Planning Permission
Applegarth have been working on these plans for over 5 years and are mindful that they are being submitted at an extraordinary time. Both in the current pandemic that is ravaging this country and Brexit which has yet to properly show its effect. Applegarth feel strongly that this application will be a positive impact on the local community, both in providing local employment and a place of enjoyment for many different generations
Two separate detailed applications are being submitted, they are both key to the success of what Applegarth are looking to provide. One is for the main existing site and one is for the adjoining eco-pod glamping site.
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The reports that we have had produced for our plans have shown minimal impact on the locality. Applegarth is already a vibrant busy location and employs 20 people from the surrounding area. It has the potential to provide so much more, both in terms of employment, education and entertainment. The very essence of what we are trying to achieve is low key in its impact on the local environment.
HIGHWAYS,
CAR PARKING, DELIVERIES
Car Parking
Applegarth's current car park regularly sees 70 cars parked at peak times belonging to its restaurant & farm shop customers
As part of the development, they have accommodated for c. 140 car parking spaces, to include staff parking. This is spread evenly throughout the facility so as to make for easy access from the different elements. Some cars will stay for prolonged periods, for horticulture and cookery lessons for example.
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Applegarth do not foresee that the new parking will be regularly full and have accommodated for irregular events such as farmers markets or craft fares.
Deliveries
Other than the occasional delivery of horticultural products for the greenhouse, Applegarth do not foresee that deliveries will be much different from the current operation.
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Most deliveries to Applegarth are done in small transit van type vehicles with the occasional van with a tail lift. As Applegarth are not changing the model they have, this will not change.
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Deliveries made by large vehicles will curtail with trading hours to cause as minimal impact on our neighbours as possible.
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Highways Traffic
Highway impact is an emotive topic and one that Applegarth take seriously. Applegarth feel however, as has been the case with the Vale housing development, the impact on highways will be nowhere near as bad as it can be construed to be. The current business has seen c. 80 cars visit a day for the last 5 years with people visiting Applegarth regularly by car.
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Yes, there will be an increase in traffic to the site but we feel that there will be minimal impact on the highways with these new plans. The busy parts of the day for the Headley road and surrounding area are at peak times and are generally people coming from the Headley area to the A3 in the morning and in reverse in the early evening.
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Traffic to Applegarth will be spread throughout the day and will not be attending the site at these peak times. People will arrive in the morning for breakfast, after these peak times and generally leave before the afternoon rush.
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As above we will be limiting, where ever possible, the deliveries of produce to the site to non peak times to avoid large vehicles going through Grayshott (unlike the supermarkets in Grayshott who don't seem to have this philosophy!) A full highways study is near to completion and will be submitted with the application.
Ecology & The Environment
As difficult as it is with this type of build, Applegarth are aiming to achieve as close to Carbon neutral as possible. The building itself has been designed to be 51% more efficient than is required under building regulations.
The site will include:
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Solar PV panels on roof of the kitchen area, to be as inconspicuous as possible but provide power to batteries within the site.
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Anaerobic digester to take in green waste produced across the site and create compost to use both onsite and to provide their 'Grow For Us' local growers, compost for them to take away
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Wood pellet boiler- to provide underfloor heating across the site
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Ground source heat pump- within the eco-cabin site to provide heating for the cabins.
Other initiatives are being worked on. Applegarth are looking to take the waste heat produced by the refrigeration across the site and pump it into the Greenhouse to provide consistent heating.
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All of the reports produced for this application have shown that there will be a minimal impact on the local ecology. The bat, reptile and endangered species studies have found nothing to note.
The intention is to only remove 4 trees and plant an additional 70 in the economic site & circa 300 in the eco-pods site. The land itself has not been farmed properly for 20 years, in fact it is rare, within East Hants & Surrey that land is put back to horticultural use. The intent is to hugely increase the ecological value of the land with our own bee hives, wild flower meadow, top fruit orchard & raised beds of heritage and heirloom produce.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN &
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
COMMUNITY IMPACT​
Community Impact
Applegarth has always strived to help the local community in anyway it can and this will only increase with a larger facility to do so. We are main sponsors for 3 central Grayshott organisations, one for over 15 years. We have put on events enjoyed by thousands and continue to strive to innovate in what we do. We have no intent in building something that will impact the locality negatively. Quite the opposite in fact, we feel that creating a groundbreaking site will help in many ways.
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The increase in employment opportunities in multiple different fields will include apprenticeships and qualifications. Applegarth has provided dozens of employees with the ability to take NVQ exams and gain a qualification while working for us. This will only increase under the new business, we feel strongly in assisting employees in reaching their potential