Weymouth Bay Holiday Park

Welome

What have we considered?

There are views towards the existing park and the proposed development areas from the AONB and the Coast Path. Extensive work has been undertaken to identify sensitive viewpoints from these areas and beyond.
The proposed development has been landscape-led, with a focus on providing additional substantial planting and a variety of landscape features to mitigate visual impacts of the proposal and to provide a high-quality environment for park guests and neighbours.
The strategy is to integrate development as far as possible into existing landscaping features. Where this is not possible, new swathes of native woodland and planting will be introduced. This approach extends the existing landscape context, whereby parts of Weymouth Bay Holiday Park and Preston are absorbed by existing tree cover when viewed from higher ground.

Internal tree planting will be incorporated into new areas of static caravans to provide a screening and softening effect.
All new caravans installed will use a colour palette appropriate to the landscape, with muted colours and dark roofs, rather than whites and creams.
The extent of the proposed development retains the existing “building line” to the east and west and does not extend further.
A detailed Landscape and Visual Impact assessment will be prepared to accompany the full planning application.

Illustrative Landscape Masterplan

Click on the above image to view a larger version

Extensive survey work over nearly two years has been undertaken to establish the baseline context for both habitats and protected species.
The proposed development closely aligns the landscape-led strategy with an ecologically beneficial scheme.
Important ecological features, such as existing reed beds and native scrub, are to be retained within the current scheme.
A broad north-south/east-west ecological habitat ‘green’ corridor is retained and enhanced within the development area. Reed beds will be managed and extended for ecological benefit.
Existing footpath corridors are to be enhanced through reinforcement of existing hedgerows and planting of wildflower grassland and scrub and additional footpath corridor connectivity added through Haven owned land
Artificial bat roost boxes and bird nesting boxes are proposed to enhance roosting opportunities within the site. There will be an agreed diversity in the scale and type of roost and nesting boxes to accommodate a range of bat and bird species.

Throughout the application process and development of the site, monitoring will be undertaken to ensure that the mitigation measures proposed as part of the scheme are effective.
A minimum uplift of 10% biodiversity gain will be achieved and extensive management plan will be in place to protect strategic habitat creation for a period of at least 30 years.
An Ecological Impact Assessment and Biodiversity Net Gain Metric will accompany the application.

The proposed development will not have any direct impacts on the two Scheduled Monuments: Preston Roman Villa and Jordan Hill Roman Temple, the Grade II* listed St Andrews Church or the Sutton Poyntz Conservation Area located adjacent to the development area.

Sensitive landscaping measures include:

i) The removal of two caravans from the immediate area around the church and introduction of new planting to improve screening between the church grounds and the park.

ii) The extensive landscape mitigation proposed will minimise visual impacts upon views from Jordan Hill Roman Temple.

iii) No new development proposed in the immediate area around Preston Roman Villa. Habitats adjacent to the River Jordan will be enhanced and managed.

iv) The meadow grassland in the field immediately south of St Andrew’s Church will incorporate spring and summer meadow, with linked mown pathways, a nature trail and butterfly and bug hotel.
The application will be accompanied by a Heritage Statement. A geophysical survey will be undertaken at the appropriate time to understand better the archaeological legacy of the site and avoid harmful impacts as a consequence of development.

All new caravans will be in Flood Zone 1, except for two units, which will be on the fringe of the flood plain of the River Jordan.
A small flood compensation area will be created adjacent to the two units to ensure there will be no impacts upon our neighbours.
Predicted flood risk due to climate change has been tested to ensure the long-term resilience of the development.
An attenuation basin will temporarily retain excess surface water during extreme storm events before being released in a controlled manner.
The attenuation basin will also promote biodiversity.
A flood risk assessment and detailed drainage strategy will accompany the planning application.

Haven is committed to actively supporting increased public transport use as part of this development masterplan.
No changes will be made to the existing vehicular access at Weymouth Bay. All new caravans will be accessed from the existing Weymouth Bay Holiday Park access.
Additional vehicle movements in and out of the site will not have a significant impact upon the network or highway safety.
Each new static caravan will have two dedicated parking spaces.

All new pitches will be designed to accommodate Electric Vehicle charging points.

Existing footpaths within and adjacent to the site will be enhanced through proposed landscaping measures, increasing their screening from the development, their ecological value and where appropriate, their use by the community.
New permissive footpath routes will be incorporated through parts of the application site.
A Transport Assessment and Framework Travel Plan will accompany the planning application. The scope has been agreed with the Highway Authority.