Area of Separation (a) Between Stoney Stanton and Sapcote

Question 4: Is the separation of settlements being compromised by inappropriate uses or development?

Question 5: Does another policy prevent the settlements from coalescing.

Question

Answer

There are clear views of the northern edge of Sapcote from Sapcote Road as it sweeps round into the village. The southern edge of Stoney Stanton (situated to the north of Sapcote Road) can also be seen from some locations, allowing the juxtaposition of the settlements to be observed. Much of the land is used for sport and recreation use and is an important resource for the local community.

There are two buildings associated with the squash club and nursey in the northern part of the land near the more formalised recreation uses. While these affect openness to a degree, they are not considered to feature prominently within the area as a whole and only have limited impact.

Policy CS18 Countryside may be an appropriate policy to restrict development however this is weakened where there is unmet development needs. The policy also supports small scale employment development and Essential Dwellings can also be permissible, which could have an adverse impact upon the openness of the area. Policy CS15 Open Space would provide protection for the land identified as open space but this does not cover the entire Area of Separation.

Conclusion

The Area of Separation forms a clear gap between the two villages. It remains largely open and contributes to maintaining the distinct identity of the two settlements. A substantial portion of the land provides sport and recreational resources for the local community which are publicly accessible. The openness and sense of separation can be appreciated from these aforementioned areas as well as Sapcote Road, which serves as the main transport link between the settlements.

E4