The site is within the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA). New residential development within the SPA needs to have access to Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) for which financial contributions are also required to cover its long term management and maintenance.
The Application site includes 12.95 hectares of SANG with a modest 12 space car park served off Woodlands Lane, which will provide mitigation for the new housing proposed. The SANG land has previously been subject of a planning application which has secured a resolution to grant planning permission from the Council, subject to a legal agreement, ref: 2024/2561.
Once delivered SANG land cannot be repurposed for housing development.
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