Tidworth Area Board Profile
2014 – 2026
(Draft_V1)
Report produced on behalf of Wiltshire Council by Ethos Environmental Planning
1.0 TIDWORTH 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 Tidworth Area Board
Tidworth Area Board is made up of 11 parishes, which include:
Enford Collingbourne Ducis Fittleton Ludgershall Tidworth Chute Forest Collingbourne Kingston Chute Netheravon Tidcombe Fosbury Everleigh
The Wiltshire Core Strategy places settlements with the Tidworth Area Board in the following hierarchical structure:
Market Towns: Tidworth and Ludgershall Large Villages: Collingbourne Ducis and Netheravon Small Villages: Collingbourne Kingston, Enford, Everleigh and The Chutes (Chute Cadley / Chute Standen, Lower Chute and Upper Chute).
Figure 1 below shows the area map of Tidworth Area Board with parish boundaries and main transport routes mapped.
1 | P a g e
Figure 1: Parishes in Tidworth
1.3 Tidworth and Ludgershall
The Tidworth Community Area is located in the eastern part of Wiltshire. The area is predominantly rural in character and includes parts of Salisbury Plain and the North Wessex Downs AONB. The two main towns in the community area, Tidworth and Ludgershall, have complimentary roles and are being planned for jointly to help them develop a number of shared facilities and resources. This complimentary role will enable a more sustainable community, where a mix of military and civilian employment, and shared facilities, serve a permanent population.
The Tidworth Community Area is dominated by the presence of the military, being by far the largest local employer, utilising large parts of Salisbury Plain as a training area. Although Tidworth and Ludgershall provide local centres, Andover and Salisbury offer the majority of higher order services and facilities, such as hospitals and cinemas, and public transport in the area is based around access to these centres. The A303 is located just south of the community area and is a strategic transport route linking Wiltshire to the south-east and south-west of England.
2 | P a g e
1.4 Population
Figure 2: Parishes and their populations in Tidworth Area Board Parish Name Size (Ha) Population Enford CP 3311.485 619 Fittleton CP 1326.509 261 Tidworth CP 2168.316 10621 Collingbourne Kingston CP 2017.763 511 Netheravon CP 1428.808 1060 Everleigh CP 1327.497 211 Collingbourne Ducis CP 2287.936 957 Ludgershall CP 771.942 4427 Chute Forest CP 825.19 180 Chute CP 1313.626 299 Tidcombe and Fosbury CP 1528.08 82 11 18307.152 19228
As the table shows there is a total population of 19,228 inhabitants in Tidworth and the Area Board covers 18,307 hectares of land.
1.5 Tidworth 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 Tidworth; The coverage of Wildlife Rich Areas (WRAs) is the highest in the county, largely due to the extent of Salisbury Plain Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Ministry of Defence and Natural England are working to bring this SSSI into ‘favourable’ condition through scrub removal and juniper regeneration; the next SSSI condition assessment is scheduled for 2014.
3 | P a g e
1.6 Core Strategy in Tidworth
Tidworth/Ludgershall is not identified as a location for new strategic employment growth. The employment mix in the town is dominated by MOD and this causes there to be a number unusual commuting patterns with a high percentage of people walking to work and a relatively good level of self-containment. Nevertheless there remains significant out commuting with limited employment beyond jobs associated with the MOD. New employment at Tidworth and Ludgershall should concentrate on providing a range of opportunities to diversify the job market. Although not a strategic location for employment growth, Castledown Business Park is an important allocation that will fulfil the requirements of Tidworth/Ludgershall in the short and medium term.
The dominance of the military and the unique living and working practices of military life mean that the community area displays some unusual patterns and population profile. The military lifestyle also has a fundamental effect on how people interact with higher order service centres around the area. As the Tidworth Netheravon and Salisbury garrisons have been designated as a super garrison, the military population in the area is expected to grow and new military housing is planned military personnel are also likely to remain in the area for longer. This strategy will help to deliver wider improvements to services and facilities in the community area and thus contribute to the integration of the civilian and military community. The strategy will respond to the community areas location (in full or part) within a nationally designated landscape. In the Tidworth community area this includes the north Wessex downs area outstanding natural beauty. It will deliver, within the overall objective of conserving the designated landscape, a modest and sustainable level of development.
Other specific items highlighted within the WCS in relation to the Tidworth Area Board are as follows:
the re-use of brownfield military land will be a priority to support sustainable local employment growth; The use of brownfield land will also enable the protection of sensitive areas around the community area including the Salisbury Plain SSSI, SPA and SAC and the North Wessex Downs AONB. However, the re-use of this land needs to be considered carefully in relation to the wider needs of the area; developer contributions from future housing growth should also help to deliver infrastructure necessary in the town; development which increases recreational pressure upon the Salisbury Plain Special Protection Area will not be permitted unless proportionate contributions are made to offset impacts through the Wessex Stone Curlew Project; all development within the community area will need to conserve the designated landscape of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and its setting, and where possible enhance its locally distinctive characteristics; development in the vicinity of the River Avon (Hampshire) or Salisbury Plain must protect the habitats, species and processes which maintain the integrity of these Special Areas of Conservation; Further improvements to the retail offer of Tidworth and Ludgershall is a priority to help improve the self-sufficiency of the area. Regeneration is particularly important
4 | P a g e
as both town centres currently are poorly defined and suffer from a lack of continuity, and; Sustainable traffic demand management and containment solutions will be needed to limit the impact of new development on the A303. Other improvements should include enhanced public transport connectivity.
1.7 Development Potential
New housing targets for the Tidworth Area Board as identified in the Wiltshire Core Strategy are as follows:
Figure 3: Delivery of Housing (2006-2026) Tidworth Area Board
Over the plan period (2003-2026), approximately 1,920 new homes will be provided of which about 1,750 should occur at Tidworth and Ludgershall, including land identified at Drummond park (MSA Depot) Ludgershall for strategic growth.
The strategic allocation will be brought forward through a master planning process agreed between the community, local planning authority and the developer and should be in accordance with the development template. Approximately 170 homes will be provided in the rest of the community area. Growth in the Tidworth community area over the plan period may consist of a range of sites in accordance with core policies 1 and 2.
5 | P a g e
2.0 Map of Community Area Board
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.
6 | P a g e
3.2 Urban Area Analysis
Table 1 Provision in Tidworth Existing Existing Required Required Provision Provision Provision Provision Supply Sufficiency Typology (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) Supply (Ha) (Ha/1000) of provision Allotments 0.00 0.00 2.12 0.20 -2.12 -0.20 UNDER Amenity Green UNDER Space 14.14 1.33 15.93 1.50 -1.79 -0.17 SUPPLY Park and recreation SUFFICIENT Combined 53.03 4.98 12.75 1.20 40.28 3.78 SUPPLY Park and Recreation Ground 15.23 1.43 12.75 1.20 2.48 0.23 N/A Outdoor Sport (Pitches) 6.83 0.64 0.00 0.00 6.83 0.64 N/A Outdoor Sport (Fixed) 3.43 0.32 0.00 0.00 3.43 0.32 N/A Outdoor Sport (Private) 27.54 2.59 0.00 0.00 27.54 2.59 N/A SUFFICIENT Play Space (Children) 0.77 0.07 0.53 0.05 0.24 0.02 SUPPLY Play Space (Youth) 0.17 0.02 0.21 0.02 -0.04 0.00 UNDER SUFFICIENT Education 12.29 1.16 0.00 0.00 12.29 1.16 SUPPLY Churchyards and SUFFICIENT Cemeteries 1.60 0.15 0.00 0.00 1.60 0.15 SUPPLY
Table 2 Provision in Ludgershall Existing Existing Required Required Provision Provision Provision Provision Supply Sufficiency of Typology (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) Supply (Ha) (Ha/1000) provision Allotments 2.30 0.52 0.89 0.20 1.41 0.32 SUFFICIENT SUPPLY Amenity Green Space 6.36 1.44 6.64 1.50 -0.28 -0.06 UNDER SUPPLY Park and Recreation Ground (combined) 0.67 0.15 5.31 1.20 -4.64 -1.05 UNDER SUPPLY Park and Recreation Ground 0.00 0.00 5.31 1.20 -5.31 -1.20 N/A Outdoor Sport (Pitches) 0.67 0.15 0.00 0.00 0.67 0.15 N/A
Outdoor Sport (Fixed) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A Outdoor Sport (Private) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A Play Space (Children) 0.21 0.05 0.22 0.05 -0.01 0.00 UNDER SUPPLY Play Space (Youth) 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.02 -0.09 -0.02 UNDER SUPPLY Education 7.53 1.70 0.00 0.00 7.53 1.70 N/A Churchyards and Cemeteries 0.63 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.63 0.14 N/A
7 | P a g e
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 Allotments 0.30 0.07 1.04 0.25 -0.74 -0.18 UNDER SUPPLY Recreation Space (public and private) 8.33 1.99 12.54 3.00 -4.21 -1.01 UNDER SUPPLY Recreation Space 8.33 1.99 12.54 3.00 -4.21 -1.01 N/A Recreation Space (Private) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A Play Space 0.17 0.04 0.29 0.07 -0.12 -0.03 UNDER SUPPLY Education 1.20 0.29 0.00 0.00 1.20 0.29 N/A Churchyards and Cemeteries 3.18 0.76 0.00 0.00 3.18 0.76 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 ChuteCP Tidworth -0.07 -0.90 0.00 -0.02 0.00 0.28 524.61 0.00 ChuteForestCP Tidworth -0.04 1.56 0.00 -0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 CollingbourneDucis CP Tidworth -0.24 -0.35 0.00 -0.03 0.22 0.45 524.61 11.27 CollingbourneKings tonCP Tidworth -0.13 -1.23 0.00 -0.04 0.00 0.53 524.61 0.00 EverleighCP Tidworth -0.05 -0.50 0.00 -0.01 0.00 0.29 0.00 0.00 FittletonCP Tidworth -0.07 -0.78 0.00 -0.02 0.00 0.43 0.00 0.00 NetheravonCP Tidworth 0.03 -2.68 0.00 0.02 0.98 0.45 3.01 0.00 TidcombeandFosbu ryCP Tidworth -0.02 -0.25 0.00 -0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 UpavonCP Tidworth -0.30 -1.30 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.91 0.00 0.00
8 | P a g e
4.0 Access Analysis
4.1 Access to open space in urban areas
Allotments
9 | P a g e
Amenity Green Space
10 | P a g e
Park and Recreation Grounds
11 | P a g e
Play Space (Children & Youth)
12 | P a g e
13 | P a g e
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
14 | P a g e
Recreation Space
Play Space
15 | P a g e
5.0 Quality
Within the town of Tidworth all of the open spaces are owned by or governed by the MoD. The Company in charge of maintenance of these sites is called Aspire and between them and the MoD they can restrict and withdraw the rights of any one to access the site.
The field on Meerut Road is one site which is maintained by the MoD but is accessible to the public. The site has a rugby pitch a skate park and on Arc GIS the site has historic evidence of football pitches. The skate park was a single half pipe which was dated and offered little opportunities for youth. This site was often used as a through route by dog walkers and joggers.
On the south of Tidworth is Arcott field with three football pitches, a cricket pitch and a single rugby pitch. This site is managed and maintained by aspire and two of the football pitches on site are restricted access. This field is solely for sports activities and other than a single litter bin has no other facilities.
Moving out from Tidworth town there is Collingbourne Ducis and Chilton Foliet both which have park and recreation facilities. Chilton Foliet has a pavilion. A play space children, cricket pitch, senior football pitch and a junior football pitch. The children’s play space had few opportunities for play and the apparatus was dated. The site is popular amongst dog walkers and often meet up so the dogs could play together. The site as a whole meets the needs of the local community.
Collingbourne Ducis’s recreation ground is based around its social/community centre. The grounds have a senior football pitch, tennis courts, cricket wicket, Skate Park and shares a children’s play space with the local school. The tennis court was open to the public and was in good condition. There was CCTV monitoring the courts to prevent anti-social behaviour. The cricket net was worn and covered in leaves making it unfit for purpose and the skate park is dated and unappealing for use.
Overall Tidworth town is self-contained and due to its military presence has numerous facilities for those involved within the MoD. However for those not involved in the MoD there are very little opportunities there for them. The surrounding parishes all have appropriate facilities around them but will need improvements.
16 | P a g e
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 2000 Wiltshire Council Tidworth is under supplied with dwellings planned for this area Planning allotments and access is very poor there is opportunity for providing Ludgershall is well supplied with additional facilities through new Developers allotments development to meet shortfalls in Most of Ludgershall has good the area. Local Community access to allotments Consideration should also be Town and Parish given to encouraging community Council’s growing areas and/or community orchards in existing open spaces. Amenity Green Space: Again, on site provision of amenity Wiltshire Council Both Tidworth and Ludgershall are green space should be sought Planning under supplied. through new development in Access to amenity green space is areas of under provision. Developers good within Ludgershall with majority of the community having Town Council access. Tidworth has reasonably good access to amenity apart from the restricted parts of the town used by the MOD Park & Recreation Grounds: Where opportunities arise, new Wiltshire Council Tidworth is well supplied with provision in parishes with an Planning/ Economic recreational facilities, Ludgershall identified under supply should be Development/Open and the rural area surrounding are sought (although with limited Spaces under supplied. development in these areas, Access to recreational facilities opportunities may be limited). within Tidworth is good with only a Developers small section having poor access. Ludgershall has very poor access Town Council and the closest facilities are within Tidworth. Children and Youth Facilities: Where development Wiltshire Council There is a sufficient supply of opportunities arise, new on site Planning children play spaces within provision should be sought. Tidworth but Ludgershall and the surrounding rural areas are under The priority should be for fewer, supplied. larger and higher quality play spaces as opposed to a
17 | P a g e
All of the Tidworth area board is proliferation of smaller play under supplied under supplied spaces. with youth facilities. There’s a big gap in access to children’s play space in the west of Tidworth. This area is mainly privatised and restricted to public access. Ludgershall has good access to children play spaces with a small gap in the centre. However there is no access to youth facilities within Ludgershall.
18 | P a g e