Planning has been approved for the construction of up to 90 dwellings on land north of Uppingham Road in Houghton on the Hill. The 5.5-hectare site sits at the edge of the village, bordered by existing homes to the east and open countryside to the north and west.
Currently formed of two grazing fields divided by an access track, the site includes drainage ditches and a pond, with overhead electricity lines crossing the land. A high-pressure gas main also runs through the site, making early infrastructure coordination essential to shaping a deliverable layout.
The proposals include residential development with landscaping, open space and drainage infrastructure, with access taken from Uppingham Road.
MEC was appointed to provide a coordinated package of environmental and infrastructure assessments to support the outline planning application.
Our Geo-Environmental team carried out a Phase I desk study to review the site’s history and ground conditions, to understand whether anything could present a risk to future residents or construction works. The land has remained largely agricultural, although former allotments and small structures were historically present. Some localised Made Ground was identified, but overall the site was assessed as low risk. The findings helped shape foundation assumptions and confirmed that any ground-related issues are likely to be limited and manageable through straightforward investigation and good construction practice.
An Air Quality Assessment was carried out to understand whether traffic associated with the development would affect nearby homes. Nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter were assessed in line with national guidance. The results showed that pollutant levels remain comfortably within national standards, with only negligible changes predicted. A construction dust assessment was also completed to ensure temporary impacts during the build phase can be effectively controlled.
Road traffic noise from Uppingham Road was the main focus of the Acoustic Assessment. Baseline sound surveys were undertaken and used to model predicted levels across the Site. The assessment confirmed that, with appropriate mitigation, through plot orientation and glazing and ventilation built into the design of the affected plots, the relevant external and internal acoustic criteria can be met.
Alongside the environmental work, a utilities assessment was undertaken to review existing infrastructure and identify potential constraints. The presence of a high-pressure gas main running through the site was carefully considered and factored into the layout, with appropriate stand-off distances allowing the scheme to remain deliverable. Engagement with the statutory undertakers has also been initiated to understand network requirements, including the need for further modelling in relation to foul drainage capacity.
Although the site is undeveloped, it presented several practical considerations, particularly, traffic noise from Uppingham Road and the high-pressure gas main running through the land.
These were reviewed carefully to understand their real impact on the scheme. The ground risks were anticipated to be limited and manageable, air quality impacts negligible, and noise standards achievable through sensible design measures. The utilities assessment confirmed that the gas main can be accommodated within the layout and that existing networks have sufficient capacity to support the development.
We are delighted with the outline planning outcome and look forward to seeing this development progress.
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