Helston Town Framework September 2016 ARCHIVED EVIDENCE DOCUMENT ARCHIVED EVIDENCE DOCUMENT Contents 1. Introduction 4 1.1. The Document 4 1.2. Background to the area 5 1.3. Understanding Helston 7 2. Vision, Strategic Aims, Objectives and Targets 8 3. The Spatial Strategy 10 3.1. ARCHIVEDOverarching Strategy and Concepts 10 3.2. Economic Strategy 14 3.3. Town Centre Strategy 18 3.4. Housing Strategy 22 4. Infrastructure 24 4.1. EVIDENCEEducation 24 4.2. Utilities 25 4.3. Healthcare 25 4.4. Green Infrastructure 27 4.5.DOCUMENT Transportation Strategy 32 Front cover photo: Helston Flora Day by John Martin Helston Town Framework: September 2016 Introduction and Vision 1. Introduction 1.1. The Document 1.1 The Helston Town Framework is a document that sets out the vision for the future sustainable growth of the urban area and the hinterland of the town (refer to figure 1). The Helston Town Framework has been produced by Cornwall Council and it forms part of the evidence base for the Cornwall Site Allocation Development Plan Document (DPD), which will sit alongside the Local Plan, the Council’s main planning document for Cornwall. The DPD will then be used in the determination of planning applications by Cornwall Council. 1.1.2 The Helston Town Framework articulates the overarching strategy for the town, incorporating issues relating to Economic growth, Transportation, Green Infrastructure etc. The Town Framework represents a holistic strategy, which brings together all of the main aspirations, particularly spatial aspirations, for the local community and Cornwall Council. ARCHIVED EVIDENCE DOCUMENT Figure 1: Primary area covered by the Town Framework 4 Helston Town Framework: September 2016 Introduction and Vision 1.2. Background to the area 1.2.1 The Helston and The Lizard Community Network Area (CNA) is a wide geographical area covering a total of 18 Parishes. Helston is the main town within the CNA and therefore acts as the local service centre to the numerous smaller settlements surrounding it. The only other town in the CNA is Porthleven, whilst there are numerous villages1. 1.2.2 This is generally an area of ancient landscapes - medieval farmland in the north and centre, prehistoric and medieval field patterns in Meneage, open heath containing significant prehistoric remains, and much later WWII remains, on the Lizard. Although the underlying settlement pattern throughout is of scattered farmsteads and hamlets, there is also an unusual number of large villages - some industrial like Leedstown, others, like Mullion or St Keverne, are enlarged churchtowns historically functioning in their remote areas as small market centres; Lizard is a unique centre developed as much as anything from tourist activity in the 19th century. 1.2.3 The two industrial areas, around Tregonning and Wendron, are distinct from the rest of the area, due to their WHS status. Wendron has one of the longest recorded histories of tin working in all of Cornwall and is situated in the heart of beautiful countryside surrounded by open moorland. Tregonning and Trewavas contains diverse landscapesARCHIVED ranging from the rural farmland in the west of the area to the cliffscapes at Rinsey, with woods, exposed hills and subtropical gardens in between Godolphin House, provides a valuable insight into the wealth of some of Cornwall’s most Looking across to Helston from Hilltop Garage successful EVIDENCEindustrialists and mine owners. 1.2.4 The long coastline, although varied between the creeks around Helford, and the fishing coves of the Lizard, has long been an important focus of activity - fishing, quarrying, lighthouses and rescue stations, tourism - and consequently the large settlements were set on or just off the coast. 1.2.5 The Community Network Area contains many sites which are of historical, archaeological,DOCUMENT environmental and ecological importance. There are a rich variety of habitats and topographical features including Loe Bar, The Lizard peninsula, Goonhilly Downs, river valleys and creeks, and sandy beaches. Much of the wider peninsula is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with its boundary extending close to the south-western edge of Helston. The CNA also contains National Nature Reserves; Special Protection Area (SPA) at Falmouth Bay; and Special Areas of Conservation, including the Helford, which extends inland, within approximately 3.5km from the edge of Helston. 1.2.6 Helston celebrated the 800th anniversary of the granting of its Charter in 2001, making it the second oldest town in Cornwall after Marazion. It is famous for its annual Furry Dance and Hal-an-Tow ceremonies in May. 1.2.7 RNAS Culdrose, located on the southern edge of Helston, covers over 607 hectares and employs in excess of 3,000 service personnel, contractors and civil servants. It is the 1 Larger villages include: Mullion, Lanner, The Lizard, Praze-an-Beable and St Keverne Smaller villages include: Ashton, Berepper, Breage, Cadgwith, Carleen, Carnkie, Coverack, Crowan, Porkellis, Porthallow, Porthoustock, Pra Sands, Rame, Ruan-Minor, Leedstown, Manaccan, Maw- gan and Garras, Nancegollan, Newtown, Penmarth, Crowntown, Cury, Germoe, Godolphin Cross, Gweek, Helford, Kuggar, Sithney, St. Martins Green, Townshend, Trewennack and Wendron 5 Helston Town Framework: September 2016 Introduction and Vision largest single site employer in Cornwall and is Europe’s largest helicopter base; Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station, 7 miles from Helston on the Lizard peninsula, was at one time the largest satellite earth station in the world, with more than 60 dishes, but is now being transformed into a Space Science Centre. 1.2.8 The population of Helston and The Lizard Community Network Area is 32,800, which incorporates Helston town’s population of 11,100. The number of dwellings in the Community Network Area has grown by 16% in the period 1991 to 2010 to around 15,200. Key facts about the Helston and The Lizard Community Network Area can be found at: www.cornwall.gov.uk ARCHIVED EVIDENCE DOCUMENT Helston and the Lizard CNA map Figure 2: 6 Helston Town Framework: September 2016 Introduction and Vision 1.3. Understanding Helston 1.3.1 In preparing a strategy for an area’s future it is important to develop this in the knowledge of how it currently operates. Firstly, Helston is made up of various neighbourhoods (refer to Figure 3) and it is important to support them where possible when developing a strategy for the future. With regards to movement, the town is accessed via the A394, which links to Truro and the B3287 and B3303 which links to Camborne, Pool, Redruth and the A30. 1.3.2 Helston’s main industrial estate, Water-ma-Trout, is located to the north of the town; whilst there are also smaller industrial estates to the south east and south west. In addition, there are significant employment opportunities on the serviced Business Park, which is also located to the south east of the town. 1.3.3 The town centre also sits to the south of the town. There are four main supermarkets within Helston. Of these the Coop is on the edge of the town centre Lidl, Tesco and Sainsbury’s are situated on the edge/out of town locations. Helston’s primary schools are located on the outskirts of the Town Centre, which offers good accessibility for residents; whilst the secondary school site is to the north of the town. Two of the three health facilities are located close to the town centre, the third, Helston Community Hospital, sits in the south of the town. 1.3.4 There are a number of valued green assets within and surrounding the existing built environment. Coronation Park and the Boating Lake are important assets that are valued by both the community of Helston and visitors. There is also the King George V playing field, Penrose amenityARCHIVED area, land situated between Lowertown and the north of Helston that are also valued by its community. EVIDENCE DOCUMENT Figure 3: Town Structure & Neighbourhoods 7 Helston Town Framework: September 2016 Introduction and Vision 2. Vision, Strategic Aims, Objectives and Targets 2.1 When defining the vision for Helston, the starting point is to recognise the overall vision for Cornwall, which is stated in 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. 2.2 Helston’s vision is to be: A sustainable and vibrant community for Helston which is recognised as the service and market town for its surrounding areas 2.3 For Helston to achieve this vision there are various strategic objectives that have to be articulatedARCHIVED within Cornwall Council’s Local Plan: Strategic Policies document, which are: Objective 1 – Housing To provide good quality housing, in doing so providing for the affordable housing EVIDENCErequirements of the local community. Address high house prices, lack of affordable housing and lack of elderly and special needs accommodation. Objective 2 – Rural Travel Reduce rural isolation, particularly in the remote villages and hamlets, by encouraging regular public transport for residents to access services, work and education.DOCUMENT Objective 3 – Community Services Encourage improvements to community services, health care and education provision and enhance current levels of provision where possible. Consideration should also be given to mobile services. To deliver community facilities that are thriving and well used, providing a range of activities for all ages, in doing so helping to address rural isolation. Objective 4 – Businesses To maintain and enhance Helston as a high quality service and retail centre, for its local residents and it’s surrounding parishes. To provide more employment opportunities within Helston, in doing so reducing the reliance on Culdrose as the primary employer, whilst still continuing to support its continued operation.