Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - Bournemouth ...

to the western residential pocket of
Holdenhurst Village, but lying just
outside the conservation area, is Roffey
Brothers – a horticultural business.
This occupies a visually prominent
location by the sharp bend in Throop
Road and the site includes a number
of large sheds and a large expanse of
hardstanding. Although there is some
screening from trees and hedging the
site is open to views from its entrance
and detracts from the setting of the
village.
Challenges
Traffic
8.12 One of the key pressures within the
western part of the Conservation Area
is traffic. The neighbouring settlement
of Throop can be accessed along
Throop Road, and the road is also a
through route from the busy Castle
Lane West. In addition the roads
throughout the Conservation Area are
narrow and the presence of lorries and
other large vehicles makes it difficult
for cars to negotiate the road and less
safe for those on foot or travelling by
bicycle.
New Road
8.13 A significant concern in recent years
has been the proposal for a Castle Lane
West Relief Road. This was detailed
in the Bournemouth District Wide
Local Plan (2002) but omitted from
the Bournemouth Local Plan: Core
Strategy (2012). Historically a parcel
of land has been reserved between the
A338 and the A347 at Northbourne,
including an area of land to the south
of Holdenhurst to the southern edge of
the conservation area. If the provision
of this road were to be reconsidered in
the future, unless careful consideration
is given to mitigate it, it would be
visually apparent and its construction
would introduce significantly more road
noise across the village.
New Junction to A338
8.14 Another concern is the provision of a
new junction to the A338. This relates
to two separate schemes at Riverside
Avenue (Park and Ride and an office
development) both of which were
granted planning permission but this
has now expired. However, if either
of these schemes were to be granted
planning consent in the future they
may require a road junction south of
the village hall at the most southerly
point of the conservation area. An
additional junction on the edge of the
conservation area would again result
in a significant increase in traffic noise
and visual intrusion.
8.15 A junction at this location may also
result in the loss of or impact on the
setting of the ancient cob barn to the
former Townsend Cottages. Any future
proposals should seek to mitigate
against sound and visual intrusion via
measures such as embankments and
planting and retain the barn which
is important as the last remaining
building of the original settlement of
Townsend.
New Housing
8.16 One of the most damaging impacts
on the setting of the conservation
area would be if new housing were
permitted. Holdenhurst lies within the
green belt and as such continues to be
protected by green belt policy.
Flooding
8.17 The Conservation Area partially falls
within the designated flood plain
of the River Stour. The properties
are protected by a flood alleviation
Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - March 2014 45