100-075-596 (Image Credit: Arup Associates)
The proposal included external streetscapes for filming, employment uses, education provision, residential development, landscaping and reprofiling of a former landfill area, retail and community facilities and an energy centre. The secretary of state agreed with his inspector that the loss of openness would not only be visually apparent but would all but destroy the concept of the site as part of open green belt land. The proposal would amount to urban sprawl and would compromise the purpose of preventing encroachment into the countryside. He agreed that the proposal would alter the landscape character and appearance of the area to its detriment. It would also run counter to the settlement hierarchy of the core strategy and to the South East Plan’s approach of directing development to built-up areas.
The secretary of state further agreed with the inspector that the site was in an inherently unsustainable location. He considered that while the concept of a living/working community was an attractive one, neither the facilities on site or nearby, nor the transport measures proposed, would significantly reduce the need to travel or meet key sustainability principles.
The secretary of state fully recognised the value of the creative and screen-based industries to the UK, and the importance of Pinewood studios within that industry, but decided that in the absence of evidence of demand it would be imprudent to conclude positively on the cultural or economic benefits of the streetscapes. In the absence of a proven need for the employment floorspace he also agreed that little weight could be accorded to the employment benefit claims.
In respect of the housing element of the scheme the secretary of state concluded that it would depart from the strategy for south Buckinghamshire to such a degree that future options for meeting needs in the sustainable manner expected would be severely compromised.
He concluded overall that the benefits of the scheme did not clearly outweigh green belt harm.
nspector Ava Wood; Inquiry
