The Site is approximately 13.89 ha in extent and is currently in agricultural use, defined by pastoral fields bounded by native hedgerow with hedgerow trees. It is in a highly accessible location on the southern edge of the settlement of Bromsgrove, approximately 2 km south of the town centre and approximately 22 km southwest of Birmingham town centre.
The Site is formed of agricultural land associated with an existing farmstead located in the northern corner of the Site. The Site lies on south facing, gently falling landform to the east, with Buntsford Hill Road located on lower laying landform, with emerging development as part of Buntsford Business Park immediately beyond.
As well as the intervening landform, the Site is contained by mature vegetation structure to the south and west. Beyond the River Salwarpe the landform rises and restricts intervisibility from the edge of Stoke Priors located further to the southwest.
At present there are two existing points of access to the Site off Buntsford Hill Road, one to the north via the current farm access and a second to the south viaa field gateway.
The Site is dominated by grassland fields which were sheep grazed and bounded by intact and defunct hedgerows with trees. Boundary features include woodland edges, line of trees and native hedgerows with trees.
The Site has no known statutory landscape, heritage or nature conservation designations attached to it.
A Public Rights of Way (PRoW) passes through the Site (PRoW 511/b).
Bus routes are available on Redditch Road to the north and Bromsgrove Train Station is approximately a mile walk to the north.
Topography and Views
The site is located on a south facing slope with close to a 30m change in level across the site.
The site therefore affords views to the south and south-west
Public Rights of Way
The northern part of the site is crossed by SP-512 which links Hanbury Lane (west) with Buntsford Hill (east).
Further public rights of way provide links into the wider area. In particular, to the east of the site, SP-530(B) follows the route of the railway line providing a direct link to Bromsgrove Station. There is opportunity for the proposed development to link to into the surrounding footpath network to support sustainable and active travel into the wider area.
There is one statutorily designated site for nature conservation recorded within 2km of the site and six non-statutorily designated sites for nature conservation were identified within 2km of the site, the closest of which is River Salwarpe LWS located immediately south of the site. A Priority Woodland is located adjacent to the north of the site, and a small Traditional Orchard was recorded within the site. These habitats are considered to be of at least local importance to nature conservation.
The site is comprised of semi-improved grassland fields boarded by hedgerows and scattered mature trees which are considered to be of importance to nature conservation at a site to local level
The site has the potential to provide significant areas of public open space (POS) which can be designed to maintain and enhance habitat connectivity and include areas to account for protected species mitigation.
The POS is considered likely to allow for the delivery of at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain on site.
The site is crossed by a number of hedgerows which form the existing field boundaries which some larger trees interspersed along these.
The north-western boundary of the site, abutting the Avoncroft Museum contains a large number of established trees, forming areas of woodland and tree belts. Further trees are located on the boundary of the site and Tan House Farm.
Alongside the River Salwarpe there are also well-established, substantial trees
In the eastern part of the site there is also a former orchard, some of the trees within this remain but there is opportunity to re-establish this landscape feature.
The site is located to the south of Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings where a number of listed buildings have been relocated to protect them. Many of these are screened from the development by a woodland/tree belt which runs along the northern boundary of the site with only glimpsed views between the trees.
The windmill to the north-west of the site is particularly visible from the site. Existing trees between the windmill and site prevent direct views from the northern part of the site. From the southern parts of the site the windmill forms a strong landmark.
The site wraps around the grounds of Tan House Farmhouse and Barn and views are possible to the spire of St Michaels Church in Stoke Prior, to the south-west of the site.
The impacts on the setting of listed buildings will need to be mitigated.
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