A Vision for Woodbury Parish

The aim of this Woodbury Parish Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) is to set out policies for the Parish up to the year 2031. The Plan will ensure our parish develops in a way that is sustainable economically, socially and environmentally, and that all our parishioners enjoy living here and share a strong sense of community.

Whilst the Local Plan covers the whole of East , our Neighbourhood Plan is focused on the needs of Woodbury Parish and allows the local community to specify in more detail what they expect from development. For example, it contains more detail on things like village design and shaping future development in our area. The Plan also guides the provision of infrastructure, for example, setting out priorities for new development such as improving streets, public spaces, and pedestrian links. This will inform subsequent negotiations between District Council and all developers. Once approved (‘Made’) our plan will have legal (Statutory) status and every planning application will be examined for compliance with our stated wishes.

Woodbury Parish is a thriving community of mixed occupations and aspirations. The village is also within ’s designated Area of Economic activity, with a large Business Park situated on its northern boundary, and the fact that the village is also situated within close proximity to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Jurassic Coast makes this a much sought-after location.

As a primary objective, any future development, whether business or residential, should be measured incrementally against the improvements in infrastructure identified herein, with particular care to ensure its essentially rural traditions are not violated and commercial activities are compatible with the wider interests of the community as a whole.

Buildings of whatever purpose should be architecturally designed sympathetically to conform to style and standards in keeping with the distinct character of the villages. The Village Design Statement still provides a very useful guide in this respect.

The necessary improvements in infrastructure we recommend will help preserve the integrity of both the built and natural environment, thereby stimulating the opportunities to enhance the quality of life and strengthen the necessary conditions for a viably sustainable mixed community for the future.

Those aspects of the natural and human environment which are statutorily designated, such as Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and trees subject to Tree Preservation Orders should be managed via national planning policy (the National Planning Policy Framework and its accompanying guidance) and local plan policy and practice of the East Devon District Council Local Plan and as such there should not be a need to repeat this in the Plan.

However, the Neighbourhood Plan does give the parish the opportunity to • reinforce protection and enhancement of such aspects at a local level, • take a holistic view of what is valued locally (rather than the disjointed approach that can result from applying separate planning policies and legislation to all the different aspects individually and at different times; everything sits within the same landscape and parish), and • identify aspects that are not nationally protected or designated, but which are locally important, and seek to protect and manage these through the Neighbourhood Plan.

History (Is this title correct?It does not appear to reflect the content.)

Woodbury Parish includes within its bounds three distinctive villages, Woodbury, Woodbury Salterton and Exton. The Parish is bordered on its western boundary by the River Exe and on its eastern boundary by the expanse of Woodbury Common, which rises to a height of 180m above sea level and is part of the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Southwards, the Parish extends towards Exmouth and in the north it is bounded by the A3052.

Woodbury is the largest of the three villages and lies approximately in the centre of the Parish, at about 70m above sea level. Woodbury Salterton is a mile to the north and Exton a mile to the west. The Parish is well placed for communications to the rest of the country, being near to Junction 30 on the M5 and the branch line railway station at Exton. Exeter Airport is also within easy commuting distance.

The resident population of the Parish totals some 3,046 people of which 2,053 live in Woodbury, 525 in Exton and 468 in Woodbury Salterton.

We have the benefit of living in a parish with nearly a thousand years of history which, whilst originally based on a largely agrarian economy, has developed and evolved over the centuries into one of the largest parish communities within Devon. As the Woodbury Village Design Statement (2002) correctly records: “From salt marsh to heathland summit, few Parishes can share the variation of scenery, of elevation, aspect and ecology that is the intrinsic charm of Woodbury Parish's heritage”.

It is of primary importance that the Parish apply the principles of sustainable development in the design of individual buildings.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 2 Housing and Development (No mention of Exton and Woodbury Salterton being unsustasinable per the Local Plan. Perhaps this should be there for clarity and showing that the Local Plan has been taken into consideration.)

The planning objectives and policies in this section of the Plan seek to achieve a balance between sustainable development called for by planning policy and a community desire to protect and enhance the character and features of the Parish.

It is recognised that the three settlements have historically grown in size but nevertheless any future growth has to be managed to take into account the expectations of the entire community. To this end the Parish Council will conduct a Housing Need Survey every five years and identify community led developments to meet local needs. The initial Housing Needs Survey will take place four years after the Plan has been “Made”. Any revision of the Plan will take place as deemed necessary by the Parish Council.

The reasoning behind the five year cycle is that six affordable homes in Woodbury were delivered during the first quarter of 2018 which are owned by RentPlus and leased to Cornerstones, the registered Provider. Twenty five percent of these homes are required to be sold every five years under the terms of the lease. They were all subject to an S.106 Agreement on affordability.

Strategies: • Unless the strategic land supply requires further development in rural areas of East Devon, no further developments shall be considered unless there is a proven benefit to the community.

• To ensure any provision of sites for housing and other appropriate community facilities meet local needs. This will include sufficient levels of social and affordable housing including the support of local businesses and general economic activity.

• To encourage high design quality that conforms to ‘The Woodbury Village Design Statement’. To encourage development at sustainable and accessible locations which have due regard to considerations of public transport and reduced dependency on car use whilst also recognising the importance of disabled access.

• To require that future development has an environmental benefit for the Parish and this can be demonstrated.

• To recognize and protect the wealth of local open spaces, in particular Woodbury Common.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 3 • To ensure the planning and development of social , education and health facilities provide for the local population

Objectives: In general, the following principles will apply to developments:

• Be in keeping with the local area by being of an appropriate scale and mass, height, size, layout, density, through the use of locally appropriate materials.

• Not adversely impacting on the amenity of neighbouring properties.

• Include appropriate landscaping which compliments and enhances the character of the area.

• Take into account any impact on the open and green spaces and its contribution to the overall character of the local area.

• Consider views to and from settlements, heathland and the coast.

• Respect the qualities of the plan area including scale and use of space between buildings and structures.

• Respond positively to the density, footprint, build form, orientation and height.

• Recognise the importance that windows, roofs, detailing, the palette and use of traditional materials and techniques make to local distinctiveness.

• Encourage the re-instatement of architectural detail.

• Changes to commercial properties should reflect the design characteristics and heritage of the Parish.

• Provision of properties appropriate for an aging population.

• Development outside of the Built Up Area Boundary (BUAB) will not be acceptable. The exception is where a specific site may be designated for future development in subsequent future revisions of the Plan.

• Any new developments shall be designed to facilitate integration into the existing community. If feasible, the access should be directed towards the centre of the village and its community.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 4 Policy 1 The building of new residential property within the curtilage of an existing residential property, whereby the garden area of the existing property is reduced by more than 50%, shall not be permitted.

Policy 2 Housing development proposals for multiple dwellings shall provide a mix of sizes and types which reflect identified needs.

Affordable Housing

Objective: Houses originally built and intended to be used as affordable housing shall be retained as affordable housing, with enforcement by statutory planning agreements, as appropriate. (Are covenants better as these can be enforced legally whereas the Planners are not inclined to enforce agreements)

All new housing in the Parish will be decided as a result of a Housing Needs Survey. This will indicate the size, type and numbers of residences needed.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Policy 3 To consider areas in which the infrastructure of Woodbury Parish can be improved, paying particular attention to areas of pressure if further residential development within the Parish were to take place.

Any new housing developments should provide pedestrian access to link up with existing or proposed footpaths, ensuring that the public can walk safely to bus stops, schools and other village facilities including providing safety measures to enable the safe crossing of roads.

Any development within the Parish should have a cumulative environmental assessment which takes into account any other development that has been granted or known to be strategically planned.

UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE New and improved utility infrastructure will be encouraged and supported in order to meet the identified needs of the community.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 5 VEHICLE PARKING WITHIN WOODBURY VILLAGE (Built Up Area Boundary (BUAB) – I suggest that you delete these words)

Parking congestion, particularly out of normal working hours, has reached unsustainable levels with the public car park often full to capacity. For this reason further local measures are necessary to contain the problem.

Policy 4 All planning applications resulting in a net new dwelling within the Built Up Area Boundary (BUAB) – what about houses outside the BuAB? should meet the following criteria:

• Off- street parking of dimension 2.4m x 4.8m should be provided in the ratio of one parking space for a one bedroom home, two car parking spaces for two and three bedroom homes and three parking spaces for four and more bedroom homes.

• In the case of Houses Multiple Occupation the ratio will be one off-street parking space per bedroom.

• Proposals should not result in the loss of off-street car parking spaces for existing dwellings unless it can be demonstrated that there is a surplus of existing off-street spaces serving said dwelling.

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental features of local importance In order to retain and enhance the distinctive environment and character of the Parish, it is important that environmental and historical features of local importance are retained, are sensitively managed and where possible enhanced, especially in the context of any development proposals.

These features include: (What about Listed Building) • historic or noteworthy buildings not on the National Heritage List for . • unscheduled but important buried remains / sites; • areas of surviving historic landscape (defined via existing Devon County Council historic landscape characterisation data); • woodland, grassland, hedgerows and water bodies rich in fauna and flora; and • valued views and areas of landscape that may be defined in terms of their visual significance.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 6 Objective The natural, historic and built environments (landscape, biodiversity, heritage and open space assets) should be protected for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

Community Action

During the period of this Plan datasets shall be developed and inventories collated for the above features. (I suggest re-wording this to simpler language)

Landscape and biodiversity The Parish exhibits an attractive rural landscape where farming and light business integrates with the natural environment and human settlements.

To the east of the Parish is Woodbury Common, which sits within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a landscape characterised by intimate wooded combes, vast areas of heathland, fertile river valleys and breathtaking cliffs or hilltops. The largest area of lowland heath in the south of the country and the unspoilt beauty of the Exe estuary adds to the biodiversity of the area. This tranquil setting draws people to live within or visit the area.

Trees, wooded areas and hedgerows together with watercourses and ponds are an essential part of the natural environment of the Parish. These break up the field system, adding interest to the landscape and encouraging a wealth of biodiversity.

Ancient woodland sites enrich the local economy by providing a range of food sources and habitat for wildlife. The welfare of existing trees and the green spaces are of a high priority to the community.

Objectives: • New planting to increase tree cover and hedgerows within the Parish is encouraged. Native species are favoured and the siting of trees should take account of their canopy and root development.

• Those aspects of the local environment which are either significant in themselves and are particularly valued by the local community and by visitors should be protected, managed sensitively, and enhanced where appropriate.

Community Actions During the period of this Plan veteran trees and wildlife corridors shall be identified and datasets enhanced. (Again, I suggest re-wording this)

Encourage the sensitive management and improvement of the ecologically rich areas and pockets such as unimproved grassland, hedges, verges and churchyards.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 7 Designated Open and Community Spaces The three villages benefit from having open and community spaces within the settlements and on the fringes. Community consultation showed that these spaces are valued by residents.

Objective New development should respect, retain and where appropriate enhance public and communally used open and green spaces, including village greens, recreation and sports grounds, allotments, and common land. If existing facilities are to be taken out of use for any purpose, then new facilities must be provided and these will be considered in the context of existing facilities.

Policy 5 Proposals for development on Local Green Spaces will be resisted other than in very special circumstances, for example, if it is essential to meet specific and necessary utility infrastructure needs and no alternative feasible site is available.

Community Actions The Parish Council have plans to maintain and support the development and enlargement of the facilities incorporating the Woodbury Community Playing Field.

The provision for dog walkers is inadequate for the village. It is hoped that this will be improved upon in the future with the provision of an area dedicated for exercising dogs.

Policy 6 Spaces with lease arrangements will be renewed wherever agreement is possible, with a long term aim to acquire these amicably for the community via agreement between the Parish Council and Landowners.

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT

Locally recognised important features, amenity areas, structures, the Woodbury Conservation Area and areas worthy of conservation such as the centre of Woodbury Salterton should be preserved.

Policy 7 Any identified heritage asset in the Parish and their settings, will be conserved and enhanced for their historic significance and their importance with particular regard to their local distinctiveness, character and sense of place.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 8 Community Action To identify heritage assets considered by the History Society to be of community value taking into account the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset.

FLOODING

Woodbury Village is situated approximately 70 metres above sea level and is surrounded on three sides with slopes rising to some 180 metres above sea level in just over a mile. Consequently the village is particularly vulnerable to inundation from fast-flowing surface water descending from higher ground.

Woodbury Salterton lies on relatively flat ground with poor percolation characteristics. Streams running through the settlement receive excessive surface water and consequently flood.

The lower part of Exton suffers inundation by the combined effect of high tides interacting with flood water descending from the Common.

Objective A major objective of the Plan must be to address these consistent flooding concerns and their associated problems. Landowners should be encouraged to improve land management, with special regard for efficient drainage.

Community Action Alleviation of flooding, by • Encouraging agricultural and land management practices that reduce run off and soil erosion (careful use of heavy machinery to minimise soil compaction; ensuring ground cover during predictable seasons of heavy rainfall; leaving hedges and banks in place and if necessary reinstating them in critical locations; strategic planting).

• Effective management and maintenance and improvement of gullies and ditches which is a legal obligation of the land owners.

• Support will be given to Flood Resilience Groups as already exists in Woodbury Salterton.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 9 BUSINESS Supporting and Encouraging Small Businesses

Objectives Greendale, Hogs Brook, and Woodbury Business Parks are significant commercial developments in the open countryside and shall be constrained within published Employment Areas. Where there is no published Employment Area, no further development shall be permitted. All developments shall conform to existing agreed standards.

Policy 8 The provision of employment generating space for small business will be supported. This can take the form of new buildings or extensions to existing premises which:

• are of a high quality design, have suitable access and would not adversely harm the amenities of adjoining or nearby residential occupiers

• change of use of an existing building which is sympathetically converted, in an accessible location and which would not adversely harm the amenities of adjoining or nearby occupiers

FARM AND OTHER RURAL BUILDINGS

We wish to encourage diversity within the agricultural community, whilst at the same time preventing heavy transport vehicles from creating lasting damage to the surface and sub-base of minor rural roads. The suitability of connecting roads must be a factor when considering any planning application for diversification away from agriculture.

Policy 9 The re-use of farm and other rural buildings will be permitted for business or tourism purposes provided that the proposed use:

• would not result in harmful effects on the surrounding landscape; • would have an acceptable impact on the road network; and • would have an acceptable relationship with agricultural and other land based activities; • would not adversely harm the amenities of adjoining or nearby residential occupiers; • the building in question can be converted to a high standard using local materials.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 10

STABLES USED FOR EQUINE ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE.

There has been a significant growth in planning applications to site structures in the open countryside which are intended to serve equine activities.

Policy 10 1. Non-commercial equine activities:

All structures associated with non-commercial equine activities must be sited within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling or positioned immediately adjacent to it, providing the land is not designated for agricultural use.

2. Commercial equine activities:

All structures associated with commercial equine activities must be sited within the confines of, or adjacent to, buildings which form part of an agricultural farming unit.

COMMUNITY, LEISURE & WELL-BEING

The Parish is well served with suitable sporting amenities and activities for children. However, where a facility exists on leased land or land which would be more appropriate for other activities, any change of use would only be considered when an acceptable alternative location and facility is offered.

Policy 11 The loss of community facilities should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances. Planning permission which will result in the loss of a facility will only be permitted where one of the following criteria is met:

• the facility is relocated or a better facility is provided in a more appropriate building or location.

• the community or Parish Council is satisfied that the facility is no longer needed and there is no reasonable prospect of use.

• a satisfactory assessment has taken place which proves there is an excess of such provision and the site or building is not needed for any other community facility or use.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 11

VILLAGE HALLS

Woodbury and Exton (Now we have seen the diary, perhaps we could say more about Exton?)

• Both of these halls are well used by the villagers. Woodbury in particular has had several stages of modernization and continues to be supported by the community for many various activities.

Woodbury Salterton

This is a community owned and run building for the benefit of the Village. Whilst considered a small hall it is widely used by the school and community.

• Should the village expand, then a new amenity should be considered.

Objective The design for the new amenity should seek to more easily accommodate Pre-School, indoor school sports, a growing number of village groups and societies, and continue to serve as a performance and exhibition venue, with additional space for smaller meetings, improved catering and public toilets, necessary car parking space and access and facilities for the disabled.

Policy12 Development proposals for a new community facility to serve the residents of Woodbury Salterton are supported where the objectives are met.

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 12 This draft has been compiled from the following documents:

Woodbury Consultation Results

Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan; Community & Economy Working Group

Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan; Environmental Working Group

Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan; Infrastructure Working Group

Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan; Housing & Development Working Group

Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan; Vision & Policies Results

East Devon Villages Plan Consultation Document (Built-up Areas)

East Devon Villages Plan, updated August 2015

Woodbury Parish Historic Environment Plan

Woodbury Village Design Statement

Untitled Map – Postcodes

Jan 2018 Council draft 2 13