The Vale of Aylesbury Plan Pitstone Fact Pack June 2011

Pitstone Windmill

Contents

Section Page

1 Introduction page 3 2 Location and Setting page 6 3 Story of Place page 8 4 Fact File page 10 5 Issues Facing the Parish page 34 6 Parish Constraints page 35 7 Annex page 41

Front Cover Photo Source: AVDC (2010)

1. Introduction

Purpose of the document

This Fact Pack document was initially produced in 2010 to help inform the town/parish council about the characteristics of their parish for the ‘community view’ consultation. This consultation was undertaken early on in the preparation of the Vale of Aylesbury Plan as part of a bottom up approach embracing localism and aiming to get local communities more involved in the planning process. The town/parish council were asked to consult with their community on the following:

 The level of future housing and/or employment development up to 2031, including specific types of homes, employment and other development  The location, sizes and phasing of development  The types of infrastructure (social, community, physical) needed to enable development, including where it should be located  Any other issues relating to planning and development

This Fact Pack document has also been used to support neighbourhood planning by providing evidence for the context of the neighbourhood plan, including information on housing, employment, infrastructure and the environment.

This Fact Pack document has also been used to support the Vale of Aylesbury Plan Settlement Hierarchy Assessment. This forms part of the evidence that classifies settlements into different categories, where different levels of growth are apportioned to over the next 20 years.

The document also forms part of the background work relating to Neighbourhood Plans as well as the production of the Vale of Aylesbury Plan. The Fact Pack does not form planning policy for Aylesbury Vale.

What the Fact Pack includes

The content of the Fact Pack reflects the size of the parish or town, providing the most detail for larger villages/towns which are likely to experience greater levels of growth, compared to smaller parishes/villages which are likely to experience less growth. Smaller parish’s Fact Packs have a more limited content in the Fact Packs. Fact Packs for larger villages/towns identify the following information:

 Location and setting within the district (relationship to other settlements)  Story of place (how the parish has developed from its origins to the present day)  Issues facing the parish (e.g. infrastructure and local services deficits)  Social demographics (population, age profile, social groups, levels of deprivation and crime levels)

 Economic profile (allocated employment sites, change of use to employment looking back 5 years, sectors of employment, levels of economic activity, distances travelled to work and broadband speeds)  Local service provision (retail, healthcare, leisure, public open space, tourism, and education)  Housing profile (dwelling types, tenure, occupancy, past completions and commitments, average house prices, housing needs waiting list and gypsy and traveller sites)  Transport infrastructure (road network, cars per household, public transport provision)  Environmental constraints (maps to identify agricultural land quality, landscape sensitivities, biodiversity constraints, flooding and historic constraints)

Fact Packs for smaller parishes/villages identify the following information:

 Location and setting within the district (relationship to other settlements)  Social demographics (population and age profile)  Housing profile (dwelling types, tenure, occupancy, past completions and commitments, average house prices, housing needs waiting list and gypsy and traveller sites)  Economic profile (employment change of B use classes looking back 5 years, sectors of employment and levels of economic activity)  Issues facing the parish (e.g. infrastructure and local services deficits)  Environmental constraints (maps to identify agricultural land quality, landscape sensitivities, biological constraints, flooding and historic constraints)

Where possible information in the Fact Pack has been supplemented with information from the town/parish council to draw upon local knowledge, particularly for the section on issues relating to the parish. Some town/parish councils have also published the document on their website for the community to view and use.

In addition to this Fact Pack, a district wide Fact Pack has been written to develop an understanding at the strategic level on the availability of infrastructure, services, facilities, planning issues and environmental constraints. This can be viewed on our website1.

Availability of data

Statistics identified in the Fact Pact are primarily from Census data (2001), AVDC monitoring data (updated annually) and research carried out by Buckinghamshire County Council. There are also a number of websites that have been used to retrieve information, such as crime statistics, broadband coverage and housing sales. Where possible, parish level data has been used. If this level of data is not available super output area (SOA) boundaries or ward boundaries have been used (often these cover a larger area than just the settlement). The boundaries of the parish, SOA and ward can be viewed on map 1 in this document.

1 District Fact Pack http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local‐development‐plans/planning‐policy/vale‐of‐aylesbury‐ plan‐/fact‐packs/ 4

This Fact Pack is a ‘living document’ which is intended to be regularly updated. Information contained within the Fact Pack is correct at the time of writing. It is acknowledged that some of the information may change over time and the Fact Packs will be updated accordingly.

2. Location and Setting

Pitstone is located nine miles east of Aylesbury, lying on the B489 Aylesbury to Luton road. The settlement adjoins the village of Ivinghoe and is near to Cheddington, Marsworth and Tring, on the far eastern side of the district.

The entry of the village along Marsworth Road is flanked with residential development on the northern side and open countryside on the southern side. This linear settlement, overlooks fine views of the Chiltern Hill escarpment towards the southwest and also Pitstone Windmill. More recent development lies towards the south of the B489 Marsworth Road where the former cement works were once located. This development also forms a linear shape over looked by the Chiltern Hill escarpment.

The landscape is characterised by gently undulating hills lying before the Chiltern Foothills gradually merging into the flat vale landscape to the north. The area is crossed by numerous streams and brooks fed by local springs rising at the interface with the foothills to the south. The Grand Union Canal wraps around the west and north of Pitstone and an extensive arable farming systems with remnant orchards can also be found. There are small pockets of broadleaved woodlands within pastoral areas adjacent to the settlement. Willows are in wetter areas with Oak and Ash found on higher ground.

SOA 7702 SOA 7701

Key

Ward boundary Super Output Areas Boundaries Parish Boundary

For section 4 of this report, facts and figures have been identified from three different boundaries depending on the source of the information. In general all Census data is provided at parish level from 2001. AVDC Local Area Profile data relates to Super Output Areas (SOA) from 2006 and Home Track Intelligent Housing Systems data relates to the ward level from 2010.

In the case of Pitstone the parish, ward and Super Output Area form three different boundaries.

3. Story of Place

Origins of the settlement

Evidence of Pitstone settlement dates back as early as the 6th Century (Ivinghoe Conservation Area, 1967). There have been findings of Iron age and Roman material, indicating this area was extensively settled. Running on a southeast‐northwest alignment, several ancient trackways linking the Chilterns to the Vale have been found. In addition several moated sites and Scheduled Ancient Monuments have also been identified.

Pitstone was originally a farming community, including Pitstone Green Farm which is now a museum. This farm was once an important employer within the village. Farming included seasonal fruit picking, such as the local plum, often known as the Aylesbury Prune, which was very popular up until the second World War.

In the 1930’s Pitstone cement works opened, which was run by The Tunnel Portland Cement Co Ltd and operated until 1991. During this time village life was dominated by the cement works, which gave work to local people. However there was a constant battle with dust and other negative environmental impacts.

Cement Works in 1970

Source: Accessed online http://www.chilternphoto.org.uk/introduction/photogroup/locations/pitstone/002530.htm (2005).

Post 1945 development to 2000

The development of the cement works meant that Pitstone expanded considerably. Consequently large housing estates where developed to provide homes for the factory workers. The settlement expanded towards the north in order to protect the views of the Chiltern Hill escarpment, providing cul‐de‐sac housing estates north of Marsworth road. During the 1970s a number of new housing estates were developed along, Albion Road, Rushendon Furlong and Cheyne Close.

Developments during the last ten years

Since 2005 there has been large scale residential and economic development at Pitstone on the former cement works site on the southern arm of the village. This development is currently continuing to be built. There has also been a small development of seven dwellings off Yardley Avenue.

Current Planning Consent

Outstanding planning permissions are dominated by the Pitstone Development Area where a site for 164 dwellings is currently under construction. There is also permission for two other single dwellings in Pitstone parish as at March 2010.

4. Fact File

Social Demographics

 The 2001 Census shows Pitstone to have a population of 2,343, equally split between males and females (Census, 2001).

 The most recent data from the Office for National Statistics for SOA 7701 and 77012 estimates the population at mid‐2009 to be 3,680. Please note this includes the settlements of Ivinghoe, as seen on the location map.

Age profile

1000 800 people 600 of

400 200 Number 0 People aged People aged People aged People aged People aged People aged People aged 0‐4 5‐15 16‐24 25‐44 45‐64 65‐74 75 and over

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk © Crown copyright

 Pitstone has below average number of young people between the ages 16‐24, which is the fourth lowest number of teenagers in the district (AVDC Local Area Profile, 2006).

 There are exceptionally high numbers of 0‐4 year olds (8%) and 5‐15 year olds. There is also a below average proportion of elderly people over the age of 65 (AVDC Local Area Profile, 2006).

 The most common age range is between 25 and 44, accounting for approximately 39% of the parish population.

Population Change

 As seen on the graph overleaf since 1951 Pitstone parish has had a large increase in population of nearly 2,000 people. This reflects the development associated with the Cement Works.

 Pitstone parish currently has 1,176 dwellings (AVDC, March 2010).

Population Change from 1951 to 2010

2500

2000 People 1500 of

1000 Number 500

0 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001

Year

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk © Crown copyright

Social Groups

A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods (ACORN) developed by the Bucks Strategic Partnership shows the distinct groups of people that live within Buckinghamshire. The county is made up of 10 groups of households whose residents all have very different demographic characteristics and lifestyles. This means that from the results it would be possible to identify that more affluent groups are likely to have very different public service needs from those less affluent groups. The different ACORN group types are explained at http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/research/bucks_acorn.page

(Please see table overleaf)

ACORN Ward Social Groups

4.1% 1.3% 2.3% 11.2% 1.7% Wealthy Commuters Well‐off Managers 5.0% Affluent Greys Flourishing Families

Urban Professionals 19.0% Secure Families

Settled Suburbia or Prudent Pensioners

55.0% Moderate Means 0.5% Hard Pressed

Source: Bucks Strategic Partnership, 2010

 In the Bucks Strategic Partnership ACORN profile shows over half of Pitstone’s population (55%) live in areas classified by the ‘Secure Families’. This can be further divided into the ‘Middle income home owning areas’ making up 19.1%, closely followed by ‘Working families with mortgages’ accounting for 17.2% and ‘Younger white‐collar couples with mortgages’ making up for 15.3% of Pitstone.  A small proportion of the ‘Secure Families’ consists of areas with above average proportions of ‘Established home owning workers’. Almost two in ten people (19%) belong to the ‘Flourishing Families’. This can be described in more detail as  ‘Well‐off working families with mortgages’ (14.9%), ‘Affluent working families with mortgages’ (3.0%) and as ‘Well‐off managers living in detached houses’ (0.9%).  Just over one in ten people (11%) can be described by the ‘Well‐off Managers’ group and a further 5% belong to the ‘Affluent Greys’ group which can mainly be described in more detail as ‘Farming Communities’ (4.5%).  The ‘Hard Pressed’ group makes up 4% of the ward, this group live in areas with above average proportions of ‘Older people on low incomes with small semis’ (4.1%). A small proportion of this wards population (2%) live in areas classified by the ‘Moderate Means’, which can also be described ‘Skilled workers living in semis and terraces’ (2.3%). The ‘Settled Suburbia and Prudent Pensioners’ accounts for a further 2% of the ward and is made ‘Low income people living in semis’ (1.7%).  There is an above the district average of Well‐off Managers, Affluent Greys, Flourishing Families and Secure Families.

Indices of Multiple Deprivation

The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) provides an analysis of the levels of deprivation according to seven key indicators; income, employment, health, education, housing, crime and living environment (Office for National Statistics, 2007). This is identified by Super Output Areas (SOA) for each parish. Pitstone village falls mainly within SOA 7701 . The IMD table overleaf is for this area. A scoring result out of 20 is shown for each category of deprivation where 20 would be the most deprived possible out of all Super Output Areas of the country and 1 the least.

The Indices of Deprivation table shows that Pitstone is least deprived in ‘health’ , ‘living environment’ and ‘Employment’. Pitstone is most deprived in ‘barriers to housing and services’ and ‘income’. In comparison to other districts within Aylesbury Vale, Pitstone has higher levels of deprivation, although comparing Pitstone nationally there are generally low levels of deprivation.

Overall Deprivation Measures the following seven key indicators:

1) Income Deprivation Measures unemployment, incapacity benefits and disability allowance

2) Employment Deprivation Measures access to jobs

3) Health Deprivation Measures population’s health

4) Education Deprivation Measures skill levels and access to education

5) Barrier to Housing and Services Measure access to affordable housing and services

6) Crime Measures levels of burglary, theft, criminal damage and violence

7) Living Environment Deprivation Measures both indoor and outdoor living conditions including condition of housing, air quality, road traffic accidents

Sources: Communities and Local Government; Office for National Statistics; Valuation Office Agency

Employment

Employment sites

Pitstone has one of the main employment areas outside Aylesbury within the district. The settlement is located on the far eastern fringe of Aylesbury Vale with good access to the A41 and onward to the M25 and Tring and Cheddingdon railway stations.

Pitstone’s employment area of approximately 20 hectares, part of the former cement works is now largely redeveloped, except for a plot of approximately 10 acres, called Pitstone Green. The site has four industrial parks, Harvington Park where there are 11 units, Beacon Court where there are 12 units, Quarry Court where there are 10 units and Williams court where there are 10 units.

A wide variety of employment uses existing within these industrial parks. One of the largest occupier is Goodrich (11,000 sq m/120,000 sq ft) who are system suppliers to the aerospace/ defense sector. These employment sites have modern design elements such as high headroom, better insulation and, provide lower maintenance costs.

Completions of the last five years

The graph on the next page shows net employment completions which are identified as B1, B2, and B8 use classes. This includes offices, research and development, light industry, general industry, warehousing and distribution. Net floorspace takes into account demolitions and losses of B class uses. Please note that B use classes are likely to only contribute towards 50% of parish employment, with other employment being generated through non B use classes such as retail and education.

Pitstone Employment net floorspace

2009‐10 0

2008‐09 0

2007‐08 3,888

2006‐07 336

2005‐06 6,078

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

Net Floorspace (m²)

Source: AVDC, March 2010

 The graph shows in 2005‐06 and 2007 ‐08 Pitstone had a relatively large increase in completed employment floor space reflecting the redevelopment of the former cement works. Since 2008/09 then there has been no loss or increase in floorspace.

 There is currently 34,564 m² of planning permissions which have not yet been built (March, 2010).

Sectors of Employment

Sectors of Employment SOA 7701 SOA 7702

25%

20%

15%

10%

l l n r re tai ia o e tu ring tion min ti l u c tering ealth t ru /Re a Ad H Oth ricu t le C Financ Business c fac / rt/Comms Educa Ag nu ls a Cons Publi ote M holesa H W Transpo

Estate/Renting, Real Source: 2006, AVDC Local Area Profile

 Like many of the other wards across Aylesbury Vale, there are two sectors of employment in which large parts of the populations of Pitstone work in. These are in the real estate/ renting and business sector (19‐21%), followed by wholesale/retail (15‐16%) and manufacturing (12‐14%), as shown on the graph above.

 The most common type of employment is managerial and professional accounting for 38% of the population, which is in line with other parishes (Census, 2001).

Economic Activity

Economic activity

All people aged 16 to 74: 26% Economically active : Employed All people aged 16 to 74: 2% Economically active : Unemployed All people aged 16 to 74 : 72% Economically inactive

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk © Crown copyright

 The economically active for all people aged between 16 and 24 accounts for 72% of the population, with 2% unemployed. Economically inactive population accounts for 26%, for example this includes students over the age of 16 and the retired before the age of 74.

 The economically inactive population is quite high in Pitstone compared to other parishes within the district.

Distance travelled to work

 Although Pitstone is towards the furthest easterly point of Aylesbury Vale, residents find themselves within relatively short travelling distances of Tring, Hemel Hempstead, Dunstable, Luton, as well as Aylesbury itself.

 The 2006 Local Area Profile shows the most common distance travelled to work is between 10‐20km. Between 25‐29% of the population in this ward travel this distance to work each day (Local Area Profile, 2006).

 The 2001 Census data shows the average distance travelled to a fixed place of work to be 21.2 km (Census, 2001).

Commuting from Aylesbury Vale Wards

Source: Aylesbury Vale Employment Land Study (AVDC, 2008) Note – the colour of the arrows correspond to the roads on the key Pitstone Ward shows that equal proportions of commuters travel to Aylesbury rural areas and the M1 corridor. Smaller proportions travel to Aylesbury town, elsewhere and London. The smallest proportion of commuters is to the M40 corridor.

Mode travelled to work

Mode of travel to work All people aged 16 to 74 in 13% 8% employment: Travel to work by public transport

All people aged 16 to 74 in employment: Travel to work by motorcycle; car or van

All people aged 16 to 74 in employment: Travel to work by other means or work at 79% home

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk © Crown copyright

The most common mode to travelling to work is by motorcycle, car or van, accounting for 79%, which is high than compared to other wards within the district. 8% of the population travel to work by public transport.

Broadband Speeds

There is no formal way of assessing Broadband speed and coverage. However we have drawn on some of the commercially available speed checking services to give a guide as to the coverage and speeds available in the village. This does not mean that this is necessarily an obtainable level of service, but is as close as we are able to provide as an indicator.

Using www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk it would appear that the village/town has good coverage and speeds obtainable appear to be in the range of 0.59 to 8.18 Mbps, from a variety of service providers.

Shops and Services

Pitstone has a limited number of shops and services. The village has one local store, a doctors surgery, a public housing, post office and church.

Details of shops and services undertaken in summer 2010 are shown on the infrastructure map within Section 5 of this document.

Health Care

 One doctors surgery is located in Pitstone at Yardley Avenue. There is no chemist or other health care facilities with the village. The nearest chemists are in Edlesborough and Tring.

 The nearest hospitals are located at Stoke Mandeville and Dunstable.

 In Pitstone 76% of residents are classified as being in good health, with 10% suffering from long term illness (Census, 2001).

Leisure Facilities

 Pitstone Memorial Hall  Two children’s playground  Pitstone Green Museum  Allotments  Junior and Senior cricket pitch with new changing rooms, plus a new sports pitch off of Marsworth Road.  Mobile library – this visits on alternate Tuesday at the Health Centre, Yardley Avenue between 14.30 and 15.10. As of November 2010, Buckinghamshire County Council has proposals to potentially rethink library provision in the district. This may affect existing provision in the parish.  St Mary’s Church‐ not currently in use, although managed by a local community group called ‘Friends of Pitstone Church’.

Access to Green Space

The following are locations of green space for which the accessibility audit has been carried out:‐

Green Space Size Allotments The Crescent 418m2 Recreation Ground Vicarage Road 22752m2 Allotments (unused) Marsworth Road 6572m2 Amenity Space Westfield Road 2345m2 Open space Westfield Road 2498m2 Amenity Space Windsor Road 830m2 Open Space Windsor Road 5824m2 Open Space Browns Hedge 4175m2 St Mary’s Church Church Road 4627m2 Amenity Space Yardley Avenue 691m2 Open Space Crispin Field 1840 m2 Open Space Yardley Avenue 740 m2 Open Space Yardley Avenue 703 m2 20

Amenity Space Yardley Avenue 361 m2 Amenity Space Glebe Close 1075 m2 Open Space Hever Close 27995m2

The following table shows current provision against Accessible Natural England Standard (ANGSt) by Natural England which is considered a national benchmark and forms part of Government guidance on green space provision. The standard emphasizes the importance of accessible green space to local communities.

ANGSt Standard Current gaps 2ha‐20ha green spaces located within 300m of dwellings Yes. There are no sites to the north/north west (Yardley Avenue) of the village. 20ha‐100ha green spaces located within 2km of dwellings No. 100ha‐500ha green spaces located within 5km of dwellings No. 500ha+ green spaces located within 10km of dwellings No

Playing Pitch/Allotments Standard Current gaps LEAPs and NEAPs 3 LEAP and 1 Yes. For existing urban development a LEAP NEAP provision is required to the north of the village (Yardley Avenue area). Also there is no Neighbourhood Equipped Area of Play (NEAP) within the village. The existing teenage provision located on the Recreation Ground should be enhanced to a NEAP standard. Allotments 9 plots per 1000 Yes. National Society of Allotment & Leisure population Gardeners guidance of 9 plots per 1000 population. (Waiting list of approximately 19 plot holders.

Tourism

AVDC monitor a number of tourism attractions within the district. In Pitstone Glebe Canal Cruises operates from Pitstone Wharf, providing cruises along the canal. Approximately 9,882 people visited the attraction in 2010.

There is also Pitstone Museum, located at Vicarage Road. This has a unique collection of farm tools, machinery and other relics of the past way of rural life, housed in a 1831 farm buildings.

Pitstone Windmill, towards the east of the village, is another attraction which is one of the earliest examples of a windmill in Britain, built in 1627. The mill is set in attractive Chiltern countryside with the Chiltern Hill escarpment as its background.

Crime

The below data is based on the number of burglaries, theft, criminal damage and violence (April 2002‐March 03). The column on the left shows a ranking of the relevant Super Output Area against all Super Output Areas nationally (there are around 32,500). An IMD score of 1 would mean the SOA is the highest crime area in the country. Whereas a ranking of 32,500 would be the lowest crime area based on these particular crimes.

Crime Deprivation

25000

20000 Deprivation

15000

Multiple 10000

5000

Indices 0 7701 7702 Pitstone Ward Super Output Area

Source: Indices of Multiple Deprivation, 2007

Pitstone village also contrasts with the surrounding area for levels of crime deprivation which is much higher, particularly in the north of the village, falling within the third quartile. However the south of the village shows lower levels of crime, falling within the top quartile nationally (AVDC Local Area Profile, 2006).

Education

Pre School and Sure Start

 There is one pre‐school in Pitstone ‘Windmill Pre‐School’ at Pitstone Memorial Hall along Vicarage Road.

Primary Schools

 There are no schools within Pitstone Parish although the adjacent village of Ivinghoe has a combined school aged 4 – 11 years, called Brookmead. Pitstone is within the Wing and Ivinghoe primary planning area.

 This school has a capacity of 320 pupil with 228 currently attending, leaving a surplus capacity of 10%.

 The Wing and Ivinghoe planning area has a total capacity for 1,561 pupil. In 2009/10 there were 1,365 pupils attending, leaving a surplus capacity of 13%.

Source: Buckinghamshire County Council ,2009

Secondary Schools

 The nearest secondary schools are located at Wing, Tring, Wendover and Aylesbury.

 The Cottesloe School at Wing has a capacity of 1105 pupils, with 1132 pupils currently attending leaving a deficit of 2% (BCC, 2010).

 Tring School has a capacity of 1,680 pupils, with 1365 pupils currently attending, leaving a surplus of 19% (Source: Planning Obligations for Education Provision, 2010).

 John Colet School in Wendover has a capacity for 1,030 pupils, in 2010 1,008 attended, leaving a surplus capacity of 2% (BCC, 2010).

 Within the Aylesbury town there is currently a capacity of 6517 pupils, with 6003 pupils currently attending, leaving a surplus of 8% (BCC, 2010).

Further Education

 Colleges are located in Aylesbury, Amersham, High Wycombe, Dunstable, Luton & Milton Keynes. Further Adult Education centre can be found in, Cheddington (1 venue), Aylesbury (34) and Wing (1).

Trends and Statistics

Key Stage 2 is ages 7‐11 (Junior School) within the Primary Curriculum. Level 4 is one of the higher standards of achievement for teaching effectiveness. More information on the stages and the curriculum is available at http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/primary

At Key Stage 2, 91% of pupils in the Pitstone Ward achieve Level 4 or above in English, compared to a regional figure of 81.3%. In Science, 94% achieve Level or above compared to a regional figure of 87.6% and in Maths, 85% achieve Level or above compared to a regional figure of 78% (Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2009).

At GCSE level, 73% of school pupils in Pitstone Ward achieved 5 or more GCSEs graded A to C, compared to a regional average of 65% (Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2009).

Housing

The 2004 Aylesbury Vale District Local Plan designates ‘Pitstone Development Area,’ policy RA.26, covering 48.7 hectares primarily for housing, business and community facilities on a former Cement works site, which closed in 1991. The site has had 275 dwellings completed fully. A further 164 dwellings has been granted permission and at September 2010, 95 dwellings had not been yet started, 51 dwellings were under construction, and 18 dwellings were complete. There is one remaining site in the north of the former Cement Works area which covers 3.46 hectares, which has a potential capacity of 36 dwellings.

Housing Stock Profile

The most popular type of house is semi‐detached and terraces accounting for 57%, there is also a large percentage of detached housing, accounting for 41% of the housing stock.

Dwelling Type 2% All household spaces: Whole detached house / bungalows 41% All household spaces: Whole semi‐detached / terraced 57% houses / bungalow All household spaces: Flat maisonette or apartment; or caravan or temporary structure

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk, © Crown copyright

The average household size is 2.4 persons, which slightly below the district average of 2.51. The average number of rooms per household is 6, which is slightly above the district average of 5.8 (Census, 2001).

Household Tenure

Households with owner‐ 7% Tenure occupied tenure 16%

Households with tenure rented from Council (local authority) or Housing Association / Registered Social Landlord Households with tenure rented from private landlord or letting 77% agency or other tenure

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk, © Crown copyright

The most popular tenure is owner occupied, accounting of 77% (Census, 2001). The 2006 Super Output Area data shows 53% of people in Pitstone owned their house with a mortgage. On top of this, a further 26% in Pitstone is owned outright. Pitstone shows a noticeably higher number of Registered Social Landlords (22%) compared to other parts of the district.

Household Occupancy

Household Occupancy 2% 0%

Household spaces with residents Vacant household spaces

Second residence / holiday accommodation

98%

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk, © Crown copyright

Vacant households account for 2% of the households. There are no holiday residences within Pitstone. For clarification a ‘vacant’ household space is an unoccupied space which is not a household’s usual residence and is not a second residence or holiday accommodation.

Market data on completions and sales

Year ending 31st 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 March Total Dwelling 1 7 7 1 6 7 Completions Total Dwelling 15 16 8 15 173 166 Commitments Source: ADVC, March 2010

Commitment figures show the net housing commitments in Pitstone parish. They show the number of houses (both new dwellings and conversions) for which there is a valid planning permission, allowing for those houses which have already been completed, and allows for dwellings which are to be demolished or otherwise lost.

Completions have varied between 1 and 7 within the last five years which is relatively low. There are much higher levels of commitments, especially in the last two years with 173 in 2009 and 166 committed dwellings in 2010. There have been no affordable housing schemes completed since 2004. Prior to 2004 there was:

 Pitstone Development Area – 13 completed in 2004 by McCann Homes  Pitstone Development Area– 15 completed in 2003 by Wilcon Homes  Yardley Avenue – 7 completed in 2003 by Notting Hill Home Ownership  Pitstone Development Area – 1 completed in 2002 Wilcon Homes

House Prices

Average House Hold Price from 2005

£500,000 £450,000 £400,000 £350,000 Value £300,000 £250,000 Hold £200,000 £150,000 House £100,000 £50,000 £0 January July January July January July January July January July January July 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010

(Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

House prices in Pitstone ward have fluctuated slightly within the last five years, with the beginning of 2009 having the highest average household average price of £429,111. The lowest average price in July 2009 was £221,500. Since this low house prices have been increasing.

Housing Sales

In 2010 Pitstone ward had sixteen house sales (at September 2010) as shown on the graph below. This equates to 1.3% turn over of the private housing stock, slightly over the regional average of 1.2%.

Annual Dwelling Sales

120 114

100 79 80 64 Dwellings

of 60

40 46 40

Number 16 20

0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

Annual turnover Number of The table and graph shows 2006 had the as % of stock dwelling sales highest number of sales with 114 4.52 110 accounting for 7.3% of housing stock turnover. The lowest number of sales was 7.32 178 in 2010 with 16 (as at September 2010), 7.07 172 accounting for 1.27% of the housing stock. 2.59 63 3.00 73 1.27 31 (Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

New Build price comparison

The graph overleaf for Pitstone ward shows from 2006 to 2008 new build house prices had been declining, whilst previously occupied house prices had been increasing. There have been no new build flats. Previously occupied flat prices have remained largely the same between 2007 and 2008.

Price comparision for new builds compared to previously occupied dwellings £450,000 £400,000 Previously Occupied Flat £350,000 Prices £300,000

Value New Build Flat Prices £250,000 £200,000 Previously Occupied House £150,000

Household Prices £100,000 New Build House Prices £50,000 £0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(Source: HM Land Registry, September 2010) Please note not all the data is available for each year.

Affordability

(Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

The graph is based on a mortgage three times income. This graph shows in order to buy a terraced property, a first time buyer would need to be earning at least £45,000 to £50,000. To buy a terraced property, an owner occupier would need to be earning at least £40,000 to £45,000.

Housing Need

In Pitstone parish, there are 46 households on the waiting list for Council housing (Source, AVDC October 2010). The total number of households on the council housing waiting list is 4,410. Within this figure there are 1,022 households on the waiting list from outside the district and 120 households where the Council has so far been unable to map their location (please see Annex 1 for map of households on the district waiting list).

Gypsy Sites

There are no gypsy and traveller sites within Pitstone. The nearest sites are located at Edlesborough and Slapton.

Transport and Connections

Pitstone is located mainly on the B489, connecting Aylesbury to Luton. Rural roads also connect to Tring and Cheddington and surrounding rural settlements.

The graph below looks at the number of cars owned per household based on data from the 2001 Census. 11% of households have no cars or vans and 10% have three of more cars or vans. 89% of the population own at least one car (Census, 2010).

Number of cars/vans per household

No cars or vans 10% 11% One car or van

Two cars or vans 34% 45% Three or more cars or vans

Source: 2001 Census, www.ons.gov.uk, © Crown copyright

Pitstone has bus route 61 connecting to Aylesbury, Luton and Luton Airport. The service operates an hourly service Monday to Friday, with a reduced service on Saturday and no service on Sunday.

Bus services shown on the map above can be accessed on the Buckinghamshire County Council website at http://www.transportforbucks.net/Bu ses‐and‐trains/Bus‐timetables.aspx’

The map on the left shows bus stops indicated by the yellow flags. This map can be viewed online at http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buse s‐and‐trains/Maps/Real‐time‐bus‐ map.aspx.

Source :Buckinghamshire County Council, 2010

There are twenty two Public Rights of Way, covering all parts of the village connecting to the surrounding rural area. This includes one footpath and four bridleways, with the rest public footpaths.

The nearest train station is located at Cheddington, approximately 3 miles away. This lies on the London Midland Euston – Birmingham New Street Line. The frequency is essentially one train an hour to London & Birmingham throughout the day and evening. The service also connects at Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction to Intercity/cross country access at Stations up and down the line. Tring Station is also relatively near by with a more frequent local stopping service. This is an important commuter line.

There are four community bus/travel services with the potential to cover Pitstone; Aylesbury Vale Dial‐A‐Ride; The Townlands Trust, Winslow & District Community Bus; and The Buzzer (Leighton Buzzard & District CTA Ltd).

Water Cycle and Flood Risk

The Aylesbury Vale Water Cycle Strategy was completed by Halcrow with AVDC officers, Thames Water, Anglian Water, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders in December 2010. It provides an audit of water supplies, surface water management, flood risk, water quality, wastewater network and sewerage treatment works as relevant to a selected number of rural settlements in Aylesbury Vale.

On flood risk, the study picks up all forms of flooding other than river flooding (which is separately covered by the Fact Packs). The Water Cycle Strategy also provides an appraisal of the available capacity in the above infrastructure and identifies how far constrained (or not) settlements are to potential further development.

The Water Cycle Strategy for Aylesbury Vale (Halcrow, 2010) sets out the following requirements for Pitstone:

 Wastewater Treatment Works – There are no constraints and Ivinghoe Wastewater Treatment Works has adequate capacity to accommodate development at Pitstone.

 Wastewater Network – Existing sewers which have the capacity to absorb flows from up to 80 additional homes at Pitstone.

 Water Supplies and Water Quality – No constraints

 Flood Risk – Sewer and highway flooding

 Surface Water Management – No constraints

Fact File Summary

 High population growth from 1951 to 2001 with a population of 2,343 (Census, 2001);

 The age profile for the village shows the majority of the population is in the 25‐44 age band;

 Low levels of deprivation within the parish, particularly when compared nationally;

 High employment opportunities within the village;

 Villagers are dependent upon private car for commuting and travel due to limited public transport connections;

 The village has key services such as a doctors surgery, post office, local store and public house;

 The village has no primary school in the parish but the adjoining village of Ivinghoe has a primary school for 4 to 11 year olds;

 There is a higher proportion of semi‐detached and terraced dwellings in the village (57%), compared to 41% detached.

 House prices have fluctuated with July 2009 having the lowest average price of £221,500 and January 2009 having the highest average house price of £429,111. House prices have been steadily rising since July 2009.

 Dwelling sales peaked in 2006 with 114 sales and have since reduced to 16 in 2010;

 Low levels of crime, particularly when compared nationally;

5. Issues facing the parish

Planning related issues for the settlement have been identified through the Local Area Forum for Pitstone. This is not an extensive list, but a starting point for discussion.

Settlement form  Divide settlement along Marsworth Road and Vicarage Road.

 Continue to protect the views of the Chiltern Hill Escarpment, which are within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

 Protect the views of Pitstone Mill

Facilities  Retaining cultural heritage through Pitstone Museum

 Bringing the parish church back into use

 Enhance the relationship of the village with the Grand Union Canal System

 Need for more Affordable housing

 Prevision of teenage recreational facilities, not just young children

 Continue to support the employment site at the former cement works

Transport  Reduce the adverse impacts of traffic along the B489

o Particularly from Heavy Goods Vehicles o Need for more public rights of way o Need for safer routes towards school o Provision of shared cycle ways

 Need for more rural bus services and public transport particularly for young and elderly people

6. Parish Constraints

The village has a number of historic and environmental constraints to be considered. These have been identified on the maps following in the next few pages, with explanations setting out what these constraints are.

Agricultural Land Map

Agricultural Land

The Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) provides a method for assessing the quality of farmland to enable informed choices to be made about its future use within the planning system. It helps underpin the principles of sustainable development. DEFRA produced guidance on the ALC in the planning system in 1998 and the most up to date data, was produced by Natural England in 2002.

The majority of Pitstone is covered by grade 3 agricultural land. All land being grade 3 will be presumed to be grade 3a unless detailed work is carried out to determine the land is grade 3b. A strip of grade two agricultural land is located towards the east of the Pitstone, towards the end of Vicarage Road.

Environmental Constraints Map

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

From the map on the following page it can be seen that Pitstone has a large number of environmental constraints. The main environmental constraints are the Chiltern Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Metropolitan Green Belt located towards the east of the parish. The AONB is an area of precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard it. The Chilterns AONB is managed by the Chilterns Conservation Board. The Metropolitan Green Belt is an area of land designated in the Council’s development plan documents (e.g. Local Plan) whose primary purpose is to curb the outward extension of urban areas, the merger of settlements. Development is strictly controlled in the Green Belt.

Local Wildlife Sites

A local wildlife site is located where Quarry one was once located, due to the importance of scrub and grassland. Local Wildlife Sites are Local non‐statutory designation for areas of land which are considered to be of significance for its wildlife features and habitats, designated by Buckinghamshire County Council.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

These are located in part of the centre of the parish. SSSIs are A conservation designation managed and identified by Natural England denoting a protected area. SSSIs are the basic building block of site‐based nature conservation legislation and other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon them including Nature Reserves and Special Areas of Conservation.

Notable Species Sites

There are several Notable Species Sites in and around the settlement. Notable Species are locations of Important Ecological Species set out by the Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire Biological Records Centre. The Notable Species are sensitive information and as such the species of wildlife cannot be stated in the fact pack. However, the Environmental Records Centre can be contacted to given a case‐by‐case response – contact [email protected]. The Centre also has an information request form that people can fill in to provide the details of their search enquiry. This can be downloaded from their website at the following address: http://www.buckinghamshirepartnership.gov.uk/partnership/BucksMKERC/data_search.page?

Tree Preservation Orders

A cluster of Tree Preservation Orders are located at Westfield and Windsor Road. These are orders established by the Council for either individual or groups of trees. The TPO prevents such

trees being lopped/topped or uprooted which are particularly attractive or important to the character of the area.

Historic Constraints Map

Conservation Area

Pitstone lies adjacent to the Ivinghoe Conservation Area, although development in Pitstone may have an impact on the Ivinghoe Conservation Area. Conservation Areas are designated by the Council in order to control development in areas of special character, historic or architectural importance. The overall objective is to avoid neglect, protect inward and outward views, ensure development is sympathetic and complements the character of the area, and where possible enhance the area’s character.

Listed Buildings

There are 15 listed buildings in Pitstone, including Pitstone Museum, an historic farm building and St Mary’s Church. The Pitsone Windmill is Grade II* Listed. Listed Buildings are listed by English Heritage and help and conserve the structure, use and setting of a building important to history or architecture. The older a building is the more likely it is to be listed.

Schedule Ancient Monuments

A Schedule Ancient Monument is located towards the eastern side of the village, were a former Moat was once located. These are a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.

Historic Land Use

Large areas of Historic Land Use are located towards the southern of the settlement where the cement works were once located. This has been identified as an important previous land use.

Landscape Map

Landscape Character and Sensitivity

A Landscape Character Assessment was produced in May 2008. The assessment covers the whole of Aylesbury Vale District outside of the built up areas of Aylesbury, Buckingham, Haddenham, Winslow and Wendover and groups landscape into 79 landscape character areas and 13 landscape character types covering landscape, visual, historic and ecological considerations. The landscape character type for Pitstone is described as Vale (type 08) towards the south of Marsworth road the landscape type is Chalk foothills (type 10).

The Areas of Sensitive Landscape study (2008) followed up the Landscape Character Assessment looking specifically at the sensitivity of areas to change and new development. The following criteria determine how sensitive an area is; landscape quality, scenic quality, rarity, representativeness, conservation interests and wildness. There are four categories of sensitive landscape identified in the Areas of Sensitive Landscapes study – the higher the percentage shown on the map, the more sensitive a landscape is likely to be to new development. Pitstone is relatively unconstrained by the landscape sensitivity, measuring between 0 to 50%.

Infrastructure and Transport Connections map

Pitstone’s facilities, connections and infrastructure

The plan on the following page shows Pitstone in the context of its transport connections and infrastructure. Pitstone provides a relatively limited range of transport infrastructure. Employment opportunities within Pitstone provide a wide choice from the industrial park and there is an established rural highway net work serving nearby towns and villages.

2 5 0 1 3 9 4 1

5 1 Pitstone Agricultural land Use Classification and Topogrpahy

1 5 40 3 180 1

200 205 215 225 210 00 1 10 0 2 3 2 0 1 2 2 0 5 1 45

5 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 60 0 1 0 5 50 1 10 1 0 5 5 21 45 1 210

5 3 1

5 17 7 0 0 1 4

2 1 75

2 4 1 5 45

2 2 2 5 4 0 0 2 2 2 2 3 5 5 15 0 5 2 21

250 0 20 210 245 25 5 0 24 1 1 8 5 5 0

2 3 5 1 1 5 2 1 4 3 5 5 2 240 130 50 5 0 9 6 1 20 2 135 135 1 0 55 2 3 2 4 5 5 215 1 5 5 3 4 9 2 0 1 0 4 1 1 2 195 0 5 0 9 90 0 1 5 5 1 1 2 2 3 2 8 4 0 1 1 1 0 3 5 1 5 0 3 2 0 0 0 1 5 5 1 23 2 0 6 2 5 2 3 1 0 0 1 4 1

1 2 1 1 5 1 1 2 9 1 3 0 5 5 0 2 5 0 4 5 0 2 1 3 5 2

1 5 3 1 5 2 5 1 5 1 0 0 1 3 4 1 1 2 1 2 1 5 1 5 3 1 4 0 3 0 1 0 80 0 2 2 1 2 35 1 2 1 0 3 5 9 1 2 0 0 4 5 9 3 4 2 0 0 2 20 2 0

1 0

8 2 0 2 0 5 Key 5 0 1 9 125 2 1 Contour Lines 0 1 4 2 2

5 5 Parish Boundary 1 1 3 3 3 5 0 2 2 0 5 2 1 Agricultural Land Classification 2 1 3 2 0 0 250 500 1,000 Meters GRADE 2 5 2 5 8 3 5 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 4 25 GRADE 3 0 3 5 0 225 ´ 5 1 GRADE 4 1 8 6 © Crown Copyright an d database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100019797. 2 1 1 0 0 1 5 3 1 2 7 1 5 2 5 3 4 215 NON AGRICULTURAL 5 1 0 2 2 2 0 1 2 7 1:16,500 5 0 0 0 Grade 3b 1 15 16 3 2 5 0 0 4 20 20 0 1 2 2 20 200 Pitstone Environmental Constraints

Pitstone CP

Key

Parishes TPO Flood Plain Areas Suseptible to Surface Water Flooding Ancient Woodland Special Areas Conservation 0 75150 300 450 600 750 900 SSSI % Metres Notable Species Local Wildlife Sites This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. ´ AONB © Crown copyright.

Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright Biological Notification Sites and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Aylesbury Vale District Council 100019797 2010 1:17,000 Green Belt Pitstone Historic Constraints

Pitstone CP

Key

Parishes Conservation Areas 0 50100 200 300 400 500 600 Listed Buildings Scheduled Ancient Monuments Meters This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the Archaeological Notification Areas permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. ´ © Crown copyright. Historic Land Use Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright New Potential Contaminated Land and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Aylesbury Vale District Council 100019797 2010 1:16,000 Pitstone Landscape

Key Settlements LCT 10 Chalk Foothills LCT 11 Chalk Escarpment LCT 12 Chalk Dip Slope LCT 07 Wooded Rolling Lowlands

Landscape Sensitivity 0 75 150 300 450 600 750 900 0 - 50% Metres 50 - 75% © Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100019797. ´ 75 - 90% 1:17,000 90 - 100% Pitstone Infrastructure and Transport Connections

Key

Parish Boundary Employment Facility Retail Service 0 50 100 200 Meters Main Roads ´ Public rights of way © Crown Copyright an d database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100019797. Existing Chiltern Rail Services 1:5,000 Proposed High Speed 2 Rail Link

Annex 1: Housing Waiting List

Annex 2: References

Local Plans Source AVDC Community Led http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/community‐living/community‐ Planning led‐planning/ Community Led Plans ‐ www.clp‐se.org.uk South East Rural Communities Council Local Area Plans http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/our_communities/local_area_plans. page Statistics ACORN ward profile Paper copy. Buckinghamshire County Council, March 2010

Local Area Profile Paper copy, AVDC, 2006 Employment Land Study http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local‐development‐ 2008 plans/planning‐policy/withdrawn‐core‐strategy/avldf‐evidence‐ base/employment‐evidence/aylesbury‐vale‐employment‐land‐study‐ march‐2008/?LGNTF=71 ONS www.ons.gov.uk BCC education Paper Copy. BCC Cabinet report from May 2010. Also information from BCC, December 2010 School Location http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/schools/ea_Name_search.page Doctors Information from database held by the Primary Care Trust, October 2010 Housing Hometrack http://www.housingintelligence.co.uk/ (membership required) Completions AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing)

Commitments AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing)

Affordable Housing AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) Completions No. Parish Dwellings AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) (Housing Stock) Rural exception schemes AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) Employment Losses and gains in last AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) five years (B1,2, and 8)

Environmental Constraints Listed buildings http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/

Maps AVDC, December 2010. Produced using ArcMap with license from Ordnance Survey

Conservation Areas and http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local‐development‐ Management Plans plans/planning‐policy/supplementary‐planning‐ documents/conservation‐area‐supplementary‐planning‐document/ Green Infrastructure Aylesbury Vale Green http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure‐culture/parks‐open‐ Infrastructure Strategy spaces/aylesbury‐vale‐green‐infrastructure‐strategy/ 2011‐2026

Buckinghamshire Green http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/strategic_planning/green_infrastruc Infrastructure Strategy ture.page

AVDC Green Spaces http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure‐culture/planning‐policy‐ Audit guidance‐17/‐green‐space‐audit/

Transport Public transport stops http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses‐and‐trains/Maps/Real‐ time‐bus‐map.aspx Bus time tables http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses‐and‐trains/Bus‐ timetables.aspx Community Transport http://www.alt‐transport.org.uk/schemes_av.asp Schemes Other Settlement audit 2008 http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local‐development‐ plans/planning‐policy/withdrawn‐core‐strategy/avldf‐evidence‐ base/miscellaneous‐evidence/review‐rural‐settlement‐hierarchy Aerial Photography http://maps.google.co.uk/maps Population stats from AVDC, 2010, paper copies available on request for the last 5 censuses 1951