside affordable homes of various tenures. The public consultations were held in June.


 

Clayton Road Wood SINC
There is a slip of land along the A3 that has a brook and woodland. It is Clayton Road Wood SINC borough Grade 2 KiBII16. Clayton Road Wood is an area of ancient woodland situated in the west of the borough, adjacent to the A3 and Clayton Road. The site is private with no access the public permitted, it can be partially viewed from the roadside. The site is entirely comprised of ancient woodland habitat consisting of oak with and understory of hawthorn, hazel and holly.

Kelvin Grove Allotments (no. 4 on map)

The allotments are also a SINC: the northern half of these allotments have been allowed to go
wild. This has now developed into a rich mosaic of vegetationand is frequented by a variety of birds such as greenwoodpecker and goldfinch. It also favours invertebrates, particularly flying insects.It would be a challenge to the developers to show that the interests of both SINCs would not be compromised as a result of such a change in the urban gradient. 

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