St Austell & Surrounding Parishes Town Framework March 2017 Contents 1. Introduction 4 1.1. The document 4 1.2. Background to the area 4 1.3. Understanding St Austell 6 2. Vision and Objectives 8 3. St Austell’s Future Spatial Strategy 10 3.1. Overarching strategy 10 3.2. Economic Strategy 11 3.3. Retail Strategy 16 3.4. Housing Strategy 18 4. Infrastructure 22 4.1. Introduction 22 4.2. Green Infrastructure 28 St Austell and Surrounding Parishes Town Framework: March 2017 Introduction and Vision 1. Introduction 1.1. The document 1.1.1 The St Austell and surrounding parishes Town Framework is a document that sets out a Vision and a strategy for the future development and change of the urban area of the town and its immediate hinterland. (The document is referred to as the St Austell Town Framework through the remainder of the document). 1.1.2 The development of the Town Framework included a significant amount of engagement; including consultation with Cornwall Council members, the Town Council and surrounding Parish Councils; as well as public consultations. 1.1.3 The document was considered and prepared through a St Austell and surrounding parishes Member Steering Group. The local steering group recognises that the future prosperity of St Austell and the surrounding Parishes are inextricably linked. Parishes that have been represented in the Steering Group along with St Austell Town Council include: St Austell Bay; Charlestown; Carlyon; Pentewan Valley; St Mewan; Treverbyn and Trewoon. 1.1.4 The St Austell Town Framework articulates the overarching strategy for the town, incorporating issues relating to Economic growth, Transportation, and Green Infrastructure. The intention is that the Town Framework sets out a holistic strategy, which brings together all of the main aspirations, particularly spatial aspirations, for Cornwall Council and the local community. 1.1.5 The St Austell Town Framework is one of a series of ‘Frameworks’ that have been produced by Cornwall Council; these documents form a key evidence base for the Cornwall Allocation Development Plan Document (DPD), which sits alongside the Local Plan, the Council’s main planning document for Cornwall. The DPD will be used in the determination of planning applications by Cornwall Council. 1.1.6 The St Austell Framework Plan and allocations proposed in the DPD will supersede the existing Regeneration Plan for the purposes of considering urban extensions to the town for the broad area that the Framework Plan covers. Holy Trinity Church 1.2. Background to the area 1.2.1 St Austell sits in the centre of Cornwall and is the largest town in Cornwall in terms of population. The area has traditionally benefitted from China Clay mining and has a rich industrial heritage. Diminished China clay workings, both current and historic are spread in an arc to the north, north-east and north-west fringes of the town. 4 St Austell and Surrounding ParishesTown Framework: March 2017 Introduction and Vision Figure 1: St Austell’s location in Cornwall Key Facts: Population (2011 Census): 21,389 Dwellings (2011 Census): 9,675 Average house building rate (2005-2015): 160 per annum Housing need (Bands A-E) February 2017: 841 Average Wage (ONS Annual Survey 2013): £433 per week 1.2.2 At the time of writing there were approximately 841 families with a local connection to St Austell in housing need on the Councils HomeChoice Register. Furthermore due to social trends and people living longer it is resulting in a continued reduction in average household size; in particular the aging population is making a significant contribution to the number of single person households. This means a number of new homes will be needed just for the existing population moving forward. 1.2.3 As well as the need for a small number of new homes beyond those that already have planning permission, the area’s infrastructure both at present and in the future will require improvement. The local member steering group have identified the improvement of infrastructure as the key aspiration for St Austell. Details of infrastructure assessments and potential requirements are set out in section 4. 1.2.4 Traffic congestion is a particular issue through the south of the town along the A390 with resulting poor air quality issues. The area is also subject to an Air Quality Management Zone. 1.2.5 While these are challenges for the town to address there are many opportunities for the town and its surrounding areas to embrace. Some of the larger employers in the town have continued to thrive and expand, and a major project awaiting delivery in the surrounding area is the St Austell and China Clay Eco-communities, which are proposed to deliver new homes, jobs, community facilities and accessible open space, all to a high 5 St Austell and Surrounding Parishes Town Framework: March 2017 Introduction and Vision environmental standard. The focus of the Eco Communities is a proposal at West Carclaze for 1200 homes. 1.2.6 The wider St Austell Bay area also represents a key asset that could be exploited further for its tourism opportunities. 1.2.7 Industrial development has generally taken place to the east of the town centre around Holmbush, with recent investment also being focussed to the north with the development of the St Austell Enterprise Park. 1.2.8 These proposals and other initiatives such as the Eden Project have acted as a catalyst for investment in renewable technologies and associated industries. There is a significant opportunity for the area to diversify its industrial base and invest in sustainable employment and business opportunities, as well as promote additional jobs in the town centre. 1.3. Understanding St Austell 1.3.1 In preparing a strategy for an area’s future it is important to consider how it currently operates including the structure of its neighbourhoods and facilities (see Figure 2). St Austell is made up of several different neighbourhoods and it is important to recognise, support and enhance them. St Austell town centre retains much of its historic character with the medieval radial street pattern still visible. It is positioned to the west of the town, with the majority of the residential parts of town occupying the eastern half of the town. The size and scale of these residential areas, along with the distance from the town centre, have led to numerous neighbourhood centres forming, offering a limited provision of services and amenities. Greenspace in the town makes a unique contribution to the area’s character. A mature treescape shapes many parts of the towns’ skyline. 1.3.2 The landscape is characterised by the granite upland of Hensbarrow to the 1.3.3 North with its disturbed industrial landscape and to the south is an undulating plateau with deep and wooded river valleys in places. The town has also been shaped by two rivers; the Gover Stream rising to the north-west of the town and the St Austell, or White River, rising to the east. The two watercourses meet within the town and take water out to the south, via the Pentewan Valley to the coast at Mevagissey Bay. 1.3.4 In terms of transport and access, the East-West A390 is the town’s principal road, with the A391 (North East Distributor Road) taking traffic north towards the A30. The town is relatively well served by public transport with a railway station and adjacent bus station near the town centre. 1.3.5 Distance and access to the A30 is often cited as being a threat to business development and expansion, with other more favourably located sites taking business away from the town. The town also suffers from sporadic traffic flow and congestion through and around the town. 1.3.6 St Austell supports a number of smaller settlements at the outer edges of the town boundary, most notably Trewoon to the west, along with Duporth, Charlestown, Carlyon Bay and Tregorrick to the south. The relationship with these settlements makes development in certain locations particularly sensitive, with their character and separate identities an important consideration. 6 St Austell and Surrounding ParishesTown Framework: March 2017 Introduction and Vision Figure 2: Neighbourhood and Facilities map Copper Beech tree, Trinity Street 7 St Austell and Surrounding Parishes Town Framework: March 2017 Introduction and Vision 2. Vision and Objectives 2.3.1 When defining the vision for St Austell, the starting point is to recognise the overall vision for Cornwall, which is the Sustainable Community Strategy, ‘Future Cornwall’: Cornwall in 2030 will be an industry leader in environmental technologies (land and marine) and at the centre of a global network of businesses. It will combine internationally recognised research with skills in environmental technologies across the workforce. 2.3.2 In supporting these aspirations, the following is the vision for St Austell: “In 2030 St Austell aims to be an inspiring town that reflects its historic past but has adapted and embraced the future. It will have a diverse thriving economy based upon a wide range of industries, services and tourism’. St Austell will be a balanced and inclusive community, proud of its social and industrial heritage, yet keen to further realise its potential. It will have excellent leisure and cultural facilities and make the most of its resources, both human and natural. The different character and identity of the neighbourhoods that make up the town will have been protected and enhanced, along with the natural and physical environment. Smaller settlements around St Austell whose boundaries overlap with the town will have benefitted from and contributed to a more prosperous town while protecting and enhancing their own identities and community infrastructure.