Witherslack - Preferred Site Assessments (PDF) - Lake District ...

potential impact.
Contaminate
d land
Flood risk
Health and
Wellbeing
Highways
Historic
environment
Landscape
It is also possible that this site hosts protected habitats and species
which will require further consideration prior to the submission of any
planning application for the development of the site. Mitigation
measures may be required.
This is essentially a greenfield site. We have no records of previous
development on this site so it is unlikely to be contaminated.
The site is in a low risk area. It is located within Zone 1 Low Probability
which is land assessed as having a less than 1 in 1000 annual
probability of river flooding in any year. We are not aware of any
reported localized flooding episodes.
Any subsequent application for this site will need to address surface
water run-off in order to comply with Policy CS11 and CS17.
This site is not designated as Important Open Space for Recreation
under Local Plan Policy S1 or access land under the CROW Act. The
site is not accessible via a public right of way.
Development on this site would not result in the loss of provision for
recreation.
The development of this site for housing is acceptable in principle
subject to securing a suitable access.
There are no listed buildings in or in close proximity to the site. There is
no conservation area delineated for Witherslack.
When considering the potential impacts of development on the historic
environment, it is unlikely that future development on this site will have a
detrimental effect on historic environment designations.
The Winster valley has an intimate pattern of pastoral fields, parkland,
mature trees, hedgerows and walls, which separates the Low Fells in the
west from the highly distinctive high limestone ridge of Whitbarrow Scar
in the east. The result is an interesting, colourful, small-scale mosaic
landscape. Along the Eastern edge of the area along the Lyth valley,
damson orchards are a distinctive local feature.
The Low Fells are covered in pasture and meadow, interspersed with
large blocks of predominantly broadleaved woodland with patches of
gorse adding a touch of vibrant colour.
With the exception of the A5074 and the A590, which border the area,
roads are secondary and relatively narrow, in most places lined by thick
hedgerows. The hedges, and in some parts walls, combined with large
patches of woodland within the area, give a sense of enclosure and
isolation, which is in stark contrast to the far-reaching views from higher
locations such as Whitbarrow and Gummers How. Whitbarrow Scar is an
imposing and significant landmark within the surrounding landscape,
which contributes to a strong sense of place and dominates views from
the A590 in this area.
Away from the A590, the sense of tranquillity is strong throughout most
of the area, particularly within the Winster Valley. This is aided by the
sparse settlement pattern, which consists of a handful of farms dotted
along linear road corridors, occasional hamlets, the picturesque
vernacular village of Witherslack, and a number of estates (often with