The Neighbourhood Plan defines a Local Gap between Sandleheath and Fordingbridge as shown on the Policies Map for the purpose of preventing the coalescence of the settlements.
No development will be permitted in this area which would result in the joining of the two settlements, or where it would erode their separate identities by virtue of their closer proximity.
Any development of the allocated site in SAN5, located within the defined gap will need to respect the gap in its design and layout and strengthen the gap through landscaping and visual impact, demonstrating regard to the New Forest District Council’s Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study (2016 or subsequent edition)
The SNP vision seeks to retain the individuality of Sandleheath as a distinct community.
Over time the distance between the settlements of Sandleheath and Ashford/Fordingbridge has diminished. The policy idea comes from the desire to maintain a degree of separation between these settlements to reinforce the character and identity of Sandleheath to prevent settlement coalescence between the two by maintaining a clear visual and physical break in the built environment. The New Forest District Landscape Character Assessment (2000) states that the strategic gap between Sandleheath and Ashford is important in retaining these as distinct settlements. It further states that any new development around existing settlements should be accompanied by significant tree and hedgerow planting to integrate buildings into the surrounding landscape pattern.
Policy SAN2 reinstates the New Forest District Local Plan First Alteration 2005 Local Gaps Policy DW-E33 which identified the land between Ashford and Sandleheath. It states:
Policy G3 of the Hampshire County Structure Plan Review enables the definition of Local Gaps in order to preserve the identity of settlements. The small areas of countryside between Fordingbridge and Ashford, and between Ashford and Sandleheath, are essential to the maintenance of the character, identity and setting of these settlements, and are therefore designated as Local Gaps.
The proposed Local Gap has been logically presented to balance the need for new housing, allowing for the inclusion of a single site allocation, SAN5(1) which falls partially within it, but ensuring any development of this area responds to the gap through its design and layout and uses landscape features to strengthens the remainder of the gap to prevent future erosion of the boundary between the two parishes, avoiding both spatial and visual coalescence and to reinforce the village settlement edges.
The main evidence base to support the Local Gap comes from the NFDC Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study (2016) and the NFDC Landscape Study (2000). It also responds to the strategic allocations in the NFDC Local Plan located within Fordingbridge where it abuts Sandleheath and the discrete setting of Sandleheath parish in the landscape.
At informal engagement respondents felt there was a logic in locating new development along the Main Road to minimise additional traffic through the village, as the majority of vehicle access is from the east. There was also a view that it would provide closer connections for walking and cycling into nearby schools, shops and services within Fordingbridge to make the village more sustainable. Others felt the gap was very important to prevent merging with Fordingbridge. To balance these competing objectives the gap has been drawn to maintain both spatial and visual separation, and reinforce the landscape buffer between Sandleheath and Ashford. The threat of coalescence from the north, around Sandle Manor School adjacent to the strategic site allocation at Fordingbridge which adjoins the Sandleheath Parish boundary was also felt to be equally important.
The policy should not prevent development that may otherwise be suited to a countryside location within the gap, but ensures that the scale, massing and height of proposals do not result in the integrity of the gap being undermined, maintaining the defining features of Sandleheath wooded farmland which include woodlands, hedgerows and hedgerow trees creating a strong sense of enclosure, with diverse habitats including streams, water meadows, commons and some ancient field systems.