Corsham Area Board Profile
2014 – 2026
(Draft_V1)
Report produced on behalf of Wiltshire Council by Ethos Environmental Planning
1.0 CORSHAM AREA PROFILE
1.1 Introduction
The Wiltshire Open Space and Play Area Study is presented in two parts. The first part comprises an overview of the whole study and includes details on local needs, methodology, open space typologies and analysis of provision which combine to make recommendations for future provision and policies for open space in the district. The second part of the study comprises 18 Area Board profiles which provides more localised information. The Area Board profiles should be read in conjunction with the main report (part 1). Each profile includes:
Map of the parish showing open space;
Quantity statistics of provision of open spaces with standards by parish;
Map showing access to open spaces with standards across the parish;
Map showing access to open spaces across the main settlement;
Assessment of quality issues;
Summary of issues and priorities for the Area Board. All of the maps provided within this section of the report are intended to be used for indicative purposes only. Larger scale maps have been provided as a separate database to the council.
1.2 Corsham Area Board
Corsham Area Board is made up of 4 parishes, which include:
Box Colerne Corsham Lacock
The Wiltshire Core Strategy places settlements within the Corsham Area Board in the following hierarchical structure:
Market Towns: Corsham Large Villages: Box, Colerne and Rudloe Small Villages: Gastard, Lacock, Neston and Westwells.
Figure 1 below shows the area map of Corsham Area Board with parish boundaries and main transport routes mapped.
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Figure 1: Parishes in Corsham
1.3 Corsham Market Town
The Corsham Community Area is characterised by its rural setting, high quality landscape, and historic built environment. The area is located within the Cotswold AONB and the natural beauty of the area is also protected by the West Wiltshire Greenbelt. Settlements of note include Lacock, famous for its historic appeal.
The main settlement in the community area is the town of Corsham, which has seen considerable growth in recent years. The community area has strong economic relationships with the nearby major settlements of Bath and Chippenham, which offer higher order services, including for leisure and retail. However, despite the area’s proximity to the M4 transport corridor, the transport network in the area is generally poor, characterised by a rural road network with limited rail connectivity. Community and health facilities in Corsham are under pressure, with most GP surgeries at capacity. In addition, there is a need for a new cemetery. The area uniquely includes a concentration of active and dormant underground mines around Corsham, Box and Gastard, which provide the famous Bath stone. These mines also support internationally important populations of roosting bats which utilise the landscape of the entire area and are protected by a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designation.
Recent and historic growth around the Corsham and Rudloe area has been strongly influenced by the military. The area retains a large military site, MoD Corsham, which has been significantly upgraded to form a ‘state of the art’ operational facility. The military presence
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1.4 Population
Figure 2: Parishes and their populations in Corsham Area Board
Parish Name Size (Ha) Population Box CP 1886.501 3525 Corsham CP 2631.062 13000 Colerne CP 1565.806 2972 Lacock CP 1539.508 1159 4 7622.877 20656
As the table shows there is a total population of 20,656 inhabitants in Corsham and the Area Board covers 7,623 hectares of land.
1.5 Corsham Joint Strategic Assessment (2013-2015)
The JSA provides local data about the area and plays a key role in ensuring informed decisions are made about the community. The data presented consists from a range of community level data and have contributed to the CAJSA for 2013- 2015.
The current CAJSA includes new chapters on culture and leisure giving a broader picture of the community. Updated population figures are included as well as a result of a local survey which asked residents about some of the most important issues facing the council and its partners.
Through the area boards is a growing level of community involvement in decision making and the information presented in the CAJSA will allow for focusing on creating healthy and vibrant communities. There are many opportunities to make the community stronger, including the community campus programme.
Key features within Corsham; Across the 12 rural settlements in the community area covered by the Rural Facilities Survey, there are six recreation fields and five sports fields available for informal use. However, six of the 12 settlements have no recreation fields and nine of the 12 settlements have no outdoor sports fields. The overall coverage of wildlife rich areas (10%) is lower than the average for the county (15%). Around 95% of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) land is in ‘favourable’ condition; the other 4.5% is in an unfavourable recovering condition and is mainly the geological site at Corsham railway cutting.
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1.6 Core Strategy Corsham
Corsham has not been identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. Corsham has a large existing employment base for a town of its size due to the presence of the MoD and continues to be a net importer of workers (more jobs available than total residents workers) yet also has relativity high levels out-commuting. New employment development at the town should seek to improve the retention of workers, with the redevelopment of MoD Corsham, ensuring that Corsham will remain an important employment location in Wiltshire. Overall, the strategy supports some future growth to help facilitate the delivery of improved services and facilities in the community area. Any proposed strategic housing strategic housing and employment allocations identified to the south of Chippenham but may be located within the Corsham community areas location (in full or part) within a nationally designated landscape. In the Corsham community area, this includes the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty. It will deliver, within the overall objective of conserving the designated land scape, a modest and sustainable level of development.
The Wiltshire Core Strategy pre-submission document highlights the importance of Corsham as an employment centre and as previously mentioned an area which is a net importer of workers. In order to improve the area, the following factors have been highlighted:
diversification of employment is important to compliment the current core employment base; a balance of new housing growth is also key and recent large increases in housing have not seen the accompanying services and facilities required to support such development; increased retail opportunities should be encouraged; under Core Policy 37 (military establishments) re-development of some of the redundant military bases in the area should be strategically progressed; development of a community campus in Corsham will provide enhanced community facilities in the town centre; Developer contributions from future housing growth should also help to deliver infrastructure necessary in the town. In particular, additional community and health facilities are needed, along with additional cemetery provision; all development within the community area will need to conserve the designated landscape of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and its setting, and where possible enhance its locally distinctive characteristics; all development will be planned and delivered in accordance with Wiltshire Council guidance to maintain the integrity of the Bath and Bradford-on-Avon Bats Special Area of Conservation (SAC); transport assessments are required for major development and should include identifying appropriate solutions to address capacity issues on the A4 and Bradford; The bus network in the area lacks connectivity and this creates a reliance on the car to travel to work, yet highway capacity in and around Corsham is poor. Therefore, re- opening the railway line should remain a priority.
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It is hoped that moving forward, the River Avon will provide a social, environmental and economic asset to the area as part of a wider green infrastructure network linking Corsham with Chippenham, Bath, and the wider countryside.
1.7 Development Potential
Core Policy 11 in the Wiltshire Core Strategy depicts that new housing targets for the Corsham Area Board will be as follows:
Figure 3: Delivery of Housing (2006-2026) Corsham Area Board
Over the plan period (2006 to 2026), at least 1,395 new homes will be provided of which 1,220 should occur at Corsham. 175 homes will be provided within the rest of the community area. As previously noted, there will be no strategic housing or employment allocations in Corsham. Non-strategic development in the Corsham Community Area over the plan period may consist of a range of sites in accordance with Core Policies 1 and 2.
The Community plan for Corsham highlights the following achievements in relation to local housing and development up to 2012:
Katherine Park development completed (644 units including 110 ‘affordable housing’) (2009); Colerne Parish Council completed refurbishment of old school buildings to include 4 affordable flats, playschool and community rooms (2010); community input reflected in plans for developing Copenacre site (2011); Greensquare development of 43 houses completed in Pound Mead, Corsham (2012); Greensquare and Wiltshire Council are working collaboratively to look at local needs in Rudloe including use of community centre (2012), and; ‘Housing Needs Survey’ underway or completed in Gastard, Neston and Colerne.
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2.0 Map of Community Area Board
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3.0 Quantity of Open Space
3.1 Introduction
The figures for ‘Park and Recreation Ground (combined)’ comprise the sum of the following typologies:
Park and Recreation Ground; Outdoor Sports Space (Pitches); Outdoor Sports Space (Other); Outdoor Sports Space (Private).
It is the ‘combined’ figure that is used for the purpose of analysing quantity, as such it is only this figure where required provision and supply is relevant. Figures have been provided for the individual typologies which make up the combined figure for information only, however, there is no supply assessment for these, hence an ‘NA’ (Not Applicable) is provided. Existing quantity figures are also provided for a number of typologies where there are no standards, as such these also do not show figures for required provision (a figure of 0.00 is provided) and supply is ‘NA’, these typologies are:
Education; Churchyard and Cemetery.
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3.2 Urban Area Analysis
Table 1 Provision in Corsham Existing Existing Required Required Provision Provision Provision Provision Supply Supply Sufficiency of Typology (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) provision Allotments 2.23 0.17 2.60 0.20 -0.37 -0.03 UNDER SUPPLY Amenity Green Space 12.08 0.93 19.50 1.50 -7.42 -0.57 UNDER SUPPLY
Park and Recreation SUFFICIENT Ground (combined) 15.74 1.21 15.60 1.20 0.14 0.01 SUPPLY Park and Recreation Ground 5.08 0.39 15.60 1.20 -10.52 -0.81 N/A Outdoor Sport (Pitches) 0.91 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.91 0.07 N/A Outdoor Sport (Fixed) 0.40 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.40 0.03 N/A Outdoor Sport (Private) 9.35 0.72 0.00 0.00 9.35 0.72 N/A Play Space SUFFICIENT (Children) 0.73 0.06 0.65 0.05 0.08 0.01 SUPPLY Play Space (Youth) 0.11 0.01 0.26 0.02 -0.15 -0.01 UNDER SUPPLY Education 13.98 1.08 0.00 0.00 13.98 1.08 N/A Churchyards and Cemeteries 3.55 0.27 0.00 0.00 3.55 0.27 N/A Table 2 Provision in Box Existing Existing Required Required Provision Provision Provision Provision Supply Supply Sufficiency of Typology (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) provision Allotments 0.56 0.16 0.70 0.20 -0.14 -0.04 UNDER SUPPLY Amenity Green Space 3.45 0.98 5.29 1.50 -1.84 -0.52 UNDER SUPPLY
Park and Recreation SUFFICIENT Ground Combined) 4.53 1.28 4.23 1.20 0.30 0.08 SUPPLY Park and Recreation Ground 2.87 0.81 4.23 1.20 -1.36 -0.39 UNDER SUPPLY Outdoor Sport (Pitches) 1.37 0.39 0.00 0.00 1.37 0.39 N/A Outdoor Sport (Fixed) 0.29 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.29 0.08 N/A Outdoor Sport (Private) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A Play Space (Children) 0.08 0.02 0.18 0.05 -0.10 -0.03 UNDER SUPPLY SUFFICIENT Play Space (Youth) 0.08 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.01 0.00 SUPPLY Education 1.40 0.40 0.00 0.00 1.40 0.40 N/A Churchyards and Cemeteries 1.76 0.50 0.00 0.00 1.76 0.50 N/A
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3.3 Rural Area Analysis
Table 3 Provision across the Community Area Board (Rural Area) Existing Required Existing Provision Required Provision Supply Sufficiency of Typology Provision (Ha) (Ha/1000) Provision (Ha) (Ha/1000) Supply (Ha) (Ha/1000) provision SUFFICIENT Allotments 2.75 0.67 1.03 0.25 1.72 0.42 SUPPLY Recreation Space (public and SUFFICIENT private) 24.00 5.81 12.39 3.00 11.61 2.81 SUPPLY Recreation Space 20.95 5.07 12.39 3.00 8.56 2.07 N/A Recreation Space (Private) 3.05 0.74 0.00 0.00 3.05 0.74 N/A SUFFICIENT Play Space 0.50 0.12 0.29 0.07 0.21 0.05 SUPPLY Education 1.99 0.48 0.00 0.00 1.99 0.48 N/A Churchyards and Cemeteries 1.86 0.45 0.00 0.00 1.86 0.45 N/A
Table 4 Summary of requirements (hectares) for each parish in rural area Recreation Churchyards Accessible Natural Recreation Space and Natural Green Green PARISH CAB Allotments Space (Private) Play Space Education Cemeteries Space Space LacockCP Corsham 1.23 12.57 0.00 0.05 0.03 0.73 0.00 0.00 AllCanningsCP Devizes 0.24 0.43 2.45 0.01 0.87 0.32 29.28 0.00
4.0 Access Analysis
4.1 Access to open space in urban areas
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Amenity Green Space
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Parks, Sport and Recreation Grounds
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Play Space (Children & Youth)
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4.2 Access to open space in rural areas of Community Area Board
The following maps show access to different typologies of open space within the rural areas of the community area boards. Due to the scale of the areas, the maps are intended to be indicative. Maps have been produced for each of the parishes for each typology, and these are held in a separate database for reference for assessment of individual parishes as required.
Allotments
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Recreation Space
Play Space
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5.0 Quality
Within Corsham itself there are only 2 multi-functional recreation areas, and these are relatively small when compared with other market towns in Wiltshire. However, this is counterbalanced by large areas of accessible natural green space and amenity space.
In Corsham, Springfield Recreation Ground, is a large multi-functional recreation ground in the centre of Corsham. It features a skate park, BMX track, and children’s play area. The large amenity area is also used for community events such as summer fetes and funfairs.
The Rec (Meriton Avenue Recreation Ground) is a large area of open grass with a football pitch and children’s play area (containing swings, slides, activity trail and a climbing frame).
The flagship multi-functional site in this area board is found in Box. Box Parish Council were gifted The Recreation Ground by George Jardine Kidston in 1926. The high-quality multi- functional site represents the best recreation ground in Corsham Area Board – the park was very well designed, and maintained. Facilities included: football pitch, cricket pitch, tennis courts, MUGA, bowls, bmx track, basketball court, and a children’s play area. Additionally, the park includes a rock circus exhibiting important rock types found locally. The play equipment was a little dated but of good quality and with a wood-chip ground substrate.
South of Corsham in the village of Gastard lies Coppershell Playing Field containing a mini football pitch with a half-muga for one of the goals, and a good, large children’s play area (with a slide, rockers and a climbing trail). The play area contained outdated equipment but was redeemed by the high quality of these play items.
Neston Recreation Ground, next to Neston Memorial Hall in Pool Green holds a large play area (including a tower slide, swings, adventure trail, and swings), a basketball hoop, and a junior football pitch. There are not very many play items in the play area, and lots of space between existing items (which are all of a high quality. The site had recently been used for a firework display, and turf had been put down to facilitate the recovery of damaged grass – indicative of an involved community focus on the site.
The National Trust provide a multi-functional recreation ground in the village of Lacock. The site held a very large children’s play area (including a climbing wall, netting roundabout, balance trail, and swings) with many wooden play items; a good-quality MUGA, football and cricket pitches. All aspects of the site gave the appearance of being well-maintained and constructed.
Rudloe Play Area adjoins the community centre, and expanses of amenity grass and parking in the immediate vicinity create the sense of a very open area. The play area was separated into a toddler section with swings and a climbing frame; and a children’s area with swings, seesaw, balance trail and climbing frame. The play items were all outdated and of average quality.
FC Colerne Colts Football Club grounds are open to the public as a multi-functional recreation ground. In addition to the senior football pitch and club house facilities include a MUGA,
16 | P a g e children’s play area, basketball court, “urban recreation”, and a skatepark. The children’s play area was very good – including a log climbing frame and tunnel under an earth bank; the basketball court, skatepark and outdoor fitness equipment were all of reasonable quality.
6.0 Priorities for the area
This section draws on the analysis of quality, quantity and access within this area profile and highlights a number of key issues and priorities, and makes recommendations, where appropriate of how these may be addressed. It is intended that this information would be used as the starting point to inform other strategies, neighbourhood plans which could be taken forward by the Council, Town/Parish Council or the local community.
Issues Recommendation Who Allotments: With approximately 1400 dwellings Wiltshire Council The provision of allotments within planned for this area there is Planning both Corsham and box are under opportunity for providing additional supplied. facilities through new development Developers In the south and south west of to meet shortfalls in the area. Corsham there is poor access to Local Community allotments. Consideration should also be given to encouraging community growing Town and Parish areas and/or community orchards Council’s in existing open spaces. Amenity Green Space: Again, on site provision of amenity Wiltshire Council There is an under supply of amenity green space should be sought Planning green space in both the urban areas through new development in areas of Box and Corsham. of under provision. Developers Access to Amenity green space is good in both built up areas with small gaps in the centre. Park & Recreation Grounds: As there is currently good provision, Wiltshire Council There is an overall good supply of there is a need to maintain and Open Spaces parks and rec in the area with small improve the quality of existing gaps in access. provision. A number of facilities have potential for improvement (see section 5). Management plans for key sites could be developed to guide improvements. Children and Youth Facilities: Where development opportunities Wiltshire Council There is a sufficient supply of arise, new on site provision, Planning children’s play space in urban areas, particularly in rural areas should be but an overall under supply of youth sought. facilities; Within the rural areas there is an The priority should be for fewer, overall undersupply of play space. larger and higher quality play Access to children’s and youth play spaces as opposed to a proliferation spaces in Box is good. Within of smaller play spaces. Corsham access to children’s facilities is generally good with a
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small gap in the centre. However access to youth facilities is poor.
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