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Cameron Connection News October 2007 | ||||
 CONTENTSProject Details | ||||
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SNH APPROVES SPECIES MITIGATION BATS, BADGERS & OTTERS SNH has approved the mitigation proposals for otters, bats and badgers. This follows exhaustive site surveys carried out between September 2006 and May 2007, and the submission of a comprehensive Ecological Impact Assessment using IEEM methodology. S44 LICENCE APPLICATION COMPLIMENTS FROM SEERAD SEERAD has complimented the quality of the S44 bat licence application, and is now ready to grant a licence subject to approval of the outline planning application from Fife Council. Following discovery of a pipistrelle bat roost in the stone steading on the last day of the survey, as reported in the June 2007 Newsletter, a mitigation and enhancement proposal was prepared by Les Hatton AIEEM of Eden Ecology, local ecologist and former Fife Ranger. This was submitted with a S44 licence application to the Scottish Government. LANDSCAPE & VISUAL IMPACT SNH CONDITIONS PROPOSED Following its review of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment prepared for Cameron Connection, SNH has set out conditions for removing its holding objection. The conditions relate to building details, colours and finishes, trees and woodland, earth mounding, sustainable drainage, ponds, and minimising night time lighting. Sandy and Christine Riach have no objection to Fife Council applying all seven conditions proposed, should members look to approve the application. |
PROJECT DETAILS
Cameron Connection, the innovative mixed-use farm diversification project at Northbank Farm proposed by Sandy and Christine Riach comprises: • A Farm Shop specialising in local farm produce • Rural Crafts production workshops and Local Food outlets, marketing direct to the public • A small Country Store offering essential provisions • A Post Office (subject to approval) • A Café/Restaurant specialising in local seasonal quality foods • Visitor information, displays and artworks on the countryside • Indoor and outdoor visitor attractions - rare breeds, • New paths, woodland walks, play and picnic areas • Indoor & outdoor marquee events facilities for farmers’ markets, antiques fairs, food demonstrations, private parties, weddings etc • A four star compact Eco-Holiday Village with 20 all-year-round lodges in a woodland setting • Enabling brownfield housing redevelopment of 6 affordable and 9 mainstream family houses, and a steading conversion • New woodland, tree and hedge planting and wetlands • On-site biomass for 100% renewable energy power generation • A district heating system | |||
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SNH Natura Team is currently reviewing the Visitor Management Plan prepared by Eden Ecology in conjunction with SNH Cupar office. A decision is expected shortly.
Approval of the Visitor Management Plan is the final stage of SNH’s review of the proposals and relates to the Cameron SPA designation. |
The SPA designation relates to Cameron Reservoir’s importance as an international site for pink-footed geese. Sandy and Christine Riach are committed to ensuring sustainability.
The Cameron Connection team is confident of securing approval. All wildfowling was stopped in 2002. Goose numbers have increased. |
Entry to the Rural Stewardship Scheme, secured in 2006 will enable conservation work to expand.
A programme of planting trees, hedgerows and species rich grass will enhance biodiversity. Approval of the Visitor Management Plan will conclude SNH’s review of the outline proposals. | ||
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The Visitor Management Plan Summary states: ‘An assessment of the impact of Cameron Connection needs to take into account national and local initiatives to promote countryside recreation. The Visitor Management Plan defines key objectives designed around the aim of ensuring more people do less harm to the natural assets of the site. This is to be achieved by imparting a broad ethos of stewardship, improving knowledge and awareness of responsible access, and by providing appropriate trail infrastructure for visitors and residents. Monitoring of these objectives is suggested, as is closer involvement with other countryside providers’. | |||
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NEW VISUAL MATERIAL Revised drawings submitted to Fife Council in May show the design changes following landscape and ecology mitigation. Key improvements include: • Number of eco-lodges reduced to 20 • Eco-holiday village rearranged into a more compact form. • Screen planting increased • Visitor destination building relocated to the west and further from the road to make the development more compact and discreet • Parking area broken up into small clusters and low mounding and screening introduced • Internal roads reduced to encourage walking and cycling • More wetland introduced and paths added |
Brindley Associates, Landscape Architects and Environmental Planners prepared a detailed Landscape Masterplan showing the new planting, wetland and paths. SNH has accepted the proposals as being consistent with the Landscape Character of the area. The plans below show the significant enhancements, approved by SNH, to be made to landscape and biodiversity. | |||
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During the last 12 months several leading local businesses, including established award-winning businesses of international repute, have been enthusiastic about Cameron Connection. Local firms are attracted by the concepts of sustainability, community, green |
tourism, ethical business, renewable energy and carbon neutral buildings. The Cameron Connection business model was developed as a diversification project in a feasibility study funded by SEERAD, under the government’s Whole Farm Review arrangements. |
The full report commissioned from Laurence Gould Partnership, Chartered Surveyors and Rural Consultants was submitted with the outline planning application. | ||
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CAMERON CONNECTION & THE FIFE COMMUNITY PLAN Environmental protection and sustainability, education, economic prosperity, play and recreation are the cornerstones of these proposals.
THE CASE FOR NEW HOUSING The case for new housing is made on the grounds of sustainability, economic and social benefit. National policies universally support brownfield development over greenfield land and our proposals are clearly in line with policies advocating stronger links between housing and jobs. New housing at Cameron Connection will enable infrastructure to be put in place. |
INFRASTRUCTURE DETAILS WATER & DRAINAGE SEPA has approved the drainage proposals as commendable. Scottish Water has no objection to the proposals. Foulwater drainage will be treated on site, with reedbed treatment. Surface water treatment will conform to SUDS best practice. Rainwater will be harvested; greywater recycled and reused. Water use at Cameron Connection will be less than when Northbank Farm was a dairy. POWER Biomass and Combined Heat and Power will significantly reduce electricity demand. Existing power lines on site can be used to export electricity into the grid. ROADS A safe new access will be formed off the A915, with a right turn lane. Existing unsafe accesses will be removed if the plans are approved by Fife Council. | |||
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Angus cross calves born at Northbank Farm, October 2007 Sandy and Christine with the boys – Alex, Andrew, Dan and Chris | ||||
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‘During an end-of-term outing, pupils and staff from Dunino Primary School learned at first hand of the proposals for nearby Northbank Farm… The youngsters met a host of animals, including Poppy, one of the rare breed pigs reared at the complex. |
During the tour pupils also saw badger setts and free range hens and chickens, and heard of plans to create special habitats for soprano pipistrelle bats, which were recently found… The group from the award-winning |
ecoschool also received a short presentation from Mr Riach on the proposed brownfield redevelopment scheme - Cameron Connection - which aims to consolidate Fife’s position in the emerging green tourism market.’ Dundee Courier, 9 July 2007 | ||
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‘Cameron Connection is the embodiment of an innovative and multilayered vision to bring together tourism, environmental education, housing and community amenities, healthy living and local food.
These proposals reflect our family’s skills and interest mix, a desire to establish a sustainable family enterprise to support the upkeep and sustainability of Northbank, where our sons can contribute their diverse skills, energy and enthusiasm and where we can bring together our commitment to good, locally produced and sourced food, wildlife and nature, farming, education, the environment, sustainable development and ethical, people friendly business approaches along with responsible access to the countryside. We are committed to maintaining effective communication and are especially interested in the views of our neighbours, local institutions and community groups and individuals with concern for the environment and sustainable development in North East Fife’. Extract from a Personal Statement by Sandy & Christine Riach  | ||||
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Cameron Connection Newsletter October 2007