Hello again from Brompton Lakes! Sorry for taking so long posting this, the most recent blog, we're all pretty busy on site but I'm delighted to say that Brompton Lakes is taking shape.
Back in July I promised that as part of this Blog I'd take you through the Brompton Lakes Journey, so, let's start at the beginning with the initial planning process.
In order to make an informed decision about the viability of turning what was a broken fishing site into an eco lodge development our first job was to talk to the Richmond Planning Department to seek their opinion on the likelihood of obtaining planning permission. We knew the land already had permission for six fishing lodges so a precedent had been set but what we had ion mind was something altogether different.
The lodges were designed by Simon Spence. Simon and I started talking about the possibilities of Brompton back in May 2007 - I'm trying to persuade him top contribute to this Blog and tell you about his own Brompton experiences, so watch this space! - By July 2007 we had the bare bones of a plan and were set for our first meeting with the planners.
Whilst the Planning Department was generally supportive, they were worried about the lodges being visible from the road on one side and the coast-to-coast walk on the other. They wanted all of the lodges to be positioned as discretely as possible - challenging, but not impossible. They also wanted us to consult with the Environment Agency in relation to any potential flood risk posed by our proximity to the River Swale. This was our first major hurdle and proved to be rather trickier that we'd ever imagined.
The first course of action was to commission a flood risk assessment to establish how the site would fare against the 100-year flood risk and global warming. A detailed survey covering ground levels and river levels was painstakingly undertaken, forecasting what would happen in the event of the maximum calculated river level. The assessment concluded that the flood defences already in place were largely adequate only needing to be built up in certain areas.
Next, the Environment Agency informed us that require a geotechnical assessment report on the integrity of the flood banks which again, we happily commissioned. They were found to be in need of remedial work to ensure complete safety which we actioned without delay.
Having produced two reports at huge expense both in budget and time we went back to the Environment Agency with clear and proper solutions to all the problems they had exposed only to be told that despite the findings and the measures we had implemented, the lodges would have to be built on high ground and nowhere near the edge of the lakes. This was in direct conflict with the demands of the Planners who wanted the lodges out of sight. We knew this project was going to be challenging (and that was part of the original appeal) but at this point we very nearly gave up!
However, after a little reflection and several meetings over a number of months we managed to establish terms for a final agreement and common sense finally prevailed. The planning application, which was submitted in December, was passed unanimously without a single objection in February 2008.
Back in July I promised that as part of this Blog I'd take you through the Brompton Lakes Journey, so, let's start at the beginning with the initial planning process.
In order to make an informed decision about the viability of turning what was a broken fishing site into an eco lodge development our first job was to talk to the Richmond Planning Department to seek their opinion on the likelihood of obtaining planning permission. We knew the land already had permission for six fishing lodges so a precedent had been set but what we had ion mind was something altogether different.
The lodges were designed by Simon Spence. Simon and I started talking about the possibilities of Brompton back in May 2007 - I'm trying to persuade him top contribute to this Blog and tell you about his own Brompton experiences, so watch this space! - By July 2007 we had the bare bones of a plan and were set for our first meeting with the planners.
Whilst the Planning Department was generally supportive, they were worried about the lodges being visible from the road on one side and the coast-to-coast walk on the other. They wanted all of the lodges to be positioned as discretely as possible - challenging, but not impossible. They also wanted us to consult with the Environment Agency in relation to any potential flood risk posed by our proximity to the River Swale. This was our first major hurdle and proved to be rather trickier that we'd ever imagined.
The first course of action was to commission a flood risk assessment to establish how the site would fare against the 100-year flood risk and global warming. A detailed survey covering ground levels and river levels was painstakingly undertaken, forecasting what would happen in the event of the maximum calculated river level. The assessment concluded that the flood defences already in place were largely adequate only needing to be built up in certain areas.
Next, the Environment Agency informed us that require a geotechnical assessment report on the integrity of the flood banks which again, we happily commissioned. They were found to be in need of remedial work to ensure complete safety which we actioned without delay.
Having produced two reports at huge expense both in budget and time we went back to the Environment Agency with clear and proper solutions to all the problems they had exposed only to be told that despite the findings and the measures we had implemented, the lodges would have to be built on high ground and nowhere near the edge of the lakes. This was in direct conflict with the demands of the Planners who wanted the lodges out of sight. We knew this project was going to be challenging (and that was part of the original appeal) but at this point we very nearly gave up!
However, after a little reflection and several meetings over a number of months we managed to establish terms for a final agreement and common sense finally prevailed. The planning application, which was submitted in December, was passed unanimously without a single objection in February 2008.
Now, the real work would begin. . .
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