Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 3
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
1 Introduction
1.1 The West Berkshire Planning Strategy is the lead document, the Core Strategy, of our Local Development Framework (LDF). It is the key document which will set out our overall spatial vision for how the District should develop in the future. It will also provide the basis for all other planning documents that we will produce as part of the LDF. A key objective of the Core Strategy will be to set out the policies for the management of development in the rural areas.
1.2 Our policies in the Local Development Framework must be developed in accordance with National and Regional Planning Guidance. The national planning policy approach to development in villages and rural areas is set out in Planning Policy Statements, particularly Planning Policy Statement 1: Sustainable Development (PPS1), Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) and Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7). Guidance within the Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (PPS25) will also be an important consideration; we must take into account all the issues relating to flood risk when identifying locations for development. At the Regional level, the emerging South East Plan provides the overall planning framework.
1.3 Key guidance within the above documents includes:
Most new development should be directed to existing towns and cities to help maximise accessibility to employment and services by walking, cycling and public transport;
Within rural areas, most new development should be focused in or near to local service centres.
There is a need to provide housing in villages in order to enhance or maintain their sustainability, while assisting people to live near their work and benefit from key services;
Any new building development in the open countryside, away from existing settlements or outside areas allocated for development, should be strictly controlled – as the government’s overall aim is to protect the countryside for the sake of its landscape character, heritage, wildlife and recreational opportunities;
1.4 In addition to national and regional requirements, we will take into account the local needs and aspirations of West Berkshire’s rural communities. To do this we will build on consultation already undertaken as part of the Core Strategy and continue to involve the community as we develop the planning strategy further. In addition, we will draw on existing Parish Plans and Village Design Statements (VDS) and the local knowledge and input of Parish Councils on issues like the need for affordable housing in rural areas. We will continue to work in partnership with Parish Councils to help them develop new Parish Plans and VDS. 4 West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
2 Purpose of this Background Paper
2.1 West Berkshire’s rural areas contain a wealth and diversity of settlements – from small market towns, to bustling villages and tiny hamlets. Following previous consultation we believe our planning strategy should take account of this diversity, and not prescribe a “one size fits all” approach to development. Our Planning Strategy should allow for different approaches to development in different settlements, to ensure that local development needs are met, that new homes are located in the most sustainable locations, and that the character of our towns and villages is maintained and enhanced.
2.2 With these aims in mind, we propose to base our strategy for the rural areas on the identification of a hierarchy of settlements, where settlements are classified according to their sustainability and the extent to which they act as service centres. We have assessed the availability of various key services and amenities in each settlement, and the availability of public transport services to major towns.This background paper sets out the methodology and evidence used to produce the hierarchy, together with results of the hierarchy itself.
2.3 The principle of planning positively for development in villages using a settlement hierarchy has been supported by the Inspectors’ Panel Report on the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East England (The South East Plan).
3 Methodology for Producing the Settlement Hierarchy
3.1 We have sought to identify the services and amenities that provide people with access to basic needs like education, healthcare, leisure, social interaction, and employment. The list of services is partly based on guidance from South East England Regional Assembly’s Sustainability Checklist (1), which contains a useful guide to the essential services and facilities required for sustainable communities.
3.2 In order to determine a settlement's position in the hierarchy, points have been awarded where a settlement has a service or amenity. Some weighting has been used, so that the more important facilities are worth more points. For example, a primary school scores more points than a children’s play area.
3.3 For a settlement to score points, the service or amenity must be located within the built up area of a settlement, or within 1km (reasonable walking distance) of the centre of the settlement.
3.4 Of course, people still need access to larger towns for leisure, shopping and work. Therefore, an assessment has been made of each settlement to establish whether they have a frequent public transport service (defined as an hourly daytime service or more frequent) to a larger town. For the purpose of this study the larger towns are identified as Newbury, Reading, and Thatcham. If the settlement has a frequent bus service to any of these towns it scores 2 points. If the settlement has a railway station, or is within 2km of a railway station with a frequent service to those towns it scores 3 points. Where a settlement has both, the score is 3 points.
3.5 Table 1 provides a description of each service, why it has been included, the source of information that was used to identify where they are located and the number of points scored.
1 http://southeast.sustainability-checklist.co.uk/ Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 5
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Table 1 Criterion used to rank settlements in hierarchy
Service / Amenity Description Source of information Points awarded Employment Employment Areas are those areas West Berkshire District 2 Area designated as such within the West Local Plan 1991-2006 Berkshire District Local Plan 1991-2006 and other sites employing 100 people Berkshire Employment Land or more within 2km of the centre of a Assessment - Supply settlement. The availability of Database (May 2007) employment within close proximity to homes can reduce the need to travel.
Primary School Primary schools are an important West Berkshire Council 2 amenity for families with children and Education service. have an important role in many village communities.
Secondary Access to Secondary Schools is West Berkshire Council 3 School important for young people, and in many Education service. cases they provide facilities for the wider community.
NHS Doctor’s Doctor’s surgeries are important National Heath Service 2 surgery healthcare facilities. The presence of website: http://www.nhs.uk/ them in the rural areas is especially useful for less mobile people.
NHS Dental Dental Surgeries are important for National Heath Service 1 Surgery general healthcare. website: http://www.nhs.uk/
Pharmacy Useful facilities for health care. Source of information – 1 Yellow Pages website: www.yell.com Village hall / Village halls are important community Website: 1 Community facilities, often providing a base for local www.westberks.gov.uk centre organisations and community events.
Indoor Valuable facilities for health, fitness and Source of information – 1 sport/leisure social purposes. Website: facility www.westberks.gov.uk
Parish Plans
Recreation Recreation Grounds are important to Report: ‘An Inventory of 1 Ground encourage outdoor sports and general Green Open Space in West health and wellbeing. They also often Berkshire 2006’. provide a home for local sports teams. 6 West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Service / Amenity Description Source of information Points awarded Children’s play Children’s play areas are valuable for Report ‘An Inventory of 1 area the physical development of young Green Open Space in West people. Berkshire 2006’.
Supermarket Important for day to day needs and Source of information – 2 weekly shopping trips. Yellow Pages website: www.yell.com Public House Aside from serving food and drink, pubs Source of information: 1 provide a meeting place for people and Parish Plans, Ordnance can contribute to a sense of community. Survey maps.
Bank Useful for day to day banking needs. Source of information – 1 Yellow Pages website: www.yell.com Post Office Valuable community facilities allowing Website: 2 access to a number of financial and www.postoffice.co.uk communication services. Unfortunately some of these have closed in recent years and some that continue to exist are threatened with closure.
Playgroup/ Important for childcare provision and Website: 1 child development. www.childcarelink.gov.uk Nursery School
Frequent bus Hourly or more frequent bus service to Local bus company 2 service to larger larger town (including Basingstoke, timetables centre Newbury, Oxford, Swindon, Thatcham and Reading).
Frequent railway Hourly or more frequent railway service Local train company 3 service to larger to larger town (including Basingstoke, timetables centre. Newbury, Oxford, Swindon, Thatcham and Reading). Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 7
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Facilities in nearby villages
3.6 If a settlement does not have a particular facility, but it is within 1km (or 2km for a railway station) of a facility within another town or village, then it scores points for access to those facilities in the normal way. For example, the centre of Streatley is within 1km of the post office and within 2km of the railway station in neighbouring Goring.
4 Detailed Results
The following pages show the detailed results of the assessment.
The tables on pages 8-12 show the results in alphabetical order by settlement name. The tables on pages 13-17 show the results by settlement score.
4.1 Population data is included in the results for information purposes. At this stage we do not propose it contributes to the sustainability rating. Br Br Green Br Br Br Bo Beenham Beedon Beech Hill Bagnor Green Ashmore Ashampstead Aldw Wharf Alder Alder A POINTS Buc Common V adfield impton impton ightw ightw xf AILABLE kleb ord or maston maston th alton alton ur y 2
Employment Area 2
Primary School 3
Secondary School 2
Doctors Surgery 1
Dentist 1
Pharmacy 1
Village Hall /Community Centre 1
Indoor leisure facility 1
Recreation Ground 1
Childrens play area 2
Supermarket 1
Convenience store 1
Pub 1
Bank 2
Post Office 1 Playgroup/
Nursery School 1
Library (3) By tr By b Hourly or better us-2 ain-3 service to larger town by public transport 5 5 3 4 9 5 4 1 5 4 3 7 11 Max 27 2 3 8
Total Score 60 150 270 290 660 220 190 70 400 170 140 660 590 90 120 110
Population (For
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac 2008 y Ma , Strategy Planning Berkshire est W 8 F Englefield Enbor Enbor Eastb East Ilsle East Garston Curr Compton Cold Ash Chie Chapel Ro Chaddle Common Burghfield Br Burghfield Burghfield F a r ilsham idge wle idge v ele ur y ne Ro ne y w y y or w th w
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall /Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library (2) Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 1 3 1 5 7 6 18 9 13 5 8 23 3 5 1 1 2
Total Score 230 40 290 520 310 690 1520 2240 930 400 350 5760 90 400 160 80 90
Population (For
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire Planning Strategy Planning Berkshire est W Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac y 2008 y Ma , 9 Mor Midgham Lo Lec Lambour Kintb Inkpen Ne Hungerf Hungerf Her Marshall Hamstead Norre Hampstead Great Sheff Green Gr P adw w az wto khampstead mitage timer er Basildon ele ur or ys wn y th y ord ord n ord
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall /Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library (3) (3) (2) (3) Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 3 2 4 18 16 6 1 27 12 3 6 9 1 2 20
Total Score 90 120 180 2960 1810 880 70 5038 1150 140 540 460 60 30 3100
Population (For
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac 2008 y Ma , Strategy Planning Berkshire est W 10 Ufton Ner Tidmarsh Theale Sulhamstead Streatle Mor Str Stoc Dingle Stanf Southend South F W Sheff Bottom Sheffield P P Upper Basildon easemore angbour oodlands atfield timer kcross ord ord y y a wle v ne et y
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall /Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library (3) (3) (3) (3) Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 1 27 6 9 6 10 2 11 1 2 3 4 23 9 3
Total Score 230 2771 330 830 260 260 150 770 30 80 30 250 2180 950 320
Population (For
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire Planning Strategy Planning Berkshire est W Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac y 2008 y Ma , 11 Y W W Winterbour Wic W W W Upper Lambour Upper Buc Upper attendon or oolhampton est Ilsle elf oolhampton kham kleb ld's End ord ur n y y ne
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall /Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library (3) Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 8 1 11 1 3 3 1 4 1 7
Total Score 380 110 550 170 220 340 50 40 180 910
Population (For
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac 2008 y Ma , Strategy Planning Berkshire est W 12 Bac Table 3 Settlements by Total Score kg y y) round P er hool ound or y area er g Bac lic g hool hool unity y Sc y kgr t y Sc oup/ s Sur y pub y Sc yment Area y e y or better ound P g ser venience store ygr vice to lar ormation onl wn b ost Office opulation (f otal Score Pharmac Villa Hall/Comm Centre Indoor leisure facility Recreation Gr Childrens pla Supermarket Con Pub Bank P Pla Nur Librar Hourl ser to transpor T P inf Emplo Primar Secondar Doctor Dentist aper POINTS By bus-2 aper: AVAILABLE 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 By train-3 Max 27 ARuralSettlementHierar : ARur Hungerford 27 5038
(3) al SettlementHier Theale 27 2771
Burghfield (2) c
Common 23 5760 h y f or W
(3) est Berkshire Pangbourne 23 2180
(3) arch Mortimer 20 3100 W est BerkshirePlanningStrategy
Compton 18 1520 y f or Lambourn 18 2960 W est Ber (3) Kintbury 16 1810
Chieveley 13 930 kshire , Ma
(2) y 2008 Hermitage 12 1150 13 Buc Upper East Garston Y Chaddle Br Upper Basildon Streatle Great Sheff Cold Ash Beenham Stoc W Southend Alder Wharf Alder attendon oolhampton impton kleb kcross maston maston y ur w or y ord th
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall/Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library (3) (3) (3) Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 10 11 11 11 7 7 7
Total Score 380 350 110 950 830 460 2240 660 260 550 770 590 660 910 310
Population (for
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac 2008 y Ma , Strategy Planning Berkshire est W 14 Bo Beech Hill Ashampstead East Ilsle Chapel Ro Burghfield Green Br Br Beedon Green Ashmore Sulhamstead Mor Str Inkpen Norre Hampstead Curr Lec ightw ightw xf atfield khampstead timer ord idge ys alton alton y w
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall/Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library (3) Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 4
Total Score 170 520 400 400 60 150 220 400 330 260 880 540 690 180 290 190
Population (for
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire Planning Strategy Planning Berkshire est W Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac y 2008 y Ma , 15 Lo Englefield Buc Wic W Ufton Ner Bottom Sheffield Midgham Marshall Hamstead Enbor Br Burghfield Common Br Br Aldw W Upper P P easemore adw est Ilsle oolhampton adfield idge impton w kham kleb er Basildon or or ne th th ur y v y et
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall/Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library
Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 2 2 2
Total Score 90 220 340 320 30 90 140 40 90 120 270 140 40 250 30 120 90
Population (for
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac 2008 y Ma , Strategy Planning Berkshire est W 16 W Winterbour W Lambour Upper Tidmarsh South F Ne Hungerf Green Gr F F Enbor Eastb Bagnor Dingle Stanf W Sheff a r or elf ilsham oodlands wle az wto ld's End ord ele ord ord ur y ne Ro wn y a y y ord n wle ne w y
Employment Area
Primary School
Secondary School
Doctors Surgery
Dentist
Pharmacy
Village Hall/Community Centre
Indoor leisure facility
Recreation Ground
Childrens play area
Supermarket
Convenience store
Pub
Bank
Post Office
Playgroup/
Nursery School
Library
Hourly or better service to larger town by public transport 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1
Total Score 170 50 180 230 30 70 60 160 80 230 290 70 150 80 110
Population (for
information only)
est Ber est W or f y arch Hier Settlement al Rur A : aper P round kg Bac kshire
est Berkshire Planning Strategy Planning Berkshire est W Berkshire est W or f y h c Hierar Settlement Rural A aper: P ound kgr Bac y 2008 y Ma , 17 18 West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
5 Identifying the Hierarchy
5.1 To produce the hierarchy, we have ranked and categorised the settlements according to their score. We have sought to identify groups of settlements with similar scores and similar levels of services. An element of local knowledge and judgement has also been used to guide the grouping of settlements.
Table 4 Tiers in the Hierarchy
No. of points Level in Hierarchy Definition More than 25 points Leading Rural Service Settlement which has all the possible services Centre identified and frequent public transport to larger centres by bus and train. Rural Service Centre Settlement with a wide range of services and reasonable public transport to larger centres. 15 - 24 points
Settlement with a range of services including a primary school, village hall, pub and convenience store. 7 - 14 points Service Village
1- 6 points Other settlement not Settlement with a low level of services and/or poor included in hierarchy access to public transport.These villages do not qualify to be in the settlement hierarchy. Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 19
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
6 The Settlement Hierarchy
6.1 The table below shows each tier of the hierarchy and the settlements contained within each level of the hierarchy.
Table 5 Settlement Hierarchy
Hierarchy level Settlement Score Leading Rural Hungerford 27 Service Centre Theale 27
Rural Service Pangbourne 23 Centre Burghfield Common 23 Mortimer 20 Compton 18 Lambourn 18 Kintbury 16
Service Village Chieveley 13 Hermitage 12 Aldermaston 11 Bradfield Southend 11 Woolhampton 11 Stockcross 10 Beenham 9 Cold Ash 9 Great Shefford 9 Streatley 9 Upper Basildon 9 Brimpton 8 Chaddleworth 8 Yattendon 8 AldermastonWharf 7 East Garston 7 Upper Bucklebury 7 20 West Berkshire Planning Strategy, May 2008 Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
Background Paper: A Rural Settlement Hierarchy for West Berkshire
7 Map of Hierarchy
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