Planning Success
Enplan were instructed to give both landscape and planning evidence against the Crow Holt Wind Farm proposal at Public Inquiry in Jan/Feb 2007, in support of Bassetlaw District Council’s deemed reasons for refusal. RES’s appeal for ten 125m tall 20Mw wind farm was dismissed by the Inspector on the grounds of landscape and visual impact, local amenity and affects on the operations of a local impact.

Unusually, this is a case of a dismissal of a wind farm in a non-designated landscape. The Inspector concluded that “these turbines are too large for the scale of this particular landscape and for their proximity to residents”. Despite the site’s proximity to the Trent Valley and its power stations, the Inspector agreed with Enplan’s assessment that the harm would be “severe”.

Landscape Commissions
Enplan has been awarded, ahead of several national landscape firms, the external works and landscape design for the conversion of Mentmore Towers (see above) in Bucks into a 6* hotel. Mentmore Towers is a Grade I building and Grade II* park by Joseph Paxton and built by the Rothchilds. The landscape commission also includes civils, ecology and archaeology and we are working alongside architects AuckettFitzroyRobinson. The work involves the restoration of the Fountain and Italian Gardens and the Pleasure Grounds, and the roof garden and landscape surrounds for the new Derby Wing.

The Onslow Group have appointed Enplan to give landscape and visual evidence at the SnOasis Public Inquiry in Ipswich.  The SnOasis project includes the world’s largest indoor ski slope, ice rink, bobsleigh track, winter sports academy, 200 bed hostel, 350 bed 4* hotel, and 350 self-catering ski lodges.

Planning Commissions
Spanish owners of the historic buildings and 12 acre site at the Holy Child Jesus, St Leonards-on-Sea have instructed Enplan to prepare comprehensive development proposals focusing on the restoration of an important group of listed buildings.  The scheme is being prepared under English Heritage’s ‘Enabling Development’ guidelines.

Enplan is advising on and preparing proposals for a significant health care facility for the elderly in Lewes (East Sussex).  Also in Lewes, Enplan is co-ordinating the preparation of a mixed use scheme on a prestigious site in the town.

Other News
Construction work of the £1M first phase of the HLF landscape restoration of Cobham Park (see above) in North Kent is underway for the Cobham Ashenbank Management Scheme (CAMS). Gavin Jones Ltd is the contractor. Enplan has been working at Cobham Park since 2001 and we have also recently completed supervision of an extensive woodland management scheme for the Cobham Wood SSSI. Cobham Park has two Grade I buildings and is a Grade II Humphry Repton park.

Enplan sponsored East Grinstead Rugby FC Under 13’s who progressed to the Sussex County Finals (as usual!) only to be sadly beaten by the every effective backs of Hove late in the second half.  The Enplan Gorillas will be back!!