THREE CONCEPTS

This exhibition presents three alternatives to illustrate our ideas.

Some themes are common to all three concepts:

No more than 40% - 60% of the site shall be developed and that development should be concentrated on the western half of the site. This is because:

• we think it is important to maintain a gap between Lower Feltham and Chattern Hill
• development of the western half would be well related to existing housing along the southern and western boundaries
• the eastern half is part of the green corridor between Heathrow and the River Thames
• the western part of the site has lesser quantities of contaminated land
• the eastern part of the site has greater nature conservation value, including the principal fishing lake.

Two points of access are proposed, one to Ashford Road and one to Chertsey Road because:

• we think it is desirable to provide access to the site both from the north and the east in order to reduce the effect of traffic on local roads and junctions
• we believe it will improve access to the site for people visiting the leisure and recreation attractions from the surrounding areas
• it will help improve the provision of public transport services.

A large area of about 20 acres (8 hectares) should be set aside as a wildlife area, to encourage a further diversity of species as:

• although the site is not a habitat for a wide variety of protected species it is important that the interests of existing wildlife are taken into account
• it will enable a comprehensive biodiversity plan to be drawn up to protect natural history interests in the longer term.

Some or all of the existing lakes will be retained and will continue to provide opportunities for both wildlife and recreation because:

• the lakes have already become an integral part of the character of the site
• they provide an important natural habitat
• they are also an important recreational resource.

Do you agree with these themes?  Please use the Questionnaire to tell us which aspects of the proposals you think are the most important.

CONCEPT ONE

Concept one proposes that about 40% of the total site area be developed.  It envisages a development of housing and open space centred round a village green with a small local centre. The development retains all the ponds and would provide approximately 850 dwellings as well as a reserve of about 15% of the site for nature conservation.

CONCEPT TWO

Concept two proposes a mixed development.  About 40% of the site would be developed with housing centred round a village green with a small local centre and a further 10% of the site would be developed with employment uses. About the same number of houses would be built as in Concept One.

CONCEPT THREE

Concept three also proposes a mixed development.  About 45% of the site would be developed with housing but there would also be more employment land too - about 15% of the site would be developed with employment uses.  Up to 1000 new homes could be provided.  This might mean reducing the area for nature conservation as well as filling in some of the lakes.