Dear Mr Raby Smith,
We have been much saddened by the negative and often adversarial "Protect Our Space" campaign.
We are a local family with a proposal for a small cluster of five new homes in Minchinhampton leading to real benefit for the community above and beyond those expected through the planning system.
The proposed houses, tucked into the corner of the field, are based around a traditional Cotswold farmstead, built with natural materials and with a design led by a landscape architect. The majority of the field will continue to be seasonally grazed as it is now.
Land for a community orchard in Minchinhampton has been sought for years, and this project provides this close to the town centre. Rare local at-risk varieties of apple tree can be planted and preserved and the orchard would be a lovely place to visit for local groups such as scouts, guides and school groups as well as the wider community throughout the year.
Through the project we could make a substantial contribution to Minchinhampton School towards much needed new infrastructure.
Adoption of the local plan and the potential neighbourhood development plan are long and uncertain processes. We have already spent over a year creating the Minch Orchard Project, with a particular focus on sustainability, appropriate small scale of development, being in keeping with the local vernacular and contributing to the local community. Notwithstanding any timing constraints on the ability to build the homes, on gaining planning permission we would be able to start planting the community orchard, and provide the financial contribution to the school so that the community can see the benefits as soon as possible. In light of this, we are keen to progress with the project.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the Minch Orchard Project can visit our website at www.minchorchard.org.
Yours,
Chris & Estelle Manson-Whitton
We have been much saddened by the negative and often adversarial "Protect Our Space" campaign.
We are a local family with a proposal for a small cluster of five new homes in Minchinhampton leading to real benefit for the community above and beyond those expected through the planning system.
The proposed houses, tucked into the corner of the field, are based around a traditional Cotswold farmstead, built with natural materials and with a design led by a landscape architect. The majority of the field will continue to be seasonally grazed as it is now.
Land for a community orchard in Minchinhampton has been sought for years, and this project provides this close to the town centre. Rare local at-risk varieties of apple tree can be planted and preserved and the orchard would be a lovely place to visit for local groups such as scouts, guides and school groups as well as the wider community throughout the year.
Through the project we could make a substantial contribution to Minchinhampton School towards much needed new infrastructure.
Adoption of the local plan and the potential neighbourhood development plan are long and uncertain processes. We have already spent over a year creating the Minch Orchard Project, with a particular focus on sustainability, appropriate small scale of development, being in keeping with the local vernacular and contributing to the local community. Notwithstanding any timing constraints on the ability to build the homes, on gaining planning permission we would be able to start planting the community orchard, and provide the financial contribution to the school so that the community can see the benefits as soon as possible. In light of this, we are keen to progress with the project.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the Minch Orchard Project can visit our website at www.minchorchard.org.
Yours,
Chris & Estelle Manson-Whitton