KNIGHTON NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

BASELINE REPORT

October 2017

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Table of contents

1. Background and introduction

Background to Knighton Neighbourhood Plan (KNP) Extent of the Neighbourhood Plan area Purpose of the Baseline report Planning context Current development plan The Housing and Economic Market Area National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

2. Population information

Total population Male / female split Age profile Households Overcrowding and under-occupation Housing mix Tenure Employment Travel to work Health Deprivation Ethnicity

3. Neighbourhood Facilities

Health Education Retailing Other services and facilities

4. Open Spaces / Sports and leisure

Parks and Gardens Accessible Green Spaces Amenity / Informal Green Space Allotments Sports pitches Play provision for children and young people Private sports club Knighton issues Access to open space Quantity of open space

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5. Local Economy

Employment sector Employment by occupation Travel to work Travel to work mode Opportunities for employment within the KNP area

6. Planning and Housing Growth

7. Transport

Roads Public transport Walking Cycling Proposed transport schemes

8. Heritage and Conservation

Listed buildings Non-designated important buildings Conservation Area

9. Pollution, Climate change and flooding Air quality Flooding

10. Waste and Recycling 11. Conclusions and Future work

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1. Background and introduction

Background to Knighton Neighbourhood Plan (KNP)

1.1 Neighbourhood Plans were introduced by the government under the Localism Act 2011. This act allows Parish and Town councils in rural areas and Neighbourhood Forums in cities in England to create their own Neighbourhood Plan that becomes part of the ‘Development Plan’ for the area. This means that planning policies contained within the plan must be taken into account by the Planning Authority when making decisions about planning applications.

1.2 The KNP will set out a vision and land use framework for development for the future of the area over the next 15 to 20 years.

1.3 Work on creating a Neighbourhood Plan for Knighton started following a Knighton Ward Community Meeting on 15th December 2014. Following extensive consultation a Knighton Neighbourhood Forum was created in March 2015. The approved neighbourhood area was approved in November 2015 and in December 2015 the Forum applied to the City Council for designation as the Neighbourhood Forum for the approved designated area. Following consultation by Leicester City Council between May and July 2016, the Forum’s formal designation was approved in September 2016.

1.4 Further details of the process and timescale for developing the Neighbourhood Plan are available on the Knighton Forum web-site1.

Extent of the Neighbourhood Plan area

1.5 The area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan is shown on the map (Figure 1) below. It includes the whole of Knighton (including west and south Knighton) and parts of Stoneygate. The area is defined by: the Midland Main Line railway to the west; Knighton Park and the administrative boundary of Leicester City to the south, London Road (and the environs of Leicester High School for girls) to the east and Knighton Road and Knighton Lane East to the north.

1.6 The area is not the same as the Council ward boundary of Knighton but covers a smaller area. The Knighton Forum (KF) designated area covers all or some of up to 39 Census Output Areas, but some of these Output Areas are only partly within the KF area, which was arrived at by local 'on the ground' knowledge and perceptions and so does not match the more artificial, data derived Census geography. In creating aggregate data for the KNP, we have used 37 of these output areas. In addition, the ‘ward boundary for Knighton changed recently entailing the ward data from the 2011 census is not the same as we are dealing with today. The passage of time since the Census 2011 also means that the figures derived from it should be considered as approximate and indicative, but still more specific and accurate than commonly used administrative geography, such as wards.

1 www.knightonforum.org.uk

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Figure 1. Knighton Neighbourhood Plan area. (Source: Knighton Neighbourhood Forum)

Purpose of the Baseline report

1.7 This Baseline Report seeks to set out a portrait of the Knighton Forum area. It brings together and summarises information from a range of sources to identify the key social, environmental and economic characteristics of the Knighton Forum area. The report seeks to provide a picture of the current area and identify some of the issues that could be addressed through the Neighbourhood Planning process.

1.8 The baseline data will highlight some of the social, environmental and economic circumstances that are unique to the Knighton forum area. Social baseline data includes Information about:

▪ The demographics (population) of Knighton;

▪ Its built, natural and historic environment;

▪ Its services and facilities; and

▪ Its relationship with Leicester including migration, commuting and transport.

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1.9 The report will seek to identify how the baseline information could help to inform the emerging plan.

1.10 Where data for the Neighbourhood Plan area is available it will be used (such as some of the demographic / census information at output area level). However, it is important to note that some data is based on the Council ward for Knighton which is not the same as the Forum area.

Planning context

1.11 Neighbourhood Plans deal with local issues but are not prepared in isolation. They are prepared within a wider context and must be compatible with the Leicester Local Plan and be consistent with the national planning policy and guidance including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

1.12 A Neighbourhood Plan should complement the relevant Local Plan for the planning authority by giving greater specificity and local emphasis to meet the needs of the neighbourhood. Leicester City Council is currently producing the new Local Plan for Leicester, which is expected to be adopted in 2018.

1.13 Neighbourhood Plans are not intended to block development that may be required. They can however help to shape the type of development needed and its form. The Neighbourhood Plan will need to consider how development needs are met and to influence the type of development that takes place, where it takes place, what it looks like and the mix of uses proposed that are included.

1.14 However, anecdotally, it is recognised that, as with the City of Leicester, the boundaries of the Neighbourhood Plan area are tightly drawn with limited opportunities to accommodate large scale growth.

1.15 It is possible that the Neighbourhood Plan could be finalised in advance of the Leicester Local Plan. Government guidance has generally indicated that Neighbourhood Plans should be able to proceed irrespective of the local planning authority’s stage in the Local Plan process. Preparation of the baseline study has therefore been prepared with extensive engagement with City Council Officers in order to ensure that the plans align. It is important to demonstrate compatibility when the Plans are independently examined.

1.16 The KNP area sits within a wider context of the Leicester & Leicestershire Housing and Economic areas. Both Leicester City, Oadby & Wigston and Harborough administrative areas are nearby and have the potential to influence the area.

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Current development plan

1.17 The Development Plan for Leicester currently comprises the 2014 Core Strategy2, 'saved' 2006 City of Leicester Local Plan policies3 and Leicester and Leicester Waste Development Framework Core Strategy and development management policy document4.

1.18 The Council also produce a Local Development Scheme which provides up to date information on what documents will be produced within the next three years. This has not been updated recently but the current timetable for the production of the Local Plan indicates it is anticipated to be adopted in 2018.

The Housing and Economic Market Area

1.19 Knighton not only sits within the administrative boundaries of Leicester City. It is also within the wider Housing Market Area and Functional Economic Market Areas of Leicester and Leicestershire. This means that Knighton is affected by and contributes towards the wider area in terms of generating demand for, and meeting supply of, housing and employment opportunities.

1.20 All Local Planning Authorities in Leicester and Leicestershire have commissioned a study that considers future housing and employment needs in the area. This study, which is called a Housing and Employment Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA)5 was finalised in January 2017 and sets the framework for growth in the wider area. Recent evidence gather through a Housing and Economic Needs Assessment has indicated that there is likely to be a need for some 4,700 houses per year in Leicester and Leicestershire up to 2036. Leicester City’s need is for some 1,700 per year.

1.21 Knighton has a role in meeting these wider needs. As the Neighbourhood Plan develops, a key challenge will be the need to respond to and reflect emerging strategic policy, including Leicester’s Local Plan and any future housing requirements for the settlement.

1.22 The HEDNA indicates a need for new housing and employment in Leicester. It is also important to note that substantial growth is anticipated in the wider area that may put additional pressures on services & facilities and transport infrastructure with the KNP area. Oadby and Wigston Borough and Harborough District Councils which abut the area to the south have substantial requirements for housing and other forms of development.

2 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/179023/core-strategy-adopted-july-2014.pdf 3 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/179025/2006-local-plan-written-statement-showing-saved-and- unsaved-policies.pdf 4 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/179022/leicester-and-leicestershire-waste-core-strategy-development- management-policies-dpd.pdf 5 https://www.llep.org.uk/strategies-and-plans/housing-economic-development-needs-assessment/

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National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

1.23 The NPPF6 sets out the Government’s policy position on planning matters. Topic areas relevant to the emerging Neighbourhood Plan include:

• Building a strong, competitive economy • Promoting sustainable transport • Supporting high quality communications infrastructure • Delivering a wide choice of high quality homes • Requiring good design • Promoting healthy communities • Meeting the challenge of climate change and flooding • Conserving and enhancing the natural environment

1.24 The NPPF is a strong consideration when developing plans. The baseline study has sought to gather data on some of the key areas mentioned above.

1.25 In addition to the NPPF, the Government has produced ‘Planning Practice Guidance’7 which sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. This includes guidance regarding the preparation of Neighbourhood Plans.

6 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework 7 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/planning-practice-guidance

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2. Population information

2.1 This section considers some key characteristics of the population of the Plan area. The majority of data is from the 2011 census which is the most up to date and comprehensive assessment of population. It is acknowledged that the population will have changed since this time, however, it is the best available demographic evidence at the time of producing this report.

Total population

2.2 The 2011 Census indicates that that there are some 12,500 residents in the KNP area. This is some 4.1% of the total population of the administrative area of Leicester (308,830).

Male / female split

2.3 There is a slightly higher proportion of women in the KNP area with (51.8%) compared to men (48.2%)8. This differs from the administrative area of Leicester which has a more balanced proportion of male and female population (50.5% female / 49.5% male).

Age profile

2.4 In terms of age profile, the 2011 Census shows that 24% of residents of the KNP area are aged under 19. This is less than Leicester City which has some 27% of its population in this sector.

2.5 Residents in the KNP area aged 60+ (22%) have a significantly higher proportion than Leicester (15%).

2.6 The graph shown in figure 2 below indicates the age profile of the KNP area compared to Leicester City. Some of the notable differences are the significant disparity in the 20 to 30 age group. This could be explained by a number of factors including the large student population in Leicester, a greater availability of rented accommodation elsewhere in Leicester and the house price differential which limits the ability of first time buyers to enter the market in Knighton.

2.7 The average (mean) age in the KNP area is 40 compared with 35 in Leicester.

8 Most likely as a result of women currently living longer and the high levels of ‘Older’ people in the KNP area.

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Age profiles - Knighton Forum area v Leicester

30%

25% Knighton Leicester 20%

15%

10%

5%

0% under 19 20 to 30 30 to 44 45 to 59 60-74 over 75

Figure 2: Age profile in the KNP area and Leicester (Census 2011)

Households

2.8 The 2011 Census indicates that that there are 4,914 households in the KNP area. This is some 4.3% of the total number of households within the administrative area of Leicester.

2.9 The average size of household in the KNP area is 2.6 persons. This compares with Leicester City which is slightly higher at 2.7 persons. Household size is larger than the UK average of 2.3 persons per household.

2.10 The graph below (figure 3) shows the distribution of average house sizes in the KNP area. Of the 37 complete output areas in the KNP area 20 are between 2.6 and 2.8 persons per household. Figure 4 shows the geographical distribution of average household sizes.

2.11 The average household size aligns broadly with local and national averages. The report later considers levels of under-occupation which is based on the relationship of house sizes and occupants.

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Knighton average household size by OA 10

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8

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4 number 3

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0 1.7 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.8 average household size in OA Figure 3. Average household size on Output Area

Figure 4. Geographical distribution of average household size.

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Overcrowding and under-occupation

2.12 The 2011 census considers issues of ‘overcrowding and under-occupation’. Over-crowding is where there are fewer bedrooms than required for the number of people occupying the home9.

2.13 Under-occupation occurs where there are ‘spare bedrooms’ in the home. It is normal custom and practice to identify homes with 2 or more spare bedrooms as under-occupied. The map (figure 5) below shows the distribution of houses that are considered to be ‘under-occupied’ across Leicester City and the wider urban area.

Figure 5. Geographical distribution of under-occupied houses.

2.14 The map at figure 5 indicates that most of the Knighton Forum area experiences under-occupation. More than half of the households in the output areas having a greater than 40% likelihood of having two or more spare bedrooms.

2.15 This contrasts with the central areas of Leicester which show few areas where there are high levels of under-occupation.

9 As defined in the notional number recommended by the bedroom standard

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Housing mix

2.16 The census records the dwelling types in KNP area. The census records that some 76% of houses in the KNP area are either detached or semi-detached. About 10% of the houses are terraced and the remaining 14% are either flats or maisonettes. This compares with Leicester City where only 46% of dwellings are detached or semi-detached with about 32% terraced and about 22% flats or maisonettes. The distribution is shown on the graph below (figure 6). The prevalence of detached and semi-detached housing derives largely from the eras in which Knighton was developed.

60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% Knight… Leices… 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Whole house Whole house Whole house Flat, Flat, Flat, or bungalow: or bungalow: or bungalow: maisonette or maisonette or maisonette or Detached Semi- Terraced apartment: apartment: apartment: In detached (including Purpose-built Part of a a commercial end-terrace) block of flats converted or building or tenement shared house (including bed-sits)

Figure 6 – House types in Knighton Area and Leicester City.

Tenure

2.17 The census indicates that more than 82% of homes in the KNP area are in owner-occupation with 4% social rent and 14% privately rented. This contrasts with Leicester City where only 52% of the houses are in owner occupation, with some 23% social rented and 23% privately rented. The distribution of tenures in shown in the graph (figure 7 below).

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Figure 7. Tenure types. Knighton Forum area and Leicester City.

Health

2.18 The Health profile for Knighton Ward10 prepared by Leicester City Council indicates “The health of people in Knighton is generally better than the England average”.

2.19 At the time of drafting this report no up to date specific evidence was available from the Leicester Clinical Commissioning Group regarding the capacity of local primary care facilities. The Clinical Commissioning Group were not aware of any capacity constraints in the area. However, the recent closure of a local GP practice is resulting in some redistribution of patients to other facilities.

10 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/179064/knighton.pdf

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Deprivation

2.20 The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2015 indicates that the Knighton Forum area is the only area within Leicester City that contains some of the least deprived areas in the United Kingdom (the lowest 20% deprived). The map below (Figure 8) shows the distribution of most (red) and least (blue) deprived areas.

Figure 8. Index of Multiple Deprivation. Source: “Briefing on the English Index of Multiple Deprivation 2015: implications for Leicester (2015)” Leicester City Council

2.21 It is notable that the majority of the area falls in the lowest two quintiles in terms of the indices of deprivation.

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Ethnicity 2.22 Figure 9 below indicates the largest ethnic groups from the census are white and Asian, Broadly speaking, in the areas to the east of Welford Road the population is predominantly white British with a greater mix of ethnicity to the west of Welford Road.

Figure 9 - Largest ethnic groups by output area (Census 2011)

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3. Neighbourhood Facilities

3.1 Health

3.1.1 The KNP area contains primary care facilities. These include Asquith Surgery (Welford Road) and the Queen’s Road Surgery at 252 Queen’s Road. Other nearby medical facilities include: Clarendon Park Medical Centre. In addition, ‘Dentique’ dental practice is within the area with Knighton Dental Practice and Queens Road Dental Care nearby. Brookvale and Lloyds (Shackerdale Road) pharmacies provides additional medical services to the community. There are no opticians within Knighton but several located within 1 mile of the forum area. Other local health related services are also available including local physiotherapists and osteopaths.

3.1.2 The nearest Accident and Emergency facilities are in Leicester City Centre, less than two miles away.

3.1.3 In preparing the Baseline Study, discussions have been held with Leicestershire and Lincolnshire NHS and the Leicester Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). These talks have indicated that they are not aware of any capacity constraints in local medical practices in the area. However, the closure of Dr Lenten’s practice will potentially result in some distribution to other surgeries with future impacts.

3.2 Education

3.2.1 There are two primary schools in the KNP area, Overdale Infant and Juniors School and St Thomas More Catholic Primary School. Sir Jonathan North Community College and Lancaster Academy provide secondary education. Leicester High School for Girls is within the KNP area offering private education to girls between 11 and 18. In addition, there are pre-schools and nurseries within the area11.

3.2.2 In preparing the Baseline Study, information has been sought from Leicester City Council as the Local Education Authority. However, they have not provided data on pupil numbers or demand for primary or secondary schools in and around the area.

3.2.3 Sir Jonathan North Community College (70%) and Leicester High School for girls (96%) performed above the national average in their GCSE results with 70% of the students achieving five or more A*-C GCSEs. The average was 50% across Leicester12 and 57% at a national level. The Lancaster Academy had some 48% achieving five or more A*-C GCSEs.

11 Beauchamp College also have a proposal to open a new school to serve the area. 12 2015 figures

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3.3 Retailing

3.3.1 Leicester City Council commissioned a ‘Town Centre and Retail Study’ in 2015 which identified retail centres and considered their ‘health’.

3.3.2 There are two ‘Centres’ identified in the Retail Study within the KNP area at Asquith Boulevard and Meadvale Road. In addition there are other local centres that abut the KNP area on Welford Road and Queens Road.

3.3.3 Asquith Boulevard is the only defined Local Centre in the Leicester City Local Plan. The extent of the centre is shown on the plan (figure 10) below:

Figure 10 - Asquith Boulevard Local Centre. Source Leicester City and Blaby District Council ‘Town Centre and Retail Study’ (2015)

3.3.3 The report identified that Asquith Boulevard’s local centre comprised:

“two smaller parades containing a total of 14 commercial units, which are split on either side of Asquith Way. The centre has a particularly strong convenience and leisure service offer and there are also a number of other key local services and facilities within the shopping area, including a pharmacy, ATM cash machine, a pub and a restaurant.”

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3.3.4 When considering the health of the centre, the report concluded that:

“The centre appears to be in good health, as there are no vacant units and the retail frontage generally has good environmental quality and perception of safety. The shops are also easily accessible from the surrounding residential areas, although there is an opportunity to improve accessibility for cars passing along Asquith Way, particularly in terms of parking availability. Notwithstanding this, the centre currently serves an important function within the local community in acting as a local centre.“

3.3.5 The extent of the Meadvale Road Local Centre is shown on the plan (figure 11) below:

Figure 11: Meadvale Road Local Centre. Source Leicester City and Blaby District Council ‘Town Centre and Retail Study’ (2015)

3.3.6 The Town Centre and Retail Study identified that Meadvale Road was formally designated as a local centre within the retail hierarchy of the City of Leicester Local Plan but is not designated within the Leicester Core Strategy (2014) or identified on the City of Leicester Local Plan proposals map (2006).

3.3.7 Meadvale Road centre comprises a cake shop / confectionary, tobacco and news store, pharmacy, a martial arts shop, and hairdresser. The remaining unit is a small office, which occupies the premises of a former retail unit.

3.3.8 When considering the health of the centre, the report concluded that:

“Overall, Meadvale Road appears to generally be in good health, although the shop forecourt would benefit from the introduction of some greenery and cycle

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hoops. The five retail units collectively provide a range of goods and services that may be expected within a small neighbourhood parade. We therefore recommend that the former local centre boundary is re-designated as a neighbourhood parade. This would fill a gap in the distribution of defined centres within this part of the Leicester authority area.”

3.3.9 In addition to the small groups of retail units, there are isolated retail stores including a convenience store on Knighton Church Road.

3.3.10 Overall, the Retail Study concludes that, despite the small size of the centres in the KNP area, they appear to generally good health. The proximity of Leicester City Centre and the nearby Fosse Park provide substantial retail opportunities that are easily accessible.

Other services and facilities

3.3.10 Other services and facilities within the KNP area include:

• Four churches (St Thomas More Catholic Church, Knighton Free Church, Church of St Mary and Church of St Guthlac); • The Cradock Arms public house; • Scout hut on Cademan Close; • Knighton Parish Centre; and • Holbrook Hall.

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4. Open Spaces / Sports and Leisure

4.1 Knighton contains a range of open spaces and sports and leisure facilities. There are a number of typologies of open spaces and each are considered independently below. The typologies broadly follow those of the Leicester City Council ‘Open Space Study’ (2007)13. The map below shows the distribution of play and open spaces in Knighton ward.

Figure 12. Distribution of open spaces in Knighton ward. Source: Leicester City Council ‘Open Space Study’ (2007)

13 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/180254/open-space-sport-and-recreation-study-for-leicester-city- 2007.pdf

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Parks and Gardens.

4.2 Public parks and gardens are multi-functional and are used for: Informal recreation and outdoor sport; Play space (including sport and children’s play); informal areas for walking and providing habitats for wildlife. They are normally ‘large’ in scale.

4.3 There are two parks and gardens in the KNP area. These are Knighton Park and Chapel Lane Gardens.

4.4 Knighton Park is a substantial (25 hectare) park to the south of Palmerston Way. The park is a high quality green space accommodating multiple uses and natural and semi-natural green space. The park also forms part of a wider Green Wedge which separates the built up area of Leicester from the nearby settlements of Oadby and Wigston.

4.5 Knighton Park is however isolated from the main body of Knighton by Palmerston Way which forms part of the Leicester outer ring road.

Accessible Green Spaces

4.6 Accessible Green Spaces covers a variety of uses including meadows, river floodplain, woodland /copse. These areas are primarily for wildlife value but are also often accessible for public use.

4.7 There is accessible Green Space in the KNP area, at Washbrook Nature Area. Neston Gardens green space is also nearby. Cemeteries can also form important accessible green spaces. In addition, Attenborough Arboretum is within the NKP area.

Amenity / Informal Green Space

4.8 Amenity / Informal Green Spaces are spaces that can be freely used by the public, but are not laid out and or managed for a specific function such as a park, public playing field or recreation ground. They are not normally managed as a natural or semi-natural habitat.

4.9 Knighton contains two of these areas at Dawson Way and Chiltern Green.

Allotments

4.10 The main allotments in the KNP area are at Pendlebury Drive / Welford Road. The provision of allotments in the KNP area meets the standards set out in the ‘Open Space study (2007)’ in terms of overall provision and accessibility.

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Sports pitches

4.11 There are no full size synthetic turf pitches within Knighton. There are however football pitches at Knighton Park. No cricket or rugby pitches are recorded in the Leicester City Council ‘Open Space Study’ (2007). The ‘Open Space Study’ indicates that the sports pitches are accessible but that there is an under- provision against the expected quantitative standards.

4.12 Play provision for children and young people

4.13 In the context of this report Play provision for children and young people refers to ‘Equipped children’s space (Play provision for children and young people) and Provision for teenagers (which might include skateboard parks, basketball courts and multi-use games areas (MUGAs14). The Leicester City Council ‘Open Space Study’ indicates that that there is an under-provision against the expected quantitative standards and the facilities are not accessible to all of Knighton ward.

4.14 Private sports club

4.15 Knighton contains a number of private sports clubs including Leicester Bowling Club, Knighton Victoria Bowling Club and Carisbrooke tennis club.

4.16 Quantity and Quality

4.17 The Leicester City Council ‘Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study for Leicester City (2007) contained an ‘Area Profile’ of Knighton15. Three sites were assessed in terms of their quality. In relation to the three sites, the report found:

Knighton Park “A Green Flag Park with a range of excellent facilities, well maintained providing a major resource for the whole ward and performing a function as a District park. This park is important to the ward and the whole city, and should be a priority for ongoing investment and improvement in line with the well-presented management plan.

Church Lane Gardens Small park with play area, opportunity for small scale improvements to entrances, shrubs and play.

14 Such as that at Lancaster Academy 15 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/180254/open-space-sport-and-recreation-study-for-leicester-city- 2007.pdf (pp389).

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Chiltern Green Open Space Amenity space with children’s play facility, in need of low key improvements to paths and potential for additional planting. Facilities for young people could also be installed.”

4.18 Access to open space

4.19 The report also considered access to the different open space typologies. In summary, the report indicated that Knighton ward had good access to District Parks, space for young people, outdoor sport and allotments. However, it indicated that parts of the ward experienced gaps in access to local parks, amenity open space, natural green space and space for children. Table 1 below summarises the findings:

Table 1. Access to open space typologies: Knighton Ward. Source: Leicester City Council ‘Open Space Study’ (2007)

4.20 Quantity of open space

4.21 The Open Space Study seeks to identify where there are shortfalls in the expected quantity of open space. This was based on a formulaic approach where the desired standard was for 2.88 hectares of open space per 1,000 population. Table 2, below, shows where there were shortfalls or surpluses of open space for each typology when compared against the standard.

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Table 2. Provision of open space typologies showing deficit / surplus: Knighton Ward. Source: Leicester City Council ‘Open Space Study’ (2007)

4.28 In summary, there is an under-provision of most typologies of open space in Knighton ward However, The Open Space Study recognises that the ward is dominated by Knighton Park which has a range of facilities and encompasses all typologies, which if taken individually would level out the provision statistics. misleading picture of the area. Palmerston Way provides a physical barrier to the accessibility of Knighton Park.

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5 Local Economy

5.1 This section of the baseline report considers the nature of the population in employment in the KNP area and the employment provision within the area.

Employment sector

5.2 The census indicates the nature of employment within the KNP area. The graph below (fig 13) shows employment by sector.

Fig 13 – Employment by industry sector. Knighton & Leicester. 5.3 There are some 6,000 people who live in the KNP area who are recorded as in employment in the area in the 2011 census. There is a wide distribution of employment in different sectors amongst the working residents of Knighton. The main areas of employment for the population of the KNP area are: Education 19%; Human health and Social work (16%); Wholesale & Retail (14%); and Manufacturing 10%.

5.4 The main areas of difference with Leicester City are significantly greater numbers of Knighton residents employed in ‘public administration and defence’, ‘professional, scientific & technical activities’ and ‘human health and social care’. Anecdotally this is as a result of large numbers of people employed at the local Universities. A lower percentage of Knighton residents were employed in ‘manufacturing’ and ‘wholesale and retail trade’.

5.5 Some 48% of the total population of the KNP area are in employment. This compares to 45% within Leicester.

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Employment by occupation

5.6 Employment by occupation type in Knighton Ward is shown in table 3 below. Nearly 55% of Knighton Resident are Managerial, Professional or Technical. This compares to some 30% in Leicester and 40% in England and Wales.

Table 3. 2011 Census (Table DC6112EW - Occupation by sex by age): Source: NOMIS

Travel to work

5.7 The distribution of journeys to work from Knighton are largely concentrated in Leicester City Centre and the areas with large employment sites to the west of Leicester and close to junction 21 of the M116. There is strong retention of employment within the Leicester and Leicestershire Travel to Work area. Travel to work in the neighbouring Districts of Oadby and Blaby are recorded with some longer journeys to London and Birmingham / Coventry.

Travel to work mode

5.8 The census records the mode of transport used for residents to travel to work. The graph below (figure 14) shows the distribution of transport modes.

16 Using ‘Datashine’ commute data based on 2011 census.

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Figure 14. Distribution of travel to work modes. Knighton and Leicester.

5.9 The mostly widely used mode of travel to work is driving a car or van (42%). 7% travelled to work by bus whilst 6% walked. 4% worked from home.

5.10 The main areas of difference between Knighton and Leicester are that a greater percentage of people from Knighton travel to work by car or bicycle and fewer by bus or on foot.

Opportunities for employment within the KNP area

5.11 This section considers the type of employment available in Knighton and the types of jobs residents currently do. It also indicates on potential employment areas in the Neighbouthood Plan area.

5.12 The Leicester Local Plan proposals map indicates that the KNP area does not contain any key employment areas or primary employment areas. These are areas that are used for office, research and development, light industry, manufacturing or storage and distribution uses17.

5.13 The majority of local employment opportunities within Knighton are within the education, retail and health sectors. There is no definitive data available that identifies the number of jobs within the KNP area.

5.14 It is important to acknowledge that the Functional Economic Area (FEMA) covers Leicester and the wider County of Leicestershire. It is often not possible to match local jobs and skills within a lesser area, such as that being considered in the Neighbourhood plan.

17 As defined by classes B1, B2 and B8 of The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended)

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6 Planning and Housing Growth

6.1 The Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment for Leicester and Leicestershire18 indicates that Leicester City would need to provide some 1,670 houses per year to meet its need.

6.2 The Knighton Neighbourhood Plan area is tightly constrained. With the exception of Knighton Park it is largely ‘hemmed in’ by existing built development. There are no opportunities to expand laterally.

6.3 As part of the development of the Leicester City Local Plan, the City Council has prepared a ‘Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment’ (SHLAA) which identifies sites with the potential for residential development. The SHLAA does not infer a grant of planning permission but gives an indication of sites that could be promoted for growth – often with a willing landowner or promoter. The SHLAA helps the Council to identify what available capacity there may be for housing growth.

6.4 Two sites are identified in the Leicester City SHLAA update (2016) within the KNP area. These are:

• Mary Gee Houses, 101 -107 Ratcliffe Road, Knighton a Brownfield site capable of accommodating about 60 units; and • Welford Road Playing Fields a Greenfield site with capacity for 100 units.

6.5 The emerging Local Plan, which is due for consultation in July 2017 will consider a range of potential site options across the administrative area of Leicester. These will include council owned as well as private sites.

6.6 This process is insufficiently advanced to indicate with any certainty, whether these two sites, or others in the KNP area will be considered suitable site options to accommodate new dwellings.

6.7 The Local Planning Authority are unable to indicate a housing requirement for the neighbourhood plan area at this stage. As a result of the scale of housing need the City Council are considering a wide range of options.

6.8 Other potential sources of housing supply come from infilling, conversion or subdivision of premises and changes of use to residential.

6.9 In addition to identifying potential housing sites, the type of housing provided is a key consideration. Figure 6 indicates the tenure of properties. Within the private rented sector there are ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation’ (HiMOs). These are properties rented out by at least 3 people who are not from 1 'household' (eg a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen.

18 https://www.llep.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/HEDNA-Executive-Summary-Jan-2017.pdf

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7 Transport

Roads

7.1 There are multiple main (classified) road routes through the KNP area, these include:

• Palmerston Way – Leicester Outer Ring Road (A563); • London Road (A6); and • Welford Road (A5199). 7.2 All classified roads in the KNP area experience congestion, slow vehicle speeds and delays. London Road in particular experiences peak hour congestion Public transport 7.3 There are many bus services19 that traverse the KNP area. These include: • The 44 Service runs at 20 minute intervals20 (including Saturdays) along Overdale Road / Queens Road to Haymarket bus terminal (Leicester). The journey takes 22 minutes; • The 47 service runs at 15 minute intervals21 along Welford Road and University Road to Haymarket bus terminal and takes 21 minutes; • The 49 buses operates at 15 minute intervals (at Peak times) along Welford Road via Leicester Royal Infirmary to Haymarket bus terminal. The journey takes 18 minutes; and • The 31 / 31A bus service via London Road operates at c.15 minute intervals22 to Haymarket bus terminal taking 15 minutes. The service also operates on Sunday. 7.4 Dedicated bus lanes are provided on London Road into the City Centre23. 7.5 Census data (2011) indicates that 9.5% of those who live in Knighton ward and travel to work use the bus. The main choice of transport to work is the private car (c.60%). This compares to 13.5% and c.52% in Leicester City. Walking 7.6 The majority of the KNP area is within 2 miles of Leicester Train Station and City Centre. There is a well-connected footpath network within the area and to the City Centre and other places of interest. There are pleasant routes that traverse Victoria Park and New Walk to the City Centre.

19 Source: Traveline web-site. 20 At peak times 21 At peak times 22 At peak times 23 On an intermittent basis.

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7.7 Knighton Park is somewhat isolated by Palmerston Way but there are two pedestrian crossings which allow access. Cycling 7.8 Leicester City Council cycle network map for the KNP area is shown below:

Figure 15. Cycle network plan of Knighton area (Source: Leicester City Council). Colours explained in para 7.10 below. 7.9 The cycle map of the Knighton area indicates that the majority of the KNP area is within 15 minute cycle time of Leicester City Centre. 7.10 There are dedicated cycle lanes on Palmerston Way and in Knighton Park (shown as green lines on the plan) and on road cycle lanes on London Road and Welford Road (shown as red-edged roads). 7.11 Many of the streets within the KNP area are ‘recommended cycle routes’ on the Leicester Cycle network maps (shown yellow on the maps below): Proposed transport schemes 7.12 Leicester City Council have identified a number of potential transport schemes within the KNP area. These include:

• Overdale School – signing and lining; • Park ‘n’ Stride sites currently being explored at Knighton Park; • Potential speed reduction scheme along Welford Road (between Overdale Road and Chapel Lane);

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• Welford Road – between Chapel Lane and Aberdale Road – carriageway maintenance works; • A563 Asquith Way / Shackerdale Road – resurfacing works – to be delivered in 2017/18; and • Chapel Lane bend improvement – to be delivered before 2018/19.

8. Heritage and Conservation

8.1 There are numerous ‘Heritage Assets’ within the KNP area. These include two Conservation Areas, Several listed buildings and a scheduled monument

Listed Buildings

8.2 The listed buildings in the KNP area include:

• Church of St Mary Magdalen, Grade: II • Oram Cottage, Grade: II • 19 and 21, Great Arler Road, Grade: II, • Old Hall, Grade: II • Stables North West Of Old Hall Grade: II • The Grove Grade: II • Five Blocks A To E (Residential Blocks at College Hall, University Of Leicester) Grade: II • Ratcliffe Lodge, Grade: II • 34-38, Ratcliffe Road, Grade: II • Inglewood, Ratcliffe Road, Grade: II*

Non-designated important buildings

8.3 In addition to buildings that are statutorily listed, the KNP area contains many buildings of strong character that can be considered non-designated heritage assets. The Council’s ‘Local Heritage Assets Register’24 identifies numerous buildings of high quality design and of historic interest that are found in the area.

8.4 Notable buildings include:

• Early-20th century detached suburban houses on Barrington Road and Morland Avenue; • Suburban houses with distinctive arts & crafts influences on Elmsleigh Avenue and Guilford Road; • St Guthlac's Church, Holbrook Road; • Railway Viaduct, Knighton Lane East; • Church of St Thomas More, Knighton Road; • Old Stoneygate Tram Depot, London Road • Portland House and parts of the boundary wall at Leicester High School For Girls, London Road;

24 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/182084/local-heritage-asset-register-2016.pdf

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• Some mid-19th century houses at Portland Towers; and • Education buildings and cottages on Welford Road.

8.5 Some examples of the notable buildings in the KNP area are shown below.

Photograph 1: Examples of character buildings in Knighton. (Source: Leicester City Council Local Heritage Asset Register 2016)

Conservation Areas

8.6 The southern section of the Stoneygate Conservation Area is within the KNP area. See Figure 10 below.

Figure 16. Stoneygate Conservation Area (southern section). Source: Leicester City Council

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8.7 The Knighton Conservation Area stretches from Knighton Road in the north to Church Lane and St Mary Magdalene's Church in the south. It was designated in 1975.

8.8 The Conservation Area is centred around the old centre of Knighton and is shown on the map (figure 10) below.

Figure 17. Knighton Conservation Area. Source: Leicester City Council

8.9 Leicester City Council has removed permitted development rights in parts of the City under Article 4 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995). Stoneygate Conservation Area is an area which I covered by an Article 4 direction.

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9. Pollution, Climate change and flooding

Air quality

9.1 Welford Road, parts of London Road and Palmerston Way are within the Leicester Air Quality Management Area. Leicester City’s Air Quality Management Area is a single, extensive area based around the City centre and the major road network. It has been designated primarily because of pollution associated with vehicle movements.

9.2 Leicester City Council has produced an Air Quality Action Plan25 in order to address some of the main areas of concern.

Flooding

9.3 The main areas of flooding related to watercourses abut the Saffron Brook. The Environment Agency’s flood maps26 show areas at Meadvale Road, Brinsmead Road, Welford Road, Cairnsford Road, Pendlebury Road and Woodcroft Avenue at greatest risk of flooding. In addition South Kingsmead Road and Woodbank Road are also at risk.

9.4 A map showing the areas of flood risk is shown in figure 11 below.

Figure 18. Areas of flood risk. Source Environment Agency flood maps.

25 https://www.leicester.gov.uk/media/180653/air-quality-action-plan.pdf 26 http://maps.environment- agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?value=Leicester%2C+City+of&lang=_e&ep=map&topic=floodmap&layer Groups=default&scale=9&textonly=off&submit.x=17&submit.y=7?

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9.5 The Carisbrooke Road flooding Community Group was established following flood events at Knighton Church Road and Carisbrooke Road from the Hol Brook.

10. Waste and Recycling

10.1 The waste collection service in Knighton is operated by Biffa. It involves a weekly collection from wheelie bins for domestic waste and an ‘orange bag’ weekly collection for recyclable waste. In addition, garden waste can be collected fortnightly between March and November on a subscription basis.

10.2 There are no recycling centres within the KNP area but Leicester City Council operate two at Gypsum Close and Freemans Common.

10.3 No Knighton specific issues have been identified in relation to Waste and recycling.

11. Conclusions and Future work

11.1 Potential policy areas that are informed by the baseline study are:

• Protection of important services and facilities; • Identification of infrastructure, services and facilities that are required; • Protection of open spaces; • Identification of employment opportunities • Opportunities for new housing • Policies relating to the type of housing required – affordable housing, housing mix, Houses in Multiple Occupation • Policies protecting the built character of Knighton (including non-designated assets)

11.2 The next key stages are to establish what the baseline report suggest in terms of potential policy areas.

11.3 Future consultation will seek to establish what the community would like to see included in the plan in light of the above.

11.4 Once policy areas have been identified by the community, it is important to identify what further work might be required in order to assess deliverability of the plan.

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