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The Yorkshire Dales National Park have published a summary of the responses it has received regarding the Consultation No6. The full document is available to download below.

There was an impressive response both from residents and organisations from Embsay with the report acknowledging the strength and depth of feeling from the parish. below are 2 salient extracts – the first highlighting the objections to both EMB2 & EMB3 and the second noting the supporting information supplied by The Devonshire Group. Also of interest are 2 further notes relating to submissions from Natural England and Historic England.

From Page 15 of the Report:
EMB2 (North of Brackenley Lane) & EMB3 (South of Brackenley Lane)

These sites, situated opposite one another, have received by far the highest level of objection. The vast majority of responses make reference to both sites and, but for a very small minority, objectors seek to demonstrate that no development whatsoever on these sites (even significantly reduced in scale), or anywhere else in the village, could be acceptable. A residents’ group – Embsay Action Group – has submitted a detailed response, principally in relation to EMB2. Embsay with Eastby Parish Council has objected to both sites. The majority of other responses relate to both sites and include a number of responses from local children.

The main issues raised include:
– the lack of any capacity for intensification of use of Brackenley Lane, with restricted width, poor junctions and conflict between vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists. Other access points are seen as clearly unviable and scope to improve Brackenley Lane extremely limited;
– the lack of capacity in the wider road network, with flooding issues resulting in the village being largely cut off at times and already subject to significant traffic movements;
– the amount of recent development in village, particularly along Shires Lane where large sites are being developed. The village is seen as having more than satisfied its ‘quota’ of housing, as set out in the Craven District Local Plan, and there is a perception that cumulative impacts of development are being ignored owing to the village’s division between separate planning authorities;
– additional strain on village infrastructure, with the impacts of recent developments not yet fully felt;
– a lack of services in the village to serve additional residents, including shops, healthcare and public transport, with the school already over-subscribed forcing children from the village into schools in Skipton, Cracoe and other locations;
– the loss of views and enjoyment as a result of development on the sites, including the impact on the Lady Anne’s Way, with the two fields seen as an important recreational resource for local people, deserving of protection as important open space;
– landscape impact, with the landscape sensitivity study seeing as under valuing views of Embsay Crag across the sites, as well as failing to consider the wider urbanization of the settlement through cumulative developments;
– loss of wildlife and harm to protected trees within the site, including concerns raised by the Embsay Environmental Group and Embsay Hogwatch;
– surface water run-off, particularly from EMB2, which regularly floods Brackenley Lane and some adjacent properties. This is exacerbated by the combined sewer system leading to surcharges into watercourses;
– a feeling that Embsay is becoming a suburb of Skipton and losing its village identity;
– Embsay being seen as thriving with many families and a full primary school, so doesn’t suffer from the same issues as other parts of the National Park, and development on the periphery of the Park not being seen as the solution to community sustainability issues in the National Park’s interior;
– a disproportionate amount of growth in one village and in the Craven District of the National Park;
– the overall scale of potential development on the site, which is seen as excessive in a National Park;
– EMB2 having been previously rejected by the Authority when producing the 2012 Housing Development Plan;

The landowner of EMB2 – The Devonshire Group (DG) – has written in support of the site, noting its intention to continue to support the allocation of the site throughout the later stages of the plan making process. DG acknowledges that the site will be contentious but nonetheless considers it to be appropriate and has submitted further information as part of its response, including a Vision Document including two Masterplan options for the design of the site, including an area of public open space and an initial assessment of some of the highway access issues raised. It has asserted that, although there may be concerns about school capacity, 72 of the 207 children on the school roll attend from outside the catchment area, suggesting that capacity could be available for resident households in future years. It contends that past growth of Embsay has contributed to it becoming a thriving community and there is no reason why additional development could not contribute further to this. It highlights the contrasts with the tenure of housing required on this site versus those outside the National Park and the fact that development would still be some years away and potentially phased.

Natural England has highlighted that the site is in close proximity to North Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation, North Pennine Moors Special Protection Area and West Nidderdale, Barden & Blubberhouses Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest. As a result, impacts will need to be considered through the Habitats Regulations Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal in relation to impacts on air quality and qualifying bird species.

Historic England comment that the impact on the setting of the conservation area and nearby listed buildings needs to be taken account of.