Postbridge

September 2019

This settlement profile has been prepared by National Park Authority to provide an overview of key information and issues for the settlement. It has been prepared in consultation with Parish/Town Councils and will be updated as necessary.

Settlement Profile: 1

Introduction

Postbridge lies on the road between Two Bridges and , 5 miles east of . It commands a central geographical location within Dartmoor National Park. It is an important destination for visitors to Dartmoor. It hosts a National Park Visitor Centre, a large car park with room for coaches, and is the base for walks into

moorland and forest and for viewing the well-known . There is also a youth hostel operating in nearby .

The village name refers to the pack horse bridge

(formed of large dimension clapper stones) over the close to the main road. The cottages and inns that grew up around the bridge, along with ancient tenements nearby, came together to form the settlement and community. The turnpike road established in the 1790s, and the granite road bridge that was built in 1792, gave added

importance to the settlement.

There is a limited range of local services and facilities. However, there are pubs, a shop and a village hall, and visitor patronage helps support

what is currently on offer

Settlement Profile: Postbridge 2 Demographics A summary of key population statistics

Age Profile (Census 2011, defined by best-fit Output Area*) Settlement comparison (Census 2011*)

Children Working Age Older People 100+

Bridford 90 Throwleigh & 80 North 70 & Liverton 60 Age Hennock 50 Scorriton 40 Cheriton Bishop 30 20 Meavy 10 Dean Prior Dunsford Postbridge* 0 0 5 10 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Population* Population*

* Settlement specific population data unavailable, data shown represents wider rural area

Settlement Profile: Postbridge 3 Housing

Average House Prices 2016 Identifying Housing Need Excluding settlements with less than five sales, number of sales labelled following Parishes:

Postbridge 1 Lustleigh 8 Hennock 3 Christow 11 Yelverton 18 Manaton 8 Belstone 6 22 9 Sticklepath 5 Drewsteignton 8 Buckfast 5 Dunsford 5 Liverton 6 Ilsington 7 5 Brentor 5 Bittaford 12 10 Ashburton 54 Lydford 8 Dousland 15 Moretonhampstead 20 13 36 32 52 Princetown 19

0 £100K £200K £300K £400K £500K £600K £700K

Land Registry, 2016

Settlement Profile: Postbridge 4 Local Issues A summary of current development issues

Sites allocated for development No sites allocated for development in current local plan: No affordable units have been delivered on other sites since 2008

2006 Housing Needs Insufficient need for affordable housing to Assessment1 recommended: 1 for Postbridge and justify development

Issues Paper Consultation (Dec 2016) Infrastructure delivery

The following summarises issues identified by the Dartmoor Forest We are aware of the following items of infrastructure which are needed Parish Council: and have a reasonable prospect of being funded in the next 20 years:  New development should be concentrated within larger  None known settlements and prioritise brownfield sites  Concern at impact of high second home ownership and desire to see holiday homes used more often Open Space, Sport and Recreation  Design of forthcoming development should be well insulated and use materials which are durable in the Dartmoor climate We are aware of the following priorities for improving Open Space,  New housing development should be affordable to local Sport and Recreation facilities: people and meet local need  Appropriate new uses for redundant historic agricultural  None known buildings should be encouraged, including to accommodate future farming generations  Affordable housing restrictions should include key workers  Widening of roads should be considered to improve access

Settlement Profile: Postbridge 5 Map 1 – Planning Considerations A map of key policy designations affecting planning decisions in this settlement

Settlement Profile: Postbridge 6 Map 2 – Open Space A map of all open space with public value in this settlement

Settlement Profile: Postbridge 7 Settlement Services and Connectivity

Settlement Services

Post Office Store Village Hall Village School Primary Service Bus Regular Ground Recreation Church Pub Centre Health Surgery Branch Pharmacy (fuel) Garage A B U

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-

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Road

Road

Road

Settlement

Postbridge            If no, distance to nearest    >5km     

Method of Travelling to work (Census 2011, defined by best-fit Output Area)

Private vehicle Home worker On Foot Passenger in private vehicle Bus, Minibus or Coach Other Train Bicycle Taxi

0 20 40 60 80 100

Settlement Profile: Postbridge 8