Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan Group
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2019 MAY © Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan Group WEDMORE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “ Introduction Socio Economic Consultation: What Profile of Wedmore You Have Told Us Thanks are due to all of the following, without whom the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan would not have been possible. 03 07 09 1 2 3 Bob Sellwood Chairman of Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan Group Vision for Housing Design and Wedmore Environment “The Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan Group Wedmore Parish Council Alistair Smith Economy and Employment Anne Rolfe Preparation of Documents 13 15 17 B2 Architects Plans 4 5 6 Cathy Butterworth Community and Wellbeing Dave Nicholls Photographs and Distribution Transport Economy Community and Eileen Gillibrand Community and Wellbeing Wellbeing Eileen Wotton Editing Graphic Pezaz Graphic Design Hope-Stone Research Questionnaire Design and Analysis Paul Martin Associates Design and Conservation 21 23 25 Phil Butterworth Website and Photographs 7 8 9 Steve George Transport Housing Appendix 1 Stuart Todd Associates Planning Advice Allocations Glossary 35 Sue Worrall WNP Group Secretary Appendix 2 Tony Pitkin WNP Group Treasurer Statistical Profile 40 Appendix 3 ...and the residents of Wedmore. 27 List of Locally Valued Community Facilities 46 10 02 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This document is the Neighbourhood Plan for 1.4 The Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared Wedmore Parish (hereafter known as ‘Wedmore’). in accordance with the Town & Country Planning It represents one part of the development plan Acts 1990, and the Neighbourhood Planning for the Parish over the period 2017 to 2032, the Regulations 2017. The WNPG has prepared the other part being the 2019 Sedgemoor Local Plan. plan in order to establish a vision for the future This Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared to of the Parish and to set out how that vision will conform with the 2019 Local Plan. For clarity, be realised through influencing land use and the development plan consists of any planning development in the plan period to 2032. policies currently adopted by the local planning authority, Sedgemoor District Council, and this 1.5 The purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan is to Neighbourhood Plan. guide development within the Parish and provide guidance to any interested parties wishing to 1.2 Sedgemoor District Council (SDC), as the local submit planning applications for development planning authority, designated a Neighbourhood within the designated Neighbourhood Area. Area for the whole of Wedmore Parish in The process of producing a plan has involved September 2016. This enabled Wedmore Parish the community as widely as possible and the Council to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan. The different topic areas are reflective of matters that Plan has been prepared by the community are of considerable importance to Wedmore, its through the Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan residents, businesses and community groups. Group (WNPG). It has therefore given the community the opportunity to guide development within their 1.3 The map in Figure 1 shows the boundary of neighbourhood. the Neighbourhood Plan area, which is the same as the administrative boundary of Wedmore 1.6 The Neighbourhood Plan was the subject of a Parish. Referendum on the 2nd May 2019. Of those who voted, 85.5% were in favour of the Plan. On the 22nd May 2019, the Full Council of SDC resolved to ‘make’ the Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan part of the statutory development plan. CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION 03 04 1.11 Discussions have taken place with SDC to INTRODUCTION determine whether the NP will require either a Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environment Assessment (SA / SEA) or a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA). Sedgemoor Council has National and Local Policy also sought the views of statutory consultees. As a consequence, Sedgemoor Council has 1.7 Although the 2018 version of the NPPF was formally confirmed in October 2018 that a SA / published in July 2018 and generally supersedes SEA or HRA is not required. Sedgemoor Council the 2012 document, paragraph 214 confirms has also undertaken a Habitats Regulation that where a Neighbourhood Plan is submitted Assessment (HRA) of the Plan. prior to the 24th January 2019, the policies in the 2012 Framework will apply. Whilst the 2012 How to read this document NPPF is therefore the operative document for the assessment of the Neighbourhood Plan, it 1.12 Each section of the plan covers a different has been prepared to be consistent with both topic. Under each heading there is the Frameworks. justification for the policies which provides the necessary understanding of the policy and what 1.8 The 2012 National Planning Policy it is seeking to achieve. The policies themselves Framework (NPPF) in paragraphs 183-185 are presented in the coloured boxes. It is these provides for communities to develop a plan for policies against which planning applications their neighbourhood which sets out the policies will be assessed. It is advisable that, in order to which will determine the decisions on future understand the full context for any individual planning applications. The Neighbourhood Plan policy, it is read in conjunction with the (NP) provides the tool to ensure that the right supporting text. types of development are provided for the community, in accordance with the needs and 1.13 At the end of some of the policy topic priorities of the wider local area. chapters there is a list of ‘non land use policy aspirations’. These relate to non-land use 1.9 The NPPF requires the NP to contribute to matters which have been suggested by the the achievement of sustainable development community but are not appropriate to include and be in general conformity with the strategic in a Neighbourhood Plan (as policies) which is policies of the Sedgemoor Development focussed on the use of land. However, they do Plan. The NP is required to reflect its policies signal actions which could be taken forward by and to plan positively to support them. A the Parish Council or others, or initiatives which new Sedgemoor Local Plan was adopted in could be funded by Community Infrastructure February 2019, and the NP has been prepared in Levy monies or developer contributions. accordance with its policies. 1.14 A Glossary of planning terms can be found 1.10 Having been produced in general conformity in Appendix 1. with the strategic policies of the Development Plan, the NP is in addition able to shape and direct sustainable development in Wedmore Parish. Its policies take precedence over the non-strategic policies of the Sedgemoor Local Plan, where there is any conflict. CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION 05 06 SOCIO ECONOMIC PROFILE OF WEDMORE Overview 2.8 People choose to live in and around Wedmore because of its vibrant community 2.1 The Parish of Wedmore is located in the heart of rural Somerset, situated at the foot of the Mendip spirit and friendly village life. There are many hills and on the edge of the Somerset Levels. The area is also known as the Isle of Wedmore, as clubs and societies, catering for Sport, Hobbies it was an island at one time, surrounded by marshland. The name Wedmore is thought to come and Cultural interests as well as Cubs, Brownies from the old English form of ‘waep’ mor, meaning hunting moor. Wedmore village is the centre of and the Young Farmers Association. Annual the community, but the parish is very much larger, consisting of a number of villages and hamlets, community events take place around the Parish, all with their own unique rural characteristics. The Parish consists of two main villages: Wedmore such as Harvest Home celebrations in Wedmore and Blackford. Outside of the settlement boundaries of Wedmore and Blackford is considered and Blackford, Theale Flower Show, the Street to be ‘Countryside’, which includes Theale, plus a number of smaller hamlets. The remainder of Fair, the Wedmore Arts Festival, the Turnip WEDMORE STATISTICAL PROFILE the Parish is open countryside, primarily in agricultural use. The quality of the landscape is very Prize and the Wedmore Real Ale Festival. The high, varying from the ‘uplands’ of the Isle of Wedmore to the levels or ‘moors’ with their particular Green Group promote sustainable living and the 2.12 Appendix 2 contains more facts and characteristic of ‘rhynes’, reeds and willows. Wedmore village has its own Conservation Area and village is twinned with St Medard de Guizieres in figures about the plan area. These are largely the NP area contains a large number of Listed Buildings which are an indication of the historic and southern France. based on Census information for 1991, 2001 architectural quality of the area. and 2011. These show that the area has the 2.9 Inhabitants of Wedmore appreciate the following broad characteristics which have 2.2 The main street in the village, The Borough, has been evident in some shape or form since Saxon facilities and services their community has influenced the Vision, objectives and policies times. The formation of shops, houses, church and pubs has changed very little in the last hundred to offer and that this attracts people into the of the Neighbourhood Plan : years, giving it a very traditional appearance and providing a focus for Wedmore inhabitants and village centre. However, one disadvantage visitors. of this popularity is the increase in traffic and • Population growth took place over congestion in the centre of the village despite the whole 20-year period but 2.3 Wedmore’s proximity to the city of Wells and natural beauty spots like Cheddar and the AONB the availability of car parking spaces in the has slowed since 2001 makes it a desirable place to live and to visit. Residents particularly value the ancient St Mary’s Worthington Close car park. Access to public Church in the centre of the village and also the views and skylines in and around the village.