Byfield Village Design Statement Table of Contents

1 Byfield Village Design Statement Table of Contents

Nature and purpose of the Village Design Statement 5

How have village residents given their opinions? 6

How will the consultation continue? 6

The geographical location of Byfield 6

Geographical and historical origins and appearance 7

Architectural History of the Village 8

Themes of development detail 9

What are the attractions of living in Byfield today? 10

How can these attractions be continued and developed? What are the challenges? 11

The effect of change 11 Some answers are suggested here 12 Cultural continuity 13 Localism 14 Sustainability 15 Sociability 16

Table of illustrations

1) A map showing Byfield parish and parts of the neighbouring parishes 3 2) A map showing roads and footpaths in the village of Byfield 4 3) Captioned groups of photographs showing points of design, both good and bad 19 4) A set of photographs showing footpaths around the village, illustrating its 38 rural setting. 5) A map showing the points where the footpath pictures were taken 42

2 R vi e r Field Farm C Farmhouse h e rw e 144m l l Fish Ponds k ac Charwelton Hall h r Park t T a P 182m Gate Radio Station 134m Path th Pa Elmers Iss Farm 174m

Issues

Packhorse 139m 182m Priors Hardwick Bridge T r a c k Meml Grange Farm th P a The Manor House 159m a 148m P t h Charwelton 207m PH

k 148m k c c ra 170m ra T Redcap T Mill The Grange Cottage Mound London End Issues Home PW Issues Mylin Farm Stirch Pit Blackdown Spr (disused) House i n a r D Iss Sinks Tra ck Issues

Path k

r Issues 159m

T 144m Blackdown Covert Sewage Works P a th

Sinks

214m Hill Farm The Church k k ac Tr ac Tr k D Angles c Charwelton a 166m i s r m T a Charwelton PW P 183m n 178m t 146m a el t h ck d House Tra R a i wl a y 149m

152m Fish Blackdown Church Farm Ponds Farm 152m Hill Farm

172m Collects

P Medieval Village of a

t h Church Charwelton Dra in (site of) 172m Holywell 168m T Pool ra ck 176m 184m 174m

Charwelton Hill

T r a 206m c Issues k Tra ck Sluices 178m Blindpool Pumping 157m

Fields Farm P House Spinney Rump Hall a t

h Mast

152m

169m Fields Farm

Blindpool Issues Spinney

D r a i n The Iron Hill n k i c ra a Cottage D r Farm T Issues Tk P a 173m th 172m k R Issues 168m c Ludwell Farm ra iv T e r

h c

t a a r Dodd's Barn T T r Issues P a ck C Iron h

P e a

t r h Cross w e

159m y l Path a l w

e k l T

Hollingwood T ra Collins Farm ck Charwelton House

Lodge 162m Water Tower

Dodds Cottage

Pa Issues

th R

Drain i

a v 196m e t

h Track r Tr ac k Butterwell

Sinks Pitwell Hinton Hill

Issues C

T e

Farm k r r c w

a a

c Tr e l

166m k Kennels l

c k a r T 168m Issues Oak Farm Issues Manor Spinney Issues Farm House

k 158m c Midway a r D 144m

T r The Bungalow a i n P Hinton House a th 159m Hintonhill Tra ck Stables Farm Spr

Pat h

T Hinton House k

Farm T Hinton ra C ck a Hinton House House n a l

F Cottages e e d e r D r a k Highlands Farm ni c Issues ra T Sinks

k Issues

Track Spr

Townsend Farm

n Issues i a

D FB Sinks Byfield

T PW

r a c k P Pav a Poplars t Butterwell h k Beechcroft c Farm a U pper Boddington Farm r Playing Farm Tel Ex T Field Spr

142m a r 127m T 1 21m C LO 118m C K M E 170m A D O 153m W

PH Hinton

Sheep E S Lodge Bsns Pk

153m O

Pens L

Westhorp C N

149m Sinks E Car V Cross N

Boddington E Park T k 133m c Church End G r Industrial CE a a (remains 151m Recreation

Primary r R PO c 149m k Spr T of) U Ground School th Iss Estate a C P War Hinton Meml PW PO

Spr F Sta 145m Manor 159m Farm Wks W Playing Mast k Field c a r Village Hall T

P 151m a Byfield t h PW Sch Farm l l e r e w Westhorp House 142m r v Recreation i e FB Farm R h Boddington Reservoir Ground C Issues Liby Club 149m Allot PW Foxhill House Gdns y Farm Ra ilwa th Landing a k P c a tled Stage r an FB T Dism 142m 144m 123m Marley Issues PO Sch Farm Sinks

Hinton Mount Byfield Pol Pleasant Pa r s o n 's Spinney Reservoir Ho 143m Issues Tews Farm

163m Pa Issues Legend 149m th th PW th a Pa P Issues h in Fir Tree Pat Dra T House ra ck PWs Mast 139m Dr ain Cleveland D r ain PH Weir Farm Hinton th Sewage P a Great Ground Pool Sewage Works Manor The Farm Farm c k Spr Half Moon Works Tr a PW Manor House Allot Listed Buildings Spinney Gdns a ck Station Tr 157m Allot 159m House The Grange Gdns D

Pit i Gravel n 116m k Brookfields (dis) k c Farm c ra a Woodford r T T

Po le Halse TPO Group Sp inney Issues

Spr

139m 136m Issues c k a r Sewage T Spr Works

ra ck k Masts T ac Pp Ho Tr Slade Lays Lower Boddington Issues 192m r ain Farm TPO Tree D 162m PW Spr East Lodge Cedar House Spr Farm West 136m Millers Old House Lodge Close Issues Farm Spr y a ilw a R C a Golden Hill d na 122m tle 151m Parish Boundaryl n F a ee d Farm m e r Issues is Tilbrooke Farm D 123m T r D T Issues a ra in c r 118m a k 116m c Sluice k D ism Golden Hill 184m a n tle d R Paradise a il 142m Conservation Area House w ay Farm

D D r 182m a Dairy Farm r Bridge i ai n n Meadow

T r Farndonhill a c Footpaths/Rights Of Way Farm k

131m Mill House Cottage

n i a r D

in ra D The Sinks Cottage Root Spinney 151m Spr T r a ck

Cross Tree Farm

Sinks Issues Spr th a P Issues The k T c k Watersmeet D

Reservoir ra Cottage is T R m an

Ivy i le Issues (covered) v d

113m Sinks

House e The Stone House r R a Spr Farm ilw a 141m Manor y Washbrook Farm Sinks Farm C Eydonhill T

h r

a k

e c c

a k

r r

T w Spr e

l 164m l Moors D Fish Tr is ack m West Farndon Farm a 111m Redhill n Ponds t l e The d Springfield ck Farm ra T Hovel D ra R h t in a House 133m i a wl P D ra a in Issues y Issues Weir Pit 182m (dis) Sinks

Weir Spr Sewage Hall Spr k T r ac ac Works Farm Tr k Issues in ra D

Fish Ponds 141m

Lovell's Dr ain 173m Tr ack Issues Spr Spinney PW Lower Farm House Warden Spr Manor Cedars 141m Redhill Wood Grange House Farm S 142m ch oo l k

Tra ck c T a r PW r a h c D t T k r a a in P

A Village Design Statement for Byfield

(For conciseness, the full expression “village design statement” will be used to open each paragraph and will then be followed by the abbreviation “VDS”)

1. The nature and purpose of the Village Design Statement

(i) The village design statement is about the physical structure of the village– what the structure permits us to do, what we see now and what we wish to see in future. Future physical changes may be driven by external needs or influences placed on the village inhabitants but any changes, whether from outside or internally generated, may influence what villagers are able to do with their lives!

(ii) By comparison, the earlier “Parish Plan” was a social plan of what could be done using the structures of the existing village. There is naturally a degree of overlap, and some ideas originating in the parish plan have been transferred to the VDS. By analogy, one might say that the parish plan is ongoing software and the VDS is a specification of hardware.

(iii) The village design statement is a description of the nature and appearance of the village as it is now, and as it may develop in the future. It brings together, in one document, a consensus of Byfield residents’ opinions regarding the present and future shape and appearance of the village. Whilst neighbours and the Parish Council will continue to be consulted on individual planning applications, the VDS will help by providing guidance to the District Council planners on the known wishes of village residents. It is intended to bring together all the many reasons why the village is liked by its residents—and perhaps to show a few dislikes which might be remedied.

(iv) The village design statement will be used by Daventry District Council, the relevant local planning authority, as a “supplementary planning document”. The DDC planning committee will use the VDS as a guide to their decision making—a “weight in the scale-pan”—when any individual planning application is made in Byfield. Byfield’s inhabitants and Parish Council understand that the VDS is only a guide, and other requirements may still drive DDC’s decision in any particular case, but the VDS helps to convey the consensus view of residents. The VDS is a public document, freely available to all interested parties and, it is hoped, will be of use to architects, developers and all village residents.

5 2. How have village residents given their opinions?

The Parish Council thought that it was much easier to comment on or add to a document which existed, rather than to try and think about an unfamiliar subject with nowhere to start. The Parish Council therefore produced a draft document. All individual members of the council had the opportunity to contribute, to comment and to suggest amendments. The amended draft was circulated to inhabitants with particular interest in or knowledge of the subject-for instance, local people with architectural or historical knowledge. The existence of the draft, and the opportunity to give input, was publicised in the village via parish council notices and via the Parish Magazine. The draft was made completely available to all villagers by publishing it on the then-current village website. Comments were requested to be polite, to the point and not just to offer a personal opinion of a particular development or proposal. Despite a substantial extension of the time originally allowed for comment, few comments were received. None were negative, but all those received were recorded by the parish clerk and have been incorporated in the final version without individual public attribution.

3. How will Consultation continue?

(i) The Parish Plan, drawn up in 2008 was not intended to be time-constrained and can be used as a guide to probable village opinion until a need to revise it becomes clearly apparent. It is complementary to the Village Design Statement and can act as source of recorded general opinion. The Parish Plan was intended to answer the question, “How can we use what we have got”—the VDS asks the question, “Is this proposed development physically beneficial to the village: how can it give us more to use?”

(ii) Any developments proposing major changes to any part of the village will usually be the subject of consideration by local opinion groups, often “ad hoc”, but guided by the parish council where necessary. The scale and formality of such groups will be proportionate to the scale of the proposed development. The opinions so discovered will be considered by the Parish Council and will influence the council’s opinion, which is reported to the DDC Planning Department.

4. The geographical location of Byfield.

See the maps forming part of the VDS documents

(i) The village lies on the South Northamptonshire/North Oxfordshire ironstone geology and is now very rural in its general appearance. This somewhat belies a history of substantial local mining, railway development and small-scale industry up to the mid-20th century.

6 (ii) The A361 passes through the village on a roughly north to south axis joining Daventry (approximately 8 miles to the north), the A45 and the M1, to Banbury (approximately 10 miles to the south) and the M40. This permits fairly easy car commuting to nearby larger towns within about 20 miles, e.g. Banbury, Daventry, Northampton, Rugby, Towcester, Warwick, and also to cities within 20-40 miles, e.g. Coventry, Oxford. There are four Motorway access points, (M40 or M1) within about fifteen miles.

(iii) Bus services are available but rather limited. The nearest railway access is at Banbury.

(iv) The area is still very rural in its style and general appearance, but agriculture, however thriving, does not provide large numbers of local jobs. There is some nearby industrial and commercial employment with larger companies, but mostly in Daventry, Banbury and Woodford Halse rather than in Byfield itself.

(v) The village continues to have a vibrant and reasonably self-reliant economic and social structure. A recent survey by a village businessman suggested that, in addition to the voluntary organizations and clubs, there were around 40 active very small businesses in and around the village.

(vi) The village also has a primary school and nursery, village shop with Post Office, medical centre, filling station with its own shop, service garage, pub, club, church, village hall and above-average sports and recreation facilities.

(vii) The present population is around 1200 people.

Detail Policy No 1 - Industrial and Commercial

Local business development should be encouraged and supported when on a suitable scale. Buildings, on-site activities and likely vehicle movements should be compatible with life in a village which already has pressure on its limited road transport facilities.

5. Geographical and historical origins and appearance.

(i) Little is known for certain of the early development of Byfield although much may be speculated. The church is undoubtedly the earliest building and other early domestic buildings, if present, are difficult to date accurately. Most of the other early buildings are thought to be 17th century, although one or two may arguably be older. The difficulty of dating helps to demonstrate the long-term continuity of style and the continued use of local materials.

(ii) The central part of Byfield has a significant number of older buildings which are built from the local yellow/orange/brown ironstone. As the overall geology is a

7 north-easterly continuation of the Cotswold Jurassic limestone, it is no surprise to see that the basic structural layout of the older buildings is not unlike the Cotswold style, i.e. fairly narrow rectangular blocks of two or even three storeys. The roofs have a characteristic steeply pitched style with gable ends, and are either still thatched or suggest the earlier existence of thatch. The colours of the stonework, the steep roof pitches and the small windows provide the immediate visual impact of the older parts of the village.

(iii) This visual style is locally well-liked—residents regard it as characteristic of their home area--and it sets the style of the village as a whole.

Detail Policy No 2 - Design of individual domestic developments

Single or multi-house developments, extensions and additional buildings on an existing site should all be designed with fullest respect for the local vernacular style.

For instance, steep roof pitch, dark-coloured brickwork (or coursed local stone) and timber fenestration, doors etc would represent tradition-compatible architectural style.

6. Architectural History of the Village

(i) The overall village plan is unusual, in that Byfield clearly has at least four early development phases. These perhaps correspond to the four mediaeval manors known to have existed. However, the village is now quite unitary and compact, with little tendency to straggle along the road and it has only a few outlying properties.

(ii) The earliest village may have been near the church, but the A361 forms the present High Street and carries a number of the older houses either on the side of this road or nearby. In addition, Banbury Lane represents an earlier main north-south route through the village and carries further very old buildings.

(iii) On the western side of the village the hamlet of Westhorpe is now linked to Byfield proper by Bell Lane, which also carries older buildings. These are generally in the local style, but the more westerly ones appear to be later in date—perhaps late 18th or early 19th century. However, Westhorpe was clearly a separate, probably planned, development in its own right. Very old buildings still exist in Westhorpe Lane, (the “Main Street” of Westhorpe), and there remains evidence of other buildings, now themselves lost. So the Westhorpe development, although “artificial”, is nonetheless of comparable age to the rest of the village. On the north side of the whole village the “Byfield proper” and “Westhorpe” developments can still be seen as clearly separate, and they are

8 divided by about 300 metres of undeveloped fields, although development has begun at the eastern end.

(iv) More recent developments have taken place, mostly during the 20th century but these, whether as estates or as individual domestic or commercial developments, often show a sad lack of continuity of style and little attempt to fit in to the pre-existing village. In general it can be said that some late 19th or early 20th century cottage-style developments are the best fit to the natural village style, even if built in brick! These houses remain popular because of their limited size and cost—rather like modern starter or “affordable” homes. The most recent individual developments have shown some attempt, usually by use of “local” materials, to fit themselves into the village scene. However this has often been undermined by unsympathetic design use of masses, angles (e.g. roof pitch) and building plan form; also by unimaginative use of the site. Most of the mid-20th century estate housing, while it may be technically good housing of its type, is visually very unsympathetic to the overall village appearance and style.

(v) The compact plan of the village can be clearly seen when looking back at the village from the surrounding hills. This adds to the residents’ feeling of living in a well-defined community. However, this view also shows that there is space for well-designed and carefully planned development without destroying the existing appearance or character of the village. The important words here— perhaps the most important words in this document are:--

“well-designed and carefully planned”

Detail Policy No 3 - Integration of new developments

New developments should be integrated and positioned in the village landscape in a way which represents a continuing use of the existing landscape and communication routes of the village.

[To explain--Before the mid 20th century, rural developments typically followed existing routes and contours; more recently roads, whether linear or winding, whether through-ways or culs de sac, have been randomly inserted into separate blocks of development. This looks very artificial. Roads and footpaths should always link up with existing routes in a natural way, respecting earlier routes and development. In the distant future, it should be impossible to date a development solely by its planform and position on the map of the village.]

7. Themes of development detail

(i) Apparently unrelated development themes can come together to maintain an attractive country village scene. For instance:--

9 (ii) There are several examples of buildings being re-used or converted while retaining all their original character and settings in the village. Also, many views of the village, either from an elevated position or from the streets, show how existing and new trees have been successfully incorporated into the village scene. Not only do these trees create valuable wildlife habitat within the village, they also soften the visual impact of the man-made development. The village would look very different without this extensive tree cover so careful attention should be given to the management and succession planning of our existing trees. This would involve not only encouraging private individuals to recognise the value of our trees and to conserve and replant when necessary, (perhaps work for the Parish Council), but also for planners to insist that new developments maintained an equivalent level of tree cover of appropriate species.

(iii) Many public footpaths exist around and within the village. Some are doubtless of very great, although perhaps unknown, age. These should be preserved both in their rural and environmental nature and in their geographical position, which is often of historic interest.

Detail Policy No 4A - Support of sustainability—environmental detail

Re-use or repair of older buildings; preservation of existing native trees; addition of newly-planted native trees should be encouraged. A bare “urban housing estate” style of development should be strongly discouraged.

Detail Policy No 4B - Footpaths

Footpaths should be preserved in their original position and nature wherever possible. Planning decision-makers should always seek local (village) advice on such matters.

8. What are the attractions of living in Byfield today?

(i) There may be as many reasons as residents, but the ones that spring to mind are:-

(ii) The appearance of being a traditional village set in a working, but reasonably unspoiled, country environment. Much of the reality of being a traditional village social community, (given that Byfield is quite aware that it does exist in the 21st century). Reasonably good communications for commuting to work or education.

10 (iii) In contrast, sufficient local opportunity and sufficient difficulty of communication to avoid the village becoming solely a commuter dormitory.

(iv) Following from all the above, a level of local services sufficient to provide and support the way of life which residents have come to expect and enjoy.

Detail Policy No 5 - Maintaining Byfield as a desirable residential village.

Developments should always fit with the existing physical structure, appearance and social structure of the village. Local employment and services should be encouraged. The concept of sustainability argues against developments which need or encourage car commuting by the occupants.

9. How can these attractions be continued and developed? What are the challenges?

(i) The parish plan survey of general attitudes of Byfield residents, which was published in 2008, suggested that villagers were overwhelmingly opposed to certain types of development. The consultation results illustrate that 84% of respondents wanted to “safeguard green space and protect village boundaries” and that 76% of respondents wanted to “preserve the character of the village and restrict development within the village boundary”. It would seem reasonable to expect that such strong views, uncovered using a formal consultation process, would be taken into account when forming future planning decisions that affect the village.

10. The effect of change

(i) How can physical developments address the expected changes in the wider world, such as availability of well-paid work, climate change, resource depletion, and the cost and availability of energy, food and personal transport? How can whatever is valued now be preserved, developed and extended in future?

(ii) There are tensions between local provision of goods and services, (hoping for a lower carbon footprint and reliable self-sufficiency), and the tendency to centralise production and management of goods and services, (hoping for lower costs and better average results, nationwide).

(iii) It is highly likely that energy costs will continue to increase, long-term, both for domestic heating and for transport.

11 (iv) It is not likely that public transport will improve to a city-like level of efficiency, i.e. to a level where private vehicle ownership becomes undesirable or unnecessary.

(v) People enjoy comfortable, warm, homes and cars. Transport, (even locally), by walking and cycling will never, even in summer, be as popular as driving. Many people, eg the very young, the old, the heavily laden or the handicapped must use cars to go about their business.

(vi) If world and UK populations continue to increase in numbers and if developing world populations increase in wealth, food supplies will become more costly and less freely available.

In dealing with these challenges, what part can be played by the physical development of the village?

11. Some answers are suggested here.

11 (i) The questions about the nature of future physical development can be broken down into four separate but inter-related areas which any new development must consider.

These are:-

(ii) Cultural continuity of the physical environment--particularly in regard to appearance.

(iii) Localism—maintaining a local economy and provision of local services.

(iv) Sustainability—ensuring that our buildings meet both current and future needs; and help to maintain the provision of food, energy, and access to non- local goods and services.

(v) Sociability—avoiding unwanted intrusion or nuisance to neighbours, and increasing input or support to village social and economic life.

(vi) There is, in fact, considerable overlap between these criteria. New houses may supply pupils to the school and custom to the shops. A house designed to be energy-efficient can be surprisingly traditional in appearance. Local provision of food requires gardens or allotments to be conveniently available. Local provision of services could require domestic dwellings to have easy access to home workshops or offices. In the further future a reduction in the use of cars might call for a village taxi service, electrical charging points, or cycle sheds and racks, or pony paddocks. Renewable energy may become essential rather than merely desirable.

12 (vii) The key is to ensure the maximum flexibility of building design and land- use and to avoid being driven into a corner by today’s fashions, political requirements, and financial constraints.

(viii) The expected lifetime of a domestic building presents one obvious requirement-- to consider how all existing or newly-proposed houses or developments might be used in fifty or one hundred years’ time.

(ix) It may well be that, in the future, the requirements of the village cannot be satisfied within the present village envelope and we will have to consider developing outside the present village footprint—as happened centuries ago when Westhorpe was built. This could be acceptable if the proposals made were of the highest standards of building design and site layout and took full account of the criteria outlined above.

12.Cultural Continuity

(i) The inhabitants of Byfield are not so unworldly as to believe that all future village developments should be of ironstone and thatch, but much resistance to “development” is, in fact, well-justified resistance to its predictable ugliness and carelessness of design! However, there are aspects of continuity of visual style which an architect could achieve, and which a planner could insist on. Good quality innovative design can be efficient and stylish, whilst costing no more than would a dull “pattern-book” design made from off-the-shelf components and ideas.

(ii) Some recent house and flat developments in Daventry town offer good examples of successful design, using modern techniques to produce a dignified and traditional appearance. This approach can bring its own practical and aesthetic benefits as well as pleasing the existing village residents by contributing to cultural continuity.

(iii) Styling aspects which would fit the requirements in Byfield are house-plans of the narrow-rectangular-block, sub-Cotswold, style and above all steep roof pitches. These steep pitch roofs are very characteristic of the area, but are technically easy to achieve on a narrow building footprint. Small, rather plain, detailing and dark exterior wall finishes are also very characteristic and inexpensive in the modern context.

(iv) It would fit well with the traditional style of the village to encourage a variety of sizes and positions of dwellings on an uncorrelated variety of plot sizes. There can be simultaneous demands for small houses with large and productive gardens, for inexpensive terrace properties and for family homes which are substantial in size but on a small plot, easy for a two-career couple to manage. All these types of property are currently available in Byfield . It is wrong regularly

13 to permit development of gardens, thus minimising the variety of available domestic space.

Detail Policy No 7A - Continuity of visual style

Any new development should show respect for the historic local style, both of architecture and of use of sites. The intention is to deliver both attractive individual developments, an upgrading of their neighbourhoods and a continuation of the general style and appearance of the village.

13.Localism

(i) Wall finishes could easily be of local stone. This is still abundant and its quarrying would provide local employment and give a building material of low carbon footprint. This finish would be popular, although of above average expense: a lower cost finish which has been used with success is a dark reddish- brown brick whose colour matches or complements the local stone. This brick was made in various places nearby, and while the reopening of a village brickworks is not a likely option, well-chosen English-made midlands dark red/brown bricks would be a good solution to the need.

(ii) Roofs are traditionally in thatch, clay tile or slate and all of these materials can show examples which work well in both practical and visual terms. It is, however, accepted that truly locally-sourced roofing materials have been a rarity in most of England for a very long time, so appearance rather than source would be the more important factor here.

(iii) Historically there was little or no traditional use of exterior timber decorative trim, or of visible timber structure. Doors and fenestration are traditionally timber, but quite plain and of fairly small dimensions in proportion to the building elevations. These aspects are easy and inexpensive to continue in modern designs and materials and they sit well with the need to minimize energy losses in new buildings. Timber was processed locally in the early twentieth century— and it could be again.

(iv) PVC “timberwork” looks very harsh in the local rural/traditional context and should be strongly discouraged.

14 Detail Policy No 7B - Use of local materials and building forms

In general, well-chosen sizes, shapes, masses and angles of building designs are the key to continue the traditional feel of the village. In addition, the use of materials which are locally sourced and materials which themselves allow continuity of architectural style should be encouraged—for example dark brickwork, plain-tiled roofs and timber details. This material use in good quality design, displaying the local style, should be encouraged. PVC details and trims should be avoided unless there are specific technical reasons which make it essential.

14.Sustainability

(i) The concept of sustainability includes the avoidance of waste and wasteful practices during the construction of developments. We would encourage refurbishment of buildings rather than rebuilding and the use of appropriate reclaimed materials wherever possible.

(ii) When buildings are in use, as well as meeting the traditional local style at little extra cost, the style idea of using a steep roof-pitch fits very well with the sustainability concept, by offering good roof area for solar photocells or heat- collectors, and accessible loft space to house facilities such as solar heating or generating systems, ventilation and heat recovery systems and tanks for storage of rainwater, hot water or recyclable “grey” water.

(iii) Any good architect can combine in his designs local materials for exterior finishes, (as described above), with modern energy management systems and modern structures.

(iv) Longer term sustainability must consider how buildings will be used and how essentials such as energy, food, water management, manufactures, personal services, employment and transport will be provided in fifty or one hundred years’ time. The key is to design in flexibility of use at the start. The present permissible route—where a large productive garden is sold for development, ending up with the original house and a new one standing on plots which cannot feed or fuel their inhabitants, nor provide space for their employment—is clearly unsustainable. The development of a multi-dwelling estate, far away from opportunities for employment, commerce or social intercourse is also unsustainable.

(v) The present solution is for inhabitants to commute in cars, first to work and then to the supermarket, the school and to meet friends. This solution may no longer be available within the lifetime of younger inhabitants of the village.

15 Detail Policy No 7C - Sustainability

Developers and architects should consider how their proposals can incorporate sustainable and flexible design features that will enable them to remain sustainable into the foreseeable future and respond to future changes in the world. Wherever space is available provision should be made for household sustainability.

[To explain] “Sustainability” is a word that has been subject to several different definitions. This document favours the definition originated by the UN Brundtland Commission in 1987 – in its simplest form, that the needs of today should not compromise the needs of the future.

Sustainable and flexible design could consider issues that include attention to energy, waste and water management, provision of garden areas, domestic office or workroom space and off-road parking space.

15. Sociability

(i) All proposed developments should be able to demonstrate a positive social impact on the village. For example--does a development encourage use of the local school or of village businesses, services and societies? Does it provide local employment? Does it encourage people to walk or cycle safely about their daily business? Does it permit easy and casual communication with neighbours? Does it encourage or discourage commuting? (ii) Does the proposed development reduce the long-established comfort, peace or visual outlook of others?

(iii) Some of these points may not be legal requirements, but the concept of sociability is to do what is wise and generally helpful to people’s lives, not to do only that minimum which is legally required. Also, some of these requirements clearly overlap with other requirements of continuity, especially some aspects of sustainability.

16. Overall Policy

This brings together all of the underlying detailed policies, (above), as far as can now be determined, the wishes regarding development of the residents of Byfield and the Parish Council. Overall Policy

(i) The residents of Byfield do not object to all forms of development in all circumstances.

(ii) Development in Byfield should be permitted and encouraged, but certain design and planning criteria should be firmly enforced, with a requirement to achieve a positive effect on the visual appearance and social nature of the existing village.

(iii) Continuity of local visual style should be maintained—both in building design and in village layout and street plans. Local, traditional and recycled materials should be used wherever possible. Local craftsmen or builders should be preferred.

(iv) The highest possible level of sustainability should be planned for-- on at least a fifty year time projection. This should include the provision of “unallocated” space on house plots or development areas. Density of development should represent the local context. If higher density development is ever necessary, dedicated space should be provided elsewhere (nearby!) for garden space, workspace, and off-road parking.

17 Illustrative scenes.

(17) The cover of this document shows that the village of Byfield sits almost hidden by trees in summer. This is not a picture of a National Park or an AONB— it shows natural “accidental” English countryside and displays why that environment is worthy of preservation and careful management into the future. The photographs below are intended as illustrations of what the originators of this document consider to be good or bad design in our village context, or to be compliant or non-compliant with the criteria discussed above. As most of us in England buy or rent pre-existing houses which we can just about afford, these photos are NOT intended to be a comment on anyone’s personal taste or private circumstances! Captions are given as plain statements, not questions. As mentioned above, Byfield Parish Council has received no negative comment from local people on this document or its illustrations.

Text by J F Cannell et al. pp Byfield Parish Council.

18 Captioned photo groups, to illustrate the points made in the text.

The village in its environment

Pictures 2, 6, 18, 35, 72, 77

These photos show the softening and blending effect of dense tree planting on otherwise quite plain buildings, and a hint of the typically rural environmental context of the village.

19 Pictures 5, 19, 24, 34, 47, 48

These photos show the rather naked appearance of similar buildings without trees.

20 Cultural Continuity of Visual Style

Pictures 7, 8, 9, 23, 29, 32

These buildings cover an age range of about 100 years. Some are very recent and none are “old” or listed buildings. They are all quite simple designs, but the dark reddish-brown masonry and sub-victorian style fits well into the village context.

21 Pictures 5, 20, 47, 48, 74, 75,

A random choice of buildings, all fine in their different ways, but not “village-y” in the same way as the previous group.

22 Picture 76

The house on the right is 1930’s suburban, with no design attempt to be a “village house”. The house on the left, about sixty years younger, is quite straightforward but does a better job of looking like a village house in the south midlands region.

23 Pictures 8, 14, 25, 53, 55, 58

Not all old buildings, but the steep roofs show the local style whatever the age.

24 Pictures 12, 26, 48, 73, 75, 77

The flatter roof pitch just doesn’t seem quite so right in Byfield, even though there are many other good points to be seen.

25 Failure to respect local style

Pictures 30, 31

This is a very fine “mediaeval” house with real oak timber-framing. It would be an excellent addition to a village scene 50-100 miles further west—but this is not anything like our characteristic local style.

26 Localism

Pictures 10, 12, 13, 23, 40, 42

Use of local materials, recycled or new- but- weathered, can cover some failures to conform to desirable local shapes and building layouts. This is particularly true where late eighteenth and nineteenth century buildings have originally used local materials.

27 Sustainability

Pictures 6, 44, 45, 49, 50, 68

These are examples of conversions of various non-domestic buildings to residential use. The economic and visual values of existing structures have been preserved and enhanced, while the village scene has been preserved or even improved.

28 Pictures 10, 28, 40, 42, 62, 73

Recent buildings making use of recycled local stone. Often just for garden walls, but that is better than nothing! Notice the matches and subtle contrasts of colour.

29 Pictures 12, 13, 27, 28, 42, 76

These sites have been filled up to a much greater extent than was really necessary. We know the financial reasons, but how will the inhabitants be able respond to the changes of the next few decades? How will they get to work? Where will they get their food?

30 Pictures 1, 2, 24, 34, 39, 73

In some ways not good village-style designs, but there is enough space on these sites to do different things and live in different ways.

31 Sociability

This is a difficult theme to illustrate. Possibly little can be done with long- established buildings, but future decisions could be better!

Pictures 11, 19, 23, 32

The school would be safely accessible by (older) unaccompanied children, on foot or by cycling, from some parts of the village (e.g. west of the A361). It is separated from other parts of the village, where many children live, by the A361—busy now and likely to be busier in future. This has very few safe crossing points—possibly none safe for unaccompanied children. Some of the lower-cost housing in the village offers this good, safe, access, but more than half is on the “wrong” side of the A361. The village pub has good parking and easy access from the A361, but is not central to the village, to provide easy foot access for all. The church is also positioned in a distant corner and has no easy parking or vehicle access.

32 Some attainable aspects of design

Pictures 15, 21, 23, 64, 65, 71

These are “naturally occurring”, unplanned Byfield street scenes. This is what many people in Byfield like to see.

33 Pictures 28, 49, 50, 51, 61, 62

These are “builds”, some new and some conversions. They have used some of the good principles described in the text to produce equally attractive scenes.

34 Pictures 55, 56, 59

An attractive street scene can easily be spoilt by the ugly industrial design of street furniture and commercial structures. This should be avoided.

35 Pictures 47, 46

A simple bungalow, pleasant but plain—and a similar one after much attention from architect, builder and garden designer!

Picture 44

This was a builder’s yard!

36 Pictures 61, 62

The houses in this scene have ages spanning 400 years or more. Recent conversions and improvements present a well-blended street scene.

37 A set of photographs of footpaths in an around Byfield, showing the village in its rural environment.

EF1, EF1

EF2, EF2, EF3, EF3

EF5, EF5, EF6, EF6

38 EF5, EF5, EF6, EF6

39 EF16, EF16, EF16, EF16

40 EF16, EF16, EF16, EF16

41 FP map with photo viewpoints

And Finally…

There will, no doubt, be a need to review and update the Village Design Statement from time to time. It is hoped that the Byfield Parish Council and Daventry District Council will liaise to get this work done at appropriate intervals. Input from any readers or users of the document will be welcome.

42 43