DRONFIELD Neighbourhood Plan 2016 - 2034 Submission Draft 15b

Prepared by Dronfield Town Council

Dronfield Town Council ii Contents Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan

Table of Contents ■ WHAT IS A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN? 5 TRANSPORT & ACCESS 25 5. PROPOSED DRONFIELD CHARACTER 44 HOW DOES A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN THE PLAN AIMS 26 BUILIDINGS AND STRUCTURES OF LOCAL 5 HERITAGE INTEREST. FIT INTO THE PLANNING SYSTEM? BACKGROUND 26 HOW IS THE PLAN STRUCTURED? 5 Traffic Management and Congestion 26 6. PROPOSED LOCAL GREEN SPACES 49

ABOUT DRONFIELD 6 Sustainable Transport 27 7. EVIDENCE BASE REFERENCES 51 HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN 7 Cycling and Walking 27 IN DOCUMENT TEXT THE PLAN’S AIMS & OBJECTIVES 8 Car Parking 28 GLOSSARY 51 COMMUNITY ASSETS 9 ECONOMY 29 OBJECTIVES 10 THE PLAN AIMS 30 MAPS BACKGROUND 10 BACKGROUND 30 MAP 1 DRONFIELD NEIGHBOURHOOD 52 Health 10 Town Centre 30 PLAN: PLAN AREA Education 10 Shop Frontages in the Town Centre 31 MAP 2 GREEN BELT BOUNDARIES 53 IN THE ADOPTED LOCAL PLAN (2005) Services 10 Shopping Hubs 32 Assets of Community Value 12 Hot Food Takeaways 32 MAP 3 TOWN CENTRE 54 Businesses and Employment 33 MAP 4 CONSERVATION AREAS 55

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 13 MAP 5 LISTED BUILDINGS 56 14 THE PLAN AIMS HERITAGE 35 MAP 6 PROPOSED LOCAL GREEN SPACES 57 BACKGROUND 14 THE PLAN AIMS 36 MAP 7 PROPOSED LEA BROOK VALLEY 58 Green Belt 14 BACKGROUND 36 GREEN CORRIDOR 14 36 Landscape Character Historic Buildings MAP 8A PROPOSED DRONFIELD 59 Green and Blue Infrastructure 16 Dronfield Character Buildings and 37 CHARACTER BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES Local Green Spaces 17 Structures of Local Heritage Interest OF LOCAL HERITAGE INTEREST 38 Trees and Woodlands 18 Conservation Areas MAP 8B PROPOSED DRONFIELD 60 Design 39 CHARACTER BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES OF LOCAL HERITAGE INTEREST HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE 19 (CENTRAL AREA) THE PLAN AIMS 20 APPENDICES 41 MAP 9 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA 61 BACKGROUND 20 1. SPECIALIST CONSULTEES 41 Housing Allocation 20 2. ASSETS OF COMMUNITY VALUE 41 MAP 10 PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK 62

Windfall Housing Development 20 3. RETENTION OF IMPORTANT 41 Housing Mix. 21 COMMUNITY ASSETS Housing Affordability 23 4. LISTED BUILDINGS 42 Infrastructure Needs 23 Developer Contributions 24 Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Foreword iii

FOREWORD

I would like to welcome you to the I would like to thank everyone who attended the Neighbourhood Plan for Dronfield Town. numerous Steering Group meetings and consulta- It reflects the hard work of the Dronfield tion events during the preparation of the Draft Plan ITown Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, and as well as the funding bodies Locality and Awards the commitment of the Town Council to make for All. I would especially like to thank all the Dronfield a great place to live, work and visit. residents who have participated and community groups, in particular, the Dronfield Civic Society A neighbourhood plan is a document written by and Lea Brook Valley Project. Without their help, the community that sets out planning policies input and support, this Plan could not have been for an area. It is used to determine planning developed or reflect the views of the community. applications and other planning decisions affecting that area. Through it, we will seek to ensure Thank you that Dronfield gets the right amount and type of Councillor Angelique Foster development and in the right place Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan The Plan will now be ‘Submitted’ to North East Steering Group Derbyshire District Council where it will undergo Leader of Dronfield Town Council a further six-week period of consultation prior to an independent examination. If it successfully passes this stage, a referendum (paid for by the Government) will be held in which all residents in the town will be asked whether or not they support the adoption of the Plan. 4 What is it? Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan What is it? 5 4 What is it? Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan What is it? 5

The Neighbourhood Plan Area covers the whole of Dronfield Parish What is a as shown on Map 1. Neighbourhood Plan?

A neighbourhood plan is a planning document. It is THE PLAN part of the Government’s How does a these are the ‘saved’ policies from the approach to planning 2005 Adopted North East Derbyshire neighbourhood plan 7-2 to give local people District Local Plan. A revised North influence on how their fit into the planning East Derbyshire Local Plan, which will area develops – for system? replace the saved policies of the 2005 example, the location Plan, is being developed; the evidence of new housing, shops • The intention of the Localism base and the policies contained within and employment related Act and neighbourhood planning is this emerging District Local Plan have development. for local people to have a greater been considered in preparing the say in how their area develops. Plan. The North East Derbyshire Local The Dronfield However, there are regulations which Neighbourhood Plan Plan (Publication Draft) was submitted (“the Plan”) provides a set must be adhered to in preparing a to the Secretary of State in May 2018 of objectives for the future neighbourhood plan. for independent examination; of the town and sets out All neighbourhood plans must meet • Not breach, and be otherwise certain defined planning a set of ’basic conditions’: compatible with, European Union and policies and proposals • Take account of national policies the European Convention on Human to achieve these aims. and advice contained in guidance Rights obligations; and It also sets out aims issued by the Secretary of State, • Not have a significant effect on a with suggested policies in particular, in the National Planning European Site (as defined in the for how the town may Policy Framework* & 7-1 (more Conservation of Habitats and develop in ways that meet commonly known as the NPPF). Species Regulations 2012 7-3) either identified local need and Given that submission will be prior to alone or in combination with other ensure Dronfield remains 24 January 2019, The Plan has been a great place to live, work plans or projects. developed with regards to the 2012 and visit. • Crucially, it is important to version of the NPPF.** understand that while a neighbourhood • Contribute to the achievement of plan can provide for more development * The terms “Dronfield”, “Town” and Dronfield Parish are used interchangeable. They all sustainable development; than that has been set out in an correspond to the Dronfield Neighbourhood Be in general conformity with the approved District Local Plan (in this Plan Area unless specifically stated otherwise. • strategic policies of the development instance North East Derbyshire Local ** Polices within the 2012 framework will still apply for examining plans submitted on or plan for the District of North East Plan), for the District, it does not allow before 24th January 2019 (NPPF para 214). Derbyshire. In the case of Dronfield, it to plan for less development. How is the plan structured? The Plan is divided into the • Policies and proposals to do not form part of the formal following sections: support the overall aims in each Dronfield Neighbourhood Plan. • ‘About Dronfield’: details topic area how the Neighbourhood Plan A large amount of background specifically relates to Dronfield • ‘Delivering the Plan’: sets out information has helped in and how it has been developed some of the main ways in which producing the Plan. What is known • ‘Dronfield Town the policies and proposals in the as ‘the evidence base’ includes a Neighbourhood Plan Themes Plan may be implemented. large number of documents that and Policies’ set out by topic: have been used to prepare it. The • A brief summary of the key There is also a series of main documents can be found at findings from consultation with appendices, including a glossary www.dronfield.gov.uk/ residents and stakeholders of terms explaining the more neighbourhood-plan.html • The key objectives of the Plan technical terms the Plan refers in each topic area to. The appendices contain • The brief introduction to the topic background information only and 6 The Area Dronfield:Dronfield: Neighbourhood bgfbgbgb Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan History and Objectives 7

About Dronfield Ancient origins and a popular place to live

The town is situated within North of the name suggests that they the largest privately owned housing East Derbyshire District and perhaps also found open land which estate in Europe (“Gosforth Valley”), comprises the three communities was infested by drones and, for this when it was first built in the 1970s. of Dronfield, Dronfield Woodhouse reason, called the place Dranfield, At the time of the 2011 census, it had and Coal Aston; it is surrounded or, more familiarly, Dronfield. 9,388 dwellings and a population of by large areas of open countryside Dronfield was recorded in the 21,261, of whom 10,333 were male designated as Green Belt. It is Domesday Book. and 10,928 female. In total, 25.1% located in the valley of the River of the population was aged 65 or Drone and lies between the town of Evidence of the town’s medieval over and 16.1% was under the age Chesterfield and the city of Sheffield. origins can be found in the surviving of 16. The majority of the population The town covers an area of 3,457 cruck buildings, the parish church is in good health, educated and acres (13.99 km2) and is surrounded and the historic meandering economically active. by the neighbouring villages and street pattern of the town centre. hamlets of Unstone, Holmesfield, Dronfield’s population increased It is a popular place to live. In 2017, Barlow, Apperknowle, Hundall, dramatically in the post-war years CEBR (Centre for Economics & Marsh Lane and Eckington. from 6,500 in 1945 to its current Business Research) completed a size of just over 21,000. This rise report7-4 for Royal Mail which listed Dronfield has a long-documented has been mainly as a consequence the top 10 places to live in the UK. history. The first settlers in this of large-scale new house building, By analysing data on deprivation, area were probably attracted by built principally to support the salaries and education amongst the rivers, streams and woodlands. requirements of Sheffield. Dronfield other things, the report placed the Indeed, the Old English derivation Woodhouse once claimed to have town at number 9. 6 The Area Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan History and Objectives 7 HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN The preparation of the Plan is Advice has also been being sponsored by Dronfield sought from several Town Council, led by the Dronfield specialist community Town Neighbourhood Plan stakeholders. Each was Steering Group, consisting of independent of the Town town councillors, representatives Council and the wider of community groups and Steering Group neighbourhood planning consultants. In September 2016, the town exercises can be found on the was officially designated as a Town Council website at http:// neighbourhood plan area for the www.dronfield.gov.uk/ purposes of Section 61G of the Town neighbourhood-plan.html. and Country Planning Act 1990. Advice has also been sought The Steering Group determined from several specialist community at the outset that extensive stakeholders 7-6. Each was engagement with the community independent of the Town Council and other bodies and people and the wider Steering Group and, with an interest in how the town due to their specialist knowledge develops would be part of the and/or experience, able to give Plan’s preparation. Throughout guidance and opinions on issues 2017 and 2018, Dronfield of importance for the Plan’s Neighbourhood Plan Steering development and test assumptions Group carried out a number of made by the Steering Group about consultation events and activities to the future of the town. A full list of capture the thoughts and feelings specialist advisors who presented of the community. A summary of to the Steering Group is included in the results from these consultation Appendix 1.

Diagram showing relationships between the local authorities Derbyshire County Council Responsible for: education, transport, planning, fire and public safety, social care, libraries, waste management, trading standards

North East Derbyshire District Council Responsible for: rubbish collection, recycling, Council Tax collections, housing, planning applications

Dronfield Town Council Responsible for: allotments, public clocks, bus shelters, community centres, play areas and play equipment, grants to help local organisations, consultation on neighbourhood planning w

8 History and Objectives Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Community 9

THE PLAN’S AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

A neighbourhood plan is primarily for use, and reference when the relevant authorities are making and guiding planning decisions. If a change is proposed within the town, then North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC) must refer to the neighbourhood plan to ensure that the proposals are in keeping with its policies.

The plan looks at a wide range of issues, including: • Protecting and wherever possible enhancing Dronfield’s green and open spaces.

• Conserving Dronfield’s identity and celebrating the town’s heritage.

• Supporting improvements to the town centre.

• Providing good quality and suitable housing that meets the needs of the town.

• Sustaining the town’s infrastructure, shops and community facilities.

The Plan responds to these issues by putting forward a set of policies that will be applied through the planning process. It focuses on those areas that the evidence has identified as having the most pressing need for action and which the Plan can have the biggest impact. Where there are existing national and district planning policies that meet the requirements of the town they are It covers the period from 2016 with the strategic policies of the not repeated here. It is important to 2034. This period had been Local Plan (the ‘Saved Policies’ to note that when using the Plan selected to conform to the North from the adopted 2005 North to form a view on a proposed East Derbyshire Local Plan. East Derbyshire Local Plan7-2 in development all of the policies Rules governing the preparation of this case). At the time of producing contained in it must be considered a neighbourhood plan require that the Neighbourhood Plan, NEDDC together when forming a view. it should be in general conformity had prepared a draft Local Plan7-5. w

8 History and Objectives Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Community 9 THE PLAN COMMUNITY

ronfield is already a successful community. D To retain and enhance its sense of place The Plan seeks to preserve and enhance existing assets and facilities and at the same time encourage new enterprise in response to Dronfield’s growth and changing needs. There are four main areas of Dronfield life covered in the Communities Section of the Plan: Health, Education, Services and Assets of Community Value. Health care is already under pressure and needs protection as well as development. Dronfield has a higher than average educational achievement record, and the Plan supports the maintenance of high standards in all the town’s schools. Both in health and education, there is concern that large housing development could overburden existing facilities. The current infrastructure of services like fire, police and libraries are seen by the community as important to the overall wellbeing of the town. The Plan seeks to encourage their maintenance, some of which have been under threat in the past. The town is fortunate to have a wealth of community assets. The Plan seeks to retain and enhance them and discourage activities which could deplete or harm those COMMUNITY that are of special importance to the community. Overall, Dronfield is a safe, clean and healthy town for What our the community as a whole. The Plan seeks to retain and community says: enhance its reputation and key facilities. There is a need for a greater range of facilities as a response to the Town’s changing needs

We are concerned about the recent loss of facilities, and the risk of further closures in the future.

Our community facilities are under strain. We are concerned about the impact of future developments on capacity. 10 Community Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Community 11 Themes and Policies ■ THE PLAN AIMS: rating of ‘Good’ or higher (School COMMUNITY Performance Tables7-9). The Plan • To maintain a strong ASSETS sense of community and seeks to support the maintenance focus on the inclusion of of the high levels of educational ■ Objectives: all its members by creating achievement. There is concern that opportunites for new and To retain and enhance increased housing development in existing networks. the town risks over-burdening the existing important schools and therefore negatively • To enhance community and community facilities outdoor sports facilities. impacting levels of educational and services achievement. • To promote joint partnership Background between all stakeholders in Services the community. Dronfield benefits from a range of Community consultation identified community facilities, including a • To retain Dronfield as a safe, services such as police, fire, post Civic Hall, leisure centre, churches, clean, healthy home for the office, doctors and libraries as doctors’ surgeries, primary schools entire community. being important. The town retains and a secondary school. These a dedicated service in each of • To discourage activities community facilities are enjoyed by these areas, despite some being which may harm the quiet threatened with closure in the past. its residents as well as the many enjoyment of living (e.g. visitors from outside the town. pollution, heavy and unsafe These services are important in They make a significant contribution traffic and environmentally providing a sustainable and livable to the wellbeing and distinctive threatening industries) community. The Plan places a character of the town and provide • To support high levels of presumption in favour of retaining educational achievement. an important focal point for people these facilities, meaning that their to meet and socialise, as well loss would be resisted. as allowing them to access key practices. Community consultation services. tells us that this provision of health The Town Council has been advised care is already under pressure and that the town’s cemetery is reaching A sustainable future for Dronfield is highly valued by the community capacity and has a lifespan of only means ensuring existing service who wish to see it protected and, around 20 more years. Thus, the levels that meet a local need are where possible, enhanced. There Plan recognises that there is a retained, and new services are is also concern that increased need to turn land into new cemetery encouraged to meet the changing development of housing without provision, subject to normal planning needs of the community. increasing the capacity of health considerations; in principle, it will facilities has the potential to support viable proposals for this. Health overburden medical practices and Census7-7 data tells us that the town will negatively impact upon health Local and national planning policy has a significantly higher population provision. advocates planning policies that of over 65s: 25% compared to the plan positively for the provision national average of 16%. Despite Education and use of community facilities and having an ageing population, The town has one secondary guards against the unnecessary the town has lower than average school and a number of infant and loss of valued community facilities reports of poor health, health junior schools as well as private and services. problems and disability and the nurseries. It has recently lost its town sits within a district of good only SureStart centre. Levels of Consultation has identified a healthy life expectancy (Public educational attainment are higher number of facilities which are vital Health England, Marmot Indicators than the national average with 81% to the community. These facilities 20157-8). The town is served by 4 of students achieving Grade C or have been listed in Appendix 3, medical practices, several chemists, above in English and Maths and Retention of Important Community dentists and complementary health all schools achieving an Ofsted Assets and referred to in Policy C1. 10 Community Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Community 11

■ POLICY C1: RETENTION accessible by public transport, where it can be demonstrated OF IMPORTANT COMMUNITY walking and cycling; or to North East Derbyshire District FACILITIES b) it can be demonstrated through a Council, including through discussions viability assessment that the current with the Town Council, that it meets Development proposals that result use is economically unviable and a local need (for example, medical, in the loss of, or have a significant there is no demand for the facility educational, police and cemetery adverse effect on, an important as evidenced through unsuccessful related facilities) and respects local community facility identified in marketing of the facility for a period transport, environmental, amenity and Appendix 3 will not be supported, of 12 months. landscape considerations. except where: a) it can be satisfactorily ■ POLICY C2: SUPPORTING demonstrated to NEDDC that NEW AND ENHANCED the facility is no longer needed COMMUNITY FACILITIES in the town, or that service could be adequately provided in an Development proposals involving alternative way, or elsewhere in an the provision of a new or enhanced alternative location that is equally community facility will be supported 12 Community Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Natural Environment 13

Assets of Community states that “social interests” include application is being considered that Value cultural, recreational and sporting may affect the Listed Asset. To date, interests. Where an asset is ‘Listed’, one Asset, The Coach and Horses The registering of Community the town or parish council or other public house has been designated Assets is a separate (non-planning) community organisations will be as an Asset of Community Value, in legal process, initiated by a town given the opportunity to bid to 2016, by The Friends of the Coach or parish council or a community purchase the asset on behalf of the & Horses group ( ). group, but undertaken by NEDDC. Appendix 2 local community if it comes up for The designation of a community sale on the open market. ■ facility as an Asset of Community POLICY C3: ASSETS OF Value provides the opportunity COMMUNITY VALUE The inclusion of a specific policy in to give it added protection from a neighbourhood plan with regard Development proposals that will inappropriate development. The to Assets of Community Value result in the loss of, or has a Localism Act 20117-11 defines an provides the opportunity to give any significant adverse effect on, a ‘Asset of Community Value’ as “a registered Asset added protection designated Asset of Community building or other land ... where its from inappropriate development. It Value will not be permitted unless main use has recently been or is ensures that the ‘Listing’ of an Asset in special circumstances, such presently used to further the social of Community Value is a material as the Asset is replaced by an wellbeing or social interests of the consideration (i.e. it must be taken equivalent or better provision in local community and could do so into account) when a planning terms of quantity and quality in an in the future”. The Localism Act7-11 equally suitable location or it can be clearly demonstrated that it is not viable or no longer required by the community. 12 Community Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Natural Environment 13 THE PLAN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ronfield is fortunate to have of the landscape surrounding the N ATURAL ENVIR ONMENT Dmany green spaces within the town; respects important views and town and is also surrounded by vistas, and protect important trees, green space which separates it woodlands and hedgerows. What our from other local authorities. Many of Green spaces within Dronfield are community says: the surrounding spaces are in The highly valued by the community and Green Belt – a specific designation also form networks and corridors Protection of the e xisting to check urban sprawl, prevent which perform multiple functions green belt boundary is a towns merging into one another ranging from informal recreation to top priority and there is no desire to see the Green and safeguarding the countryside wildlife havens. Belt boundary altered. generally. The Plan seeks to ensure that The Plan supports the continued future development respects, and designation of the countryside where possible enhance the town’s surrounding the town as Green Belt green and blue (rivers, ponds and with a strong presumption against streams) infrastructure. Studies Protection of development that would conflict with prove the town has a quality important local green its openness. landscape that is highly sensitive spaces is vital. The Plan also seeks to conserve to change and irreplaceable. and enhance the distinctive rural Wherever possible, it must be character and historic significance protected.

The Green Belt is important to mak e sure neighbouring areas do not encroac h on our to wn 14 Natural Environment Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Natural Environment 15 Themes and Policies ■ NATURAL THE PLAN AIMS: ■ POLICY ENV1: GREEN BELT • Protect the current The Plan supports the continued ENVIRONMENT designated Green Belt designation of the countryside Background • Conserve the rural character surrounding the town as Green Belt. of the surrounding landscape Within the Green Belt, there will Access to green fields, be a strong presumption against Green Belt and rural countryside is • Retain and enhance green development that would conflict with a key factor in making the town a and blue spaces for ecology the purposes of the Green Belt or desirable place to live. • Preserve local green space adversely affect its open character Green belt for sport and recreation in accordance with the NPPF. The Sheffield and North Derbyshire • Protect trees, woodlands Landscape character Green Belt, see Map 2, runs from the and hedgerows of significant The local landscape character is fringe of the Peak District National importance extremely important to the local Park in the west to the boundary community for its scenic beauty, with Bolsover District in the east. their intended permanence in the wildlife and historic interest and The primary purpose of the Green long term, so that they should be the contribution it makes to the Belt is to “prevent coalescence of capable of enduring beyond the areas distinctiveness and sense of Chesterfield and Sheffield and to plan period.” The NPPF1 (para 82) place. One of the core principles maintain the integrity of settlements provides the following elaboration in the National Planning Policy in between.” The Green Belt is on “exceptional circumstances”: Framework is that planning should a key element of the landscape “for example when planning for recognise the intrinsic character character of the town, as highlighted larger scale development such as and beauty of the countryside. in the NEDDC Green Infrastructure new settlements and major urban Furthermore, strategic policies for Study (2012)7-12 & 7-13 “... the 4 main extensions.” The draft District Local the conservation and enhancement towns in the District are set in 7-5 Plan published in February 2017 of the natural environment, including open countryside and have clearly proposed the release of 5 significant landscape should include not only defined settlement boundaries areas of Green Belt adjoining the designated landscapes but also the providing good accessibility to Dronfield settlement boundary. wider countryside. natural Green Space around them. “These have been selected on the This is a key feature of the District basis that they would cause least The landscape of the town is of and provides local distinctiveness”. harm to the strategic functions of the high quality. The built-up area of Green Belt and could provide for at Dronfield is bordered to the north, It is for local authorities to define least 450 dwellings by 2033.” The south and west by land identified as and maintain Green Belt land in Local Plan submitted to Government Primary Areas of Multiple Sensitivity their local areas. Although it is in May 2018 proposes de-allocating (AMES). These are the “most intended that Green Belt land has a some areas of Green Belt, principally sensitive areas of landscape, which degree of permanence, it is possible to designate three site allocations are most likely to be negatively for a local planning authority to for new homes. This may result in affected by change or development conduct a review of Green Belt land a significant material change to the and will attract a strong focus on and consider redefining boundaries Green Belt boundary map. the protection (conservation) of their which add or take away Green Belt environmental assets.”7-24 land in order to meet local planning The Neighbourhood Planning requirements. Paragraph 83 of process has highlighted the value Natural England identifies a number the NPPF1 states “... Green Belt that the community place on the of landscape character areas. The boundaries should only be altered in open countryside around the town western section of the town falls exceptional circumstances, through and the contribution it makes to the within the Derbyshire Peak Fringe the preparation or review of the character and quality of life. The and Lower Derwent Landscape Local Plan. At that time, authorities community have expressed their Character Area7-15, and wooded should consider the Green Belt aspirations to retain the Green Belt slopes and valley landscape type. boundaries having regard to which surrounds the Town. This landscape type is characterised 14 Natural Environment Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Natural Environment 15

by “a rising, undulating landscape the constrained north outside the potentially adverse effects on these with many semi-natural woodlands, settlements, retains historic field identified qualities.” some of ancient origin, along patterns and historic woodlands that The studies undertaken and steep slopes and valley sides with are characteristic of its industrial referenced in the above make it densely scattered hedgerow and past. The wealth of Listed Buildings, clear that the town has a quality watercourse trees. Ancient semi- Conservation Areas, Historic landscape that is highly sensitive natural broadleaved woodland is Environment Records and ancient to change and irreplaceable. It is a prominent characteristic of the parts of the Historic Landscape critical, therefore, that any future Wooded Slopes and Valleys.” Characterisation pertain to this.” development respects and, as far as The eastern section of the town possible, conserves and enhances falls within the Nottinghamshire, Other reports and studies have the distinctive character and sense Derbyshire and Yorkshire highlighted the importance of the of place. Landscape Character Area, and landscape in the town and the Wooded Hills and Valleys landscape surrounding area. A good example ■ POLICY ENV2: LANDSCAPE type. This area is characterised by is NEDDC Settlement Hierarchy CHARACTER “a broadly undulating upland with a Study (2013 and Update (2017)* strongly wooded character, defined as is the NEDDC Green Development proposals should by woodland, mixed farming and Infrastructure Plan7-17, which contribute to the protection, sparsely scattered settlement.” highlights the need for protection maintenance and enhancement of and enhancement of the district’s the character of the local landscape. The Historic Landscape Character landscape character as an Proposals, wherever possible should: Assessment7-15 work conducted by integral part of planning for Derbyshire County Council identified new development. The NEDDC a) reinforce local character and a the landscape around a small Settlement Role and Function sense of place through appropriate number of settlements, including Study7-10 (2013) states, “Overall design and materials; Dronfield, as historically sensitive on the evidence points to the relative b) incorporate landscaping and account of their ancient enclosure, sensitivity of the landscapes of the boundary treatments local in characterised by fossilised field Peak Fringe to future development character including the use of native strips or irregular field patterns. growth. The character of these tree and hedgerow species; and A Historic Environment Study7-16 landscapes remains distinctive, c) have regard to the extent to commissioned by NEDDC to inform retains a high level of environmental which the development would the emerging Local Plan provides quality (visual, ecological and adversely affect landscape a detailed review of landscape historic) and high levels of relative elements which contribute to the character in North East Derbyshire. tranquillity at a county scale. local historic landscape character; The study highlighted a number of Significant growth of settlements including features such as ancient historic landscapes including: within the Peak Fringe or of and irregular field enclosures, ridge • “Post 1650 enclosures with settlements immediately abutting and furrow, stonewalls, woodlands, irregular fields”, a feature prevalent the Peak Fringe could have mature trees and historic hedgerows. outside the settlement boundary. * http://www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/index.php/your-council/document-library/local-plan-exam-library/03-supporting- • “Enclosures of unknown date docs-evidence-base/settlements-and-separation/2356-eb-ss1-settlement-hierarchy-study-update/file with irregular fields”, primarily to the north-west and containing a number of important sites of historic importance. • “Industrial”, includes two centrally located sites. • “Ancient enclosures and fossil strip systems”, found primarily to the north-east corner with a few to the north of the town. • “Managed plantation/woodland”, the largest of which is Frith Wood which appears on maps from 1835.

The Historic Environment Study7-16 concluded that “The landscape of 16 Natural Environment Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Natural Environment 17

Green and Blue multiple functions, including • The work conducted by Derbyshire Infrastructure providing opportunities for informal County Council on Areas of As well as landscape, the Plan will recreation; a haven and routes and Multiple Environmental Sensitivity7- seek to conserve the town’s green corridors for wildlife; a recreation 14 identifies the town’s green and and blue infrastructure. Green area; and, overall, contributing to blue infrastructure as supporting infrastructure is the whole network the town’s settings; and contributing areas of ecological sensitivity and of grasslands, woodlands, hedges, to residents’ health and well-being. importance. Whilst the town does lanes, rivers, ponds, streams that The NEDDC Green Infrastructure not have any statutory sites, it does together form a network across the Plan7-17 identifies green have two sites which have been area. The rivers, ponds and streams infrastructure as a way to potentially designated of national importance are sometimes referred to as blue enhance tourism, by increasing close to its borders. infrastructure. Individual elements linkages both within the district but These are: of green and blue infrastructure can also sub-regionally. • The South Pennine Moors Special serve a useful purpose but, when Area of Conservation/Special linked together to form networks, • It is important that new Protection Area (SAC/SPA), located further combined benefits can be development is supported by approximately 3 kilometres to the achieved. The network performs a network of Green and Blue west of the town boundary. Infrastructure that not only reinforces • The Moss Valley Woods, a Site landscape character but can also of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) deliver the multiple public which adjoins the northeastern benefits that contribute to boundary of the town and the quality of life and encompasses a high proportion of social well-being. Ancient Woodland. The broader Moss Valley sits within the Green Belt and, in addition to Moss Valley Woods, incorporates two further separate SSSIs, providing an indication of its biodiversity value. The Moss Valley Biodiversity Study (DCC Countryside and Natural England, 20057-18) recommended further work be undertaken to create linkages across the whole landscape area.

Furthermore, the town encompasses a number of green and blue spaces which have been identified as being of local ecological importance. UK BAP priority habitats are significant in that they have been identified as being the most threatened and requiring conservation under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP19)7-19. The primary habitat objective for the Peak Fringe in the Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity 16 Natural Environment Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Natural Environment 17

Action Plan (2011-2020) is the Where appropriate and practicable, “maintenance, restoration and proposals for development should expansion of woodland, grassland, seek to connect with this corridor, heathland and wetlands ...” UK through for example walking and BAP Priority Habitats in the town cycling access. include deciduous woodland, a small number of traditional orchards ■ POLICY ENV4: ECOLOGY and good quality semi-improved grasslands (non-priority). Development proposals will be expected to respect and enhance Of special importance is the Lea existing ecological corridors and Brook Valley, which is a green landscape features (such as corridor stretching from the wetlands watercourses, ponds, hedgerows of the Gosforth Valley, through and tree-lines) for biodiversity, the centre of the town to the River wherever appropriate, and show Drone. (The river Drone rises in how any adverse impact will be Batemoor, at the very southern managed or mitigated to make the edge of Sheffield.) It flows through development acceptable. Dronfield in a steep channel and joins the River Whitting at Enhancement and compensation Sheepbridge in Chesterfield. measures will be targeted to benefit local conservation priorities as The town has two significant identified in the Lowland Derbyshire pockets of Ancient Woodland: terrestrial habitats is also an issue, Biodiversity Action Plan. Frith Wood (Ancient and Semi- causing populations to become both smaller and more vulnerable. The Natural Woodland and Ancient Local Green Spaces Replanted Woodland) and School water vole is another priority species Wood/Hollins Spring Wood (Ancient recorded in the town. Once common Green spaces within Dronfield and Semi-Natural Woodland). and widespread throughout the are highly valued by the These woodlands are important for UK, they have suffered a long-term local community and provide biodiversity conservation as well as decline caused by loss of wetland opportunities for sport, recreation cultural and historical significance. habitats. Water voles are found and community events. Some of in running water, standing water, these green spaces provide vital This green and blue infrastructure swamps and tall herb fen and mires. stepping stones for wildlife through support a wide variety of wildlife, not the centre of the town. They are only outside the built-up area but The Plan seeks to ensure that future especially important given that the in the heart of the town. Wildlife in development conserves and, where 2012 North East Derbyshire Green the Lea Brook valley includes more possible, enhances green and blue Infrastructure Study7-12 showed that than 127 species of wildflowers, infrastructure. Furthermore, where the town generally has an under at least 85 species of birds (45 of possible and appropriate, priority provision of such recreation areas these species nesting), 3 species of habitats and habitats suitable for relative to its population size. The dragonflies, 8 species of butterflies priority species will be created within NPPF7-1 enables a neighbourhood and 5 mammal species. The development schemes. plan to identify and protect local great-crested newt, a UK BAP and green spaces of special importance Lowland BAP priority species have to the community, where it meets ■ POLICY ENV3: THE LEA been recorded at several locations certain specified criteria, such BROOK VALLEY GREEN in the town. The main threat to the as where the green space is in CORRIDOR great-crested newt is the loss of reasonably close proximity to the breeding ponds and associated The Lea Brook Valley, as shown community, is demonstrably special terrestrial habitats, mainly due on Map 7, is defined as a Green to a local community and not an to development, agricultural Corridor. Development proposals extensive tract of land. Those sites intensification and drainage. The affecting this feature should seek to that qualified under the criteria are newts are found in standing water, support and enhance its operation outlined with justification in the swamps, tall herb and fen mires as a multifunctional corridor for the accompanying Local Green Spaces and previously developed land. movement of wildlife, people and Report which forms part of the Fragmentation of both aquatic and the provision of ecosystem services. evidence base7-33. 18 Natural Environment Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Housing & Infrastructure 19

■ POLICY ENV5: (UK BAP priority habitats). regeneration and planting LOCAL GREEN SPACES Woodlands are valued for their • Promote the use of indigenous The spaces listed in Appendix 6 and wildlife, landscape and recreational tree and shrub species illustrated in Map 6 are designated uses and need to be sensitively • Re-establish and enhance physical as Local Green Spaces on which managed and links between them, links between existing isolated development will only be supported such as hedgerows, need to be woodland and hedgerows in very special circumstances unless maintained to allow animals and it is consistent with the function of plants to spread. The planting and The Plan seeks to protect and the Local Green Space. management guidelines for wooded enhance the woodland character of slopes and valleys aim to: the town through the conservation Trees and Woodlands • Promote small-medium scale and extension of trees and Trees and woodlands are defining woodland planting hedgerows. It is important that features of the Dronfield landscape. • Conserve and restore all ancient new planting be of an appropriate They include areas of ancient woodland sites species, as outlined in the planting semi-natural woodland, deciduous • Promote linked extensions to and management guidelines woodland and traditional orchards ancient woodland by natural produced by Derbyshire County Council7-20 and The Habitat Creation Guide for Lowland Derbyshire.7-21

Where trees are to be felled, equivalent replacement tree planting in the town will be sought.

■ POLICY ENV6: TREES AND WOODLANDS

Development proposals will be encouraged to increase tree coverage and retain existing trees and hedges by integrating them into the design of the development.

Where development proposals would damage or result in the loss of trees, hedges and woodlands of arboricultural, ecological and/ or amenity value, they will not be permitted unless the harm is outweighed by the benefits of the development.

Development proposals which may significantly adversely affect such trees and hedgerows of good value should be accompanied by an independent survey that establishes the health of any affected trees or hedgerows, and a management plan to demonstrate how they will be so maintained. 18 Natural Environment Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Housing & Infrastructure 19 THE PLAN HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE ronfield needs a sustainable supports the prioritisation of HOUSING D level of new housing based on development of brownfield sites identifiable local needs and taking above greenfield and Green Belt into account mix, type and density. land. This echoes core planning What our Legislation dictates that the Plan principles in national policy which community says: must conform to national and district highlight the need to preference planning policies. development on land of a lesser Our town is not a suitable The emerging Local Plan from environmental value and reusing and sustainable location North East Derbyshire District land that has been previously for significant house Council proposes a minimum of developed (provided that it is not of building 569 homes to be built in Dronfield high environmental value). between 2014 and 2034 and the By analysing local needs, the majority on greenfield sites currently Plan supports the development in the Green Belt. of housing for the elderly, and Consultation with the community starter homes for the town’s next Any house building should shows that while not opposed to generation. It is important that any be limited in number and sustainable development in line housing growth is of the right type carefully controlled with recent historic trends, there is to support the changing needs and concern about the scale as proposed priorities of the population. in the NEDDC Local Plan (Publication The Plan also recognises there Draft) and the consequent pressures will be opportunities for small scale that would be put on the town’s developments of less than 10 homes infrastructure and character. and that these “windfall” sites have New homes should not be Taking into account the the potential to provide a modest built on green belt land community’s feedback, the Plan source of new homes.

New homes should be of a type and design that reflects the needs and aspirations of the town 20 Housing & Infrastructure Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Housing & Infrastructure 21 Themes and Policies town since 2011, which suggests ■ THE PLAN AIMS: HOUSING & this is responsive to normal market INFRASTRUCTURE • To support a level of conditions of supply and demand. housing provision that meets local need Housing Allocations Background The Plan does not allocate land for Legislation requires that a • To support the development housing. This is a matter best dealt neighbourhood plan must be in of housing for the elderly and with through the Local Plan process. general conformity with national affordable homes It does, however, support suitable and district wide (i.e. North East and sustainable housing growth in • Prioritise the use of Derbyshire) planning policies. Dronfield within the existing urban brownfield sites for housing area as defined by the Green Belt. At the local level, the key planning and other forms of development document, which the Dronfield • Further, it considers, that the needs Neighbourhood Plan must take into • To ensure all new and views of the community, should account is the emerging North East development includes suitable be a key factor in determining the 5 Derbyshire Local Plan, which sets infrastructure to address its scope and detail of any housing the agenda for housing numbers needs and any new impact it proposal (s) should they happen. and growth within Dronfield and the may have The consultation undertaken as part wider North East Derbyshire district. of the preparation of Plan underlined The housing numbers required by • To preserve its residential the community’s opposition to the North East Derbyshire currently aspect release of land presently in the propose a minimum of 569 homes Green Belt to provide for housing in exceptional circumstances”. The to be built in Dronfield between the allocations. period of 2014 and 2034 and that exceptional circumstances, which national planning policy requires the majority of this housing growth Windfall Housing should take place on greenfield sites for the alteration of Green Belt boundaries are not present; Development currently in the Green Belt. The NPPF describes windfall • there are alternative suitable and housing sites as, ‘Sites which have sustainable locations elsewhere • Consultation shows that the not been specifically identified in the District which could community, while not opposed as available in the Local Plan accommodate this housing growth, to limited, sustainable housing process’. They normally comprise for example, brownfield sites and development, in line with recent previously-developed sites that have vacant or under-utilised employment historic trends, is concerned about unexpectedly become available. the scale of housing development sites, which do not meet modern business requirements. proposed for the town as set out in In the past, such sites have made 7-5 It is felt that the District Council the draft District Local Plan . use of underused or redundant could do more to encourage It is considered that the town is not a buildings and have made a brownfield site identification and suitable and sustainable location for significant contribution to the development. the scale of development proposed, town’s housing numbers. This • major development will have an especially given that: is a trend which is expected to adverse impact on the distinctive • in order to meet proposed housing continue. Though these sites are not character of the town, and Dronfield requirements, the Publication identified, the relatively high land 7-5 lacks the services and infrastructure Local Plan proposes all housing values in the town coupled with the (much of which is already under development should take place level of vacant and inappropriately pressure) to support such growth; on greenfield sites, requiring the located land and buildings, including and re-designation of large areas of some sites in employment use (see • the draft Local Plan proposed a land presently in the Green Belt. employment section), mean that 7-1 housing target of about 569 new National planning policy is explicit windfall sites have the potential to homes in Dronfield. However, only that, “Once established, Green Belt provide a modest source of housing 70 houses have been built in the boundaries should only be altered and other forms of development. 20 Housing & Infrastructure Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Housing & Infrastructure 21

Consultation shows that the a) are well integrated within Rykneld Homes (who manage community is generally supportive adjoining uses and the surrounding NEDDC’s housing stock), of such windfall housing areas; consultation findings7-6 and other development, where it is within b) provide protection and integration sources has been undertaken. the built-up part of Dronfield, for natural features such as trees, This report7-34 can be found at otherwise suitable in scale location, hedges and streams; http://www.dronfield.gov.uk/ harmonises with the existing c) provide for a safe vehicular and neighbourhood-plan.html character and help meet need a pedestrian access to the site; and local need. The community value d) that traffic generation and This provides strong evidence the rural setting of the town and parking impact including mitigation that the need for smaller dwellings would like to see opportunities for measures do not result in an (one or two bedrooms) will grow development on brownfield sites unacceptable impact on, road and significantly over the Plan period. fully utilised prior to approval of pedestrian safety. Some of this need will be created development on greenfield sites. by first-time buyers trying to get onto the property ladder, but perhaps We consider that there will continue Housing Mix more significantly by the growth to be opportunities for small scale There is a need to encourage a in the number of households of ‘windfall’ housing developments. wider range of house types to retirement age. It also shows that meet the existing and future needs there is a relative under provision of ■ POLICY HOU1: WINDFALL of the residents of the town. It is such housing. At 26%, the proportion HOUSING DEVELOPMENT important that any housing growth of the housing stock in the town (at is of the right type to support the the time of the 2011 Census) which Development proposals for windfall changing needs and priorities of the had one or two bedrooms was well housing within the existing urban population. below the district (35%) and the area (the built-up area of the town As part of the development of the national (40%) averages. It provides not covered by the Green Belt) will Plan, a detailed examination of the evidence that there is a growing be supported where in accordance available housing characteristics need for specialist housing, for with relevant policies in the Plan data from the 2011 Census7-7, example, suitable for elderly people (especially D3) and relevant District NEDDC7-22, for both sale and to rent. and national policies, and where they: 22 Housing & Infrastructure Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Housing & Infrastructure 23

This means that housing encourage the supply of these which has demonstrable need and developments should provide more types and size of dwellings in deliverability, and which is of an smaller dwellings as well as well- the housing mix to create a more appropriate mix, type and density. designed specialist housing if local balanced demographic over time. needs are to be addressed. Residential development proposals ■ POLICY HOU2: HOUSING MIX The provision of the smaller types of will, therefore, be required to dwellings may also help to demonstrate how they have taken New housing development should address the relatively high number into consideration the most up to provide for a mix of housing of properties that are under- date published evidence of housing types, sizes and tenures taking occupied because of the household need at a local or district level. This into account evidence of existing reducing in size - for example, evidence may be produced by the imbalances in housing stock, site elderly households continuing to District Council, Town Council or characteristics, viability and market occupy large family housing. This at the developer’s expense. In the considerations. Proposals will be may allow older people in the town case of the latter, evidence will need required to demonstrate how they to downsize thus freeing up larger to be verified by the Town Council. have taken account of the most properties for new families and up to date published evidence on young people. Taking into account the feedback housing need at a local or district from the community consultation level. The provision of smaller The Plan is not seeking the and the need identified, this dwellings (e.g. 2 bedrooms or less) construction of exclusively one Plan supports an appropriate and specialised housing suitable to or two bedroomed and specialist amount of sustainable housing meet the needs of young families, housing (e.g. for disabled disabled, young people and older people) over the Plan residents are encouraged within period. It does, housing developments to however, meet a town housing seek to need. 22 Housing & Infrastructure Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Housing & Infrastructure 23

Housing Affordability enhanced waiting time on the Housing development can bring, are not The Plan adopts the Government’s Register. This covers applicants from being addressed, and maintained, definition of Affordable Housing as Dronfield and adjoining parishes within in a timely, long-term or coordinated contained in the National Planning North East Derbyshire. manner. It is imperative that Policy Framework7-1. This describes development provides suitable affordable housing as, “social The Plan supports the application infrastructure to cater for both rented, affordable rented and of a Local Lettings Plan to new immediate and further needs. intermediate housing, provided to housing development where Community consultation highlighted eligible households whose needs appropriate and not discriminatory. the issue of infrastructure. A are not met by the market. Eligibility In addition, the Plan wishes to significant proportion of the is determined with regard to local promote the creation of integrated community feel that much of incomes and local house prices*”. and sustainable communities by having affordable housing units the development that has taken place has been piecemeal, and It remains a key housing issue for spread throughout the development inadequate consideration has the town, and prices can be too rather than concentrated in one been given to any infrastructure high for those on average incomes. area and indistinguishable from requirements arising and their future According to government figures, market housing. maintenance. Examples include the the average house price in the town redevelopment of the old Dronfield was £219,453 in 2016; while this ■ POLICY HOU3: School Gosforth Site with residential figure is below the National average AFFORDABLE HOUSING dwellings and sports facilities. (£282,672) it is well above the Due to inadequate consideration district norm (£188,451). Where affordable housing is to be provided as part of a development, of parking provisions, regular complaints are received on match Local planning policies for the it should be designed and delivered days about the estate being provision of affordable housing are to be indistinguishable from market overcrowded with parked cars. set at the district level. There is housing and must be distributed Similarly, in 2014 a development a general requirement to provide evenly through the development comprising one detached dwelling 40% affordable units on-site when as a whole. In legal agreements and 4 apartments was approved negotiating on residential and connected to planning consents at 355 Chesterfield Road, with mixed-use schemes in the town of that deliver affordable housing, the parking provision deemed 0.5ha and above and for schemes nomination rights will normally to be adequate. However, it has of 15 dwellings or more. There is a be expected to give priority to subsequently emerged that some of strong case for meeting local targets applicants with a strong local the occupants are now parking on for affordable housing provision, connection to Dronfield town, i.e.: Chesterfield Road and its verges, and the Plan supports the provision • Has lived in Dronfield town for which is creating visibility issues of suitable, affordable housing, more than 5 years; or for other road users. Very little that clearly reflects and meets an • Has close family living in Dronfield consideration has been given to the evidenced local housing need. town for more than 5 years. availability of public transport and Infrastructure needs particularly bus services in Dronfield The evidence gathered does not and Coal Aston, which have support the Plan developing its own of housing and other reduced steadily over recent years. specific affordable housing policy forms of development Because much of the development as regards the proportion of newly A major theme of the consultation that has been approved in recent built dwellings to be affordable. It was that the additional infrastructure years has been below the threshold does support local planning policies needs arising because of for developer contributions to and underline the importance that it housing and other forms of new be required, investment in local should be assertively implemented development must be addressed infrastructure has been minimal. within the Parish. and at the earliest opportunity. This is despite the fact that several The town continues to be the smaller scale developments can Further, there is also a compelling location for development, much have a substantial cumulative case for affordable units to be of it potentially large scale, and impact on the demand for services. prioritised for those individuals that the infrastructure, whether in housing need with a local that be roads, schools, medical To ensure that future housing connection. People with a local facilities, public transport provision development is supported by an connection currently receive a or any of the range of needs new appropriate level of infrastructure, degree of priority in the form of * https://www.gov.uk/guidance/definitions-of-general-housing-terms 24 Housing & Infrastructure Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Transport & Access 25 proposals will be assessed against and public transport provision; example, a planning obligation the criteria in Policy HOU4, and b) new infrastructure to ensure might be used to secure a financial other relevant policies in the Plan. the development is accessible by contribution towards improving It provides further detail to foot, cycle and people with mobility existing recreational facilities or accompany relevant emerging impairment and that connections are affordable housing. However, there planning policy in the Local Plan. made to link with existing walking are strict regulations governing the and cycling routes; circumstances in which planning All development should be c) the need for any additional obligations can be sought and how assessed for the impact it has on capacity in local services in it can be spent. A new system is the local community and area; and particular health and schools; also being introduced to be used all new development should provide d) any recreational open space alongside the use of planning suitable infrastructure to cater for provision required in the proposed obligations. This is known as the both immediate and future needs, development should be central to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) whether that be roads, schools, the development, fully integrated and is set at 25% in areas where health or any other of the range of and suitably overlooked by adjacent there is a neighbourhood plan. As needs new development can bring. properties; part of the preparations for draft They must also give consideration e) where relevant, proposals Local Plan the District Council has to the maintenance implications of should include measures for future concluded that CIL is not currently a any proposals. maintenance of open spaces, hard viable option for the District and has and soft landscaping and other no current plans to pursue it. ■ POLICY HOU4: public areas and facilities; INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW f) the inclusion of appropriate and Through the preparation of the Plan, HOUSING AND OTHER FORMS adequate lighting; and the Town Council, in conjunction OF DEVELOPMENT g) suitable capacity in local with the community and other infrastructure including power stakeholders, has identified a small Any identified additional supply, sewerage and drainage. number of priority areas they wish infrastructure needs arising as a to secure funding for (either in result of proposed new development Developer whole or in part) should the Council must be addressed before planning Contributions decide to adopt CIL in the future. approval is granted. Approvals Development can bring significant Priority areas for funding are (in no will be conditioned so that, where benefits to the local community, particular order): necessary, infrastructure is in place including new homes and jobs. It • Parks and recreational facilities. preferably prior to development can also have a negative impact, for • Footpaths. taking place, but, at a minimum, at example, where additional demand • Infrastructure. appropriate times in the phasing is placed on facilities and services, • Public transport. of the development. In particular, which are already at or near • Community facilities. development proposals will be capacity. Planning obligations (also ■ POLICY HOU5: DEVELOPER assessed against the following: known as Section 106 agreements) CONTRIBUTIONS a) site access and the need for any may be used to secure infrastructure additional road capacity, car parking or funding from a developer. For The Town Council will seek to prioritise the use of financial contributions, whether from Section 106 agreements, Community Infrastructure Levy or negotiated obligations, for improvements to, and enhancement of, the areas identified above. Developers are encouraged to engage with the Town Council prior to the preparation of any planning application to confirm these local priorities, ensuring that, where appropriate and viable, the facilities proposed to complement any development proposals reflect these priorities. 24 Housing & Infrastructure Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Transport & Access 25

TRANSPORT AND ACCESS What our THE PLAN community says:

There are problems with inconsiderate and TRANSPORT inadequate parking & ACCESS ronfield’s popularity as a place to Transport issues were frequently There is already limited Dlive and its convenient location referred to in the consultations public transportaround with accessibility to the major road with issues such as the high the town with a risk networks has meant a significant and number of HGVs in the town; road that bus services will decrease further growing amount of road traffic. and pedestrian safety and the lack The car provides the principal mode of safe parking high on the agenda. of transport for Dronfield residents, The lack of a good public transport the majority of whom commute to system was also cited as a major work outside the town. barrier to its greater use. An increase in traffic due The transport infrastructure of the The Plan’s transport policies to new developments town is struggling to cope on a seek to ensure that any new would be concerning largely historic street pattern which development incorporates measures is inadequate for modern needs. to accommodate traffic and provide The Plan, therefore, aims to support sufficient safe and convenient car a suitable transport network to serve parking. Any additional infrastructure all users as well as ensuring new needs arising from new development High and growing development does not result in an must be addressed. transport movements unacceptable overburdening of the are concerning, existing network. especially HGVs, pedestrian safety, air and noise quality. 26 Transport & Access Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Transport & Access 27

Themes and Policies ■ While it is recognised that there TRANSPORT THE PLAN AIMS: has been some investment in the AND ACCESS • To promote sustainable transport infrastructure, there is transport network which concern that this (while welcomed) Background serves all users is insufficient to address and keep up with the town’s transport needs Transport issues, such as the high • To increase road safety. and priorities. In addition, there number of HGVs within the town, is a strong wish that any new road and pedestrian safety and • To improve and manage car developments should ensure that the lack of adequate parking within parking. any transport impacts are identified the town have been identified as and addressed at the earliest significant during consultation, • To reduce vehicular opportunity. Consultation particularly not only with residents, but also movements especially by Heavy Good Vehicles. identifies the following areas likely employers, visitors and other to be negatively impacted by further interested parties as well as studies • To alleviate traffic development: such as the Dronfield Regeneration congestion and implement • Conflict between pedestrians and Framework, Dronfield 20357-23 transport measures that vehicles along High Street and produced by NEDDC in 2013. support sustainable improvements to the Church Street. • Junction of Callywhite Lane, The car provides the principal mode transport network. Green Lane and Chesterfield Road. of transport for residents and visitors. • To promote good mobility • Junction of Stubley Lane According to the 2011 Census,7-7 around the town, through a and Stubley Hollow. 85% of households had access cohesive, well maintained • Sheffield Road (Bowshaw). to one or more cars, a rate that is network of paths, community • Hallowes Lane. far higher than the comparative transport and safe roads. • Snape Hill Lane. district (78%) and national (74%) • Chesterfield Road. averages. While the town provides • Eckington Road. some services and facilities, these are limited. Many residents convenient location on the main In addition, speeding is an issue commute; NEDDC’s Settlement Role highway network with good road across the town. & Function Study 20137-10 tells us connections especially to the that 70-80% of people commute to A61 and M1 motorway result in a ■ POLICY T&A 1: HIGHWAYS work outside the town and the clear significant and growing amount of majority travel to Sheffield, followed vehicular traffic. The town’s transport New developments which involve by Chesterfield. Almost 50% of infrastructure is struggling to cope the provision of new highways must those employed travel to work by car with the levels of vehicular traffic meet the following design criteria, or van, which is far more than the that use it. The road network has they should: national average of 37%. developed over many centuries and is simply not designed for, nor suited a) provide suitable measures to accommodate all traffic; The inadequacy of public transport to, the amount of vehicular traffic, b) integrate appropriate traffic calming provision in the town is considered including HGVs, using it. measures within the development; to be one of the main barriers This is especially true of the roads c) deliver a high level of security and preventing its greater use by and footpaths in the older parts of safety by, for example, providing residents. the town which are often narrow with no or limited parking provision. good visibility; and At the same time, industrial units d) limit the need to cross the Traffic Management and large supermarkets require carriageway and make routes and Congestion goods deliveries via HGV. Vehicle accessible to wheelchair users, and other people with access problems The town’s popularity as a place to speeds are also perceived to be or pushchairs. live and visit, coupled with its high. 26 Transport & Access Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Transport & Access 27

■ T&A2: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Traffic management measures that improve vehicular and road pedestrian safety will be encouraged, particularly where road safety issues have been identified locally • Conflict between pedestrians and vehicles along High Street and Church Street. • Junction of Callywhite Lane, Green Lane and Chesterfield Road. • Junction of Stubley Lane and Stubley Hollow. • Sheffield Road (Bowshaw). • Hallowes Lane. • Snape Hill Lane. • Chesterfield Road. • Eckington Road. • Speeding across the town.

Development which would affect any of the areas highlighted above in terms of road and pedestrian safety should especially demonstrate appropriate safety improvements.

Sustainable Transport The Transport Studies Report7-24 states that Dronfield has the highest potential for sustainable transport in the district, and the fact that it is the only town within North East Derbyshire to have a railway station places it at the top of the settlement hierarchy (Settlement Role & Function Study 20137-10). The town has limited public transport provision, including bus services and taxis.

Consultation suggests that public transport provision is viewed as, at The preservation or enhancement their design and layout or may best, barely adequate. A particular of the town’s bridleways is also be required to contribute to such concern is the adequacy of the encouraged. improvements through a planning provision that connects the outlying obligation. housing estates such as access ■ POLICY T&A3: CYCLING in/to the Hallowes Estate and Coal They should be able to demonstrate AND WALKING Aston to the main urban centres. how they link to and enhance Two local bus services (43a & 44a) the existing cycle and pedestrian have recently ceased. Where appropriate having regard networks. to the scale and location of the Cycling and Walking proposal, development proposals Development proposals that result Cycle hubs will be especially will be required to take advantage in the loss of, or have a significant encouraged in convenient locations of opportunities to incorporate adverse effect on, the existing to facilitate the use of more improvements to the network network of footpaths, cycleways and

sustainable transport methods. of footpaths and cycleways into bridleways will not be supported. 28 Transport & Access Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Economy 29

Car Parking than the parking available. The began charging for the use of the Car parking was raised as an cul-de-sac layout of many of these station car park. This led to an issue by many consultees. Parts housing developments contributes to immediate and significant increase of the town experience practical this issue. in the number of commuters and environmental problems due avoiding charges by parking on local to insufficient parking provision Parking is a particular problem streets and/or in the town’s free car exacerbated by the inadequate width around Dronfield Railway Station. parks. of the road. Most of the older housing The existing commuter parking developments within the town have attached to the station is under While some on-street parking no facility for off-street parking and, pressure and, as a result, there is can help to calm traffic speeds, thus, many residents are forced considerable overspill commuting inadequate off-street parking has to park on the road. In the case of parking occurring in nearby resulted in an environment in newer housing developments, which residential area streets, such as which many parts of the town that do have parking provision, residents Lea Road and Princess Road, are dominated by cars. It restricts may choose to park on the road causing unattractive street scenes traffic movement, results in unsafe either for convenience or because and exacerbating safety issues. conditions for other road users and they have more cars per household In September 2017, Northern Rail pedestrians and restricts parking for those using local shops and services (such as dentists etc.).

Derbyshire County Council has developed important guidelines on car parking provision as part of a development proposal. The Plan supports this guidance. It also urges the application of the highest levels of car parking provision as set out in the guidelines, especially in those parts of the town where the general lack of off-road parking spaces is having the greatest negative impact on the character and quality of life in an area.

Furthermore, the Plan seeks to conserve existing car parking provision from development unless there are strong grounds to justify its loss. Appendix 3 lists a number of car parks which the Plan seeks to retain, including as an ‘Important Community Asset’.

■ POLICY T&A4: CAR PARKING

Development proposals that result in the loss of car parking provision will only be supported where: a) it can be shown that the loss of parking will not have a severe adverse effect on parking and road safety in the nearby area; or b) adequate and convenient replacement car parking provision can be provided. 28 Transport & Access Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Economy 29

ECONOMY What our THE PLAN community says:

Economic development & employment growth is important but not if it ECONOMY involves large scale lthough the majority of Dronfield supported. The Plan recognises development Aresidents commute to Sheffield that the role of the town centre is and Chesterfield for work, there evolving in line with the national remain a significant number of trend for changes to how people businesses in the town providing shop and use services. The shopping centres much needed jobs and services. The approach taken in the Plan are important but need The Plan, therefore, supports the allows owners and developers to enhancement development of businesses which grow and evolve in a way that is service the town and encourages the sympathetic to the role and historic enhancement and improvement of context of Dronfield. the shopping and services sector. Overall, the Plan aims to provide an In Dronfield town centre new environment that promotes new shopping uses, along with social and existing businesses. ‘A wider variety of and community uses, will be shops is needed 30 Economy Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Economy 31

Themes and Policies During the Plan consultation, ■ THE PLAN AIMS: ECONOMY respondents were asked how • To provide an environment Background they would describe the town that promotes new centre. There were mixed views The town provides around 7,200 and existing businesses. with a roughly 50/50 split between jobs, a total of 28% of the district’s respondents who were positive and total number of jobs (Settlement • To encourage the vitality those that considered it could be Role & Function Study 2013)7-10. It and viablility of dronfield town centre and other improved. Some respondents felt is essentially a commuter town. Its shopping areas. the town centre to be dull and in residents normally work elsewhere need of a better selection of shops especially Sheffield and Chesterfield and general improvement. Many (where an estimated 70-80% of the Town Centre respondents also commented that population travel to for work), with Dronfield town centre (see Map 3) there were too many charity shops. entertainment and retail activity in consists of a historic core stretching The lack of a post office in the the town focused on the needs of the from the library to The Forge and town centre was also noted; also, town and the immediate surrounding a 1960s shopping parade with comments were received that the area. It is not a major destination for flats above, which includes the market was “shrinking”, and that entertainment or shopping. Civic Hall and sports centre and is dominated by three large car parks. the quality of shop provision was reducing. The town comprises a town centre The area has seen some expansion and a number of smaller hubs in recent years with the inclusion The town centre boundaries in serving the local community as well of a Sainsbury’s supermarket and the 2005 Local Plan have been as two superstores. Within each of improvements to the historic core. amended in the Publication Draft the shopping hubs, there exists a However, the arcade section is now Local Plan on the basis of the variety of chain and independent dated and has dwindling occupancy Retail Study (2018). The Study shops and service provision. rates and high rents. It has recently lost a bank and hairdresser, and recommends contracting the town centre boundary to cover the NEDDC’s commissioned Retail many units are now charity shops. proposed area from Sainsbury’s Study 20187-26 confirms that the The weekly market runs from one in the north-west, to the Forge town has a lower proportion of car park and the Civic Hall and Shopping Centre in the east. comparison retailers as well as a remains fairly popular, particularly Further, that the shopping parade smaller proportion of convenience with the town’s older population. along Sheffield Road/ Chesterfield retail units than the national average. Road is designated as a Local The report states that, at the time, Like many other similar town Centre. there was a reasonable range of centres, it faces challenges. retail services for a centre of its These include competition from In January 2017, NEDDC adopted size, with a hairdresser and travel other nearby shopping centres such a Regeneration Framework for agents, a good range of banks as Sheffield and Chesterfield as well Dronfield, Dronfield 2035.7-23 and other financial services as as the growth in non-traditional form This document identified, amongst well as numerous restaurants of shops and shopping particularly other things, key opportunities and takeaways. Also, that it was hot-food takeaways and on-line for improvement within the town performing below its potential in the shopping. centre and, more widely, including retail hierarchy, with a unit vacancy improvements to the Civic Centre level of 15.8% which is notably NEDDC’s Dronfield Town Centre 7-25 through: higher than the national average Health Check 2013 showed that • Improvement of the market offer. (10.5%). residents like facilities such as the Civic Hall and the leisure centre, but • Moving the Post Office to the Civic Centre. With an ageing population access are concerned about empty shops • Re-surfacing and considering the to such locally based shops will and have mixed opinions about the planting of trees and shrubs. become increasingly important. adequacy of parking. 30 Economy Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Economy 31

• New street furniture and improved A3); and positively to the improvement lighting. b) development proposals for other priorities as outlined in Dronfield • A new canopy to the shopping uses appropriate to a town centre 2035 and summarised above. precinct. (defined as places to eat and drink • Increasing social use of (Use Class A4) and community Shop frontages in the the Civic Square. and leisure facilities (Use Class town centre • Wholesale redevelopment of the D2) will be supported where (i) Studies and the consultation shopping precinct. it can be demonstrated to North specifically highlighted the role East Derbyshire District Council in of well-designed shop fronts in The suggested improvements to the consultation with the town council improving the appearance of the town centre contained in Dronfield that it makes a positive contribution town centre and the town more 2035 have been reviewed as part to the viability and vitality of the town generally. They also support a of the development of the Plan. centre, (ii) it does not adversely healthy local economy by improving Consultation with the community affect the shopping element within the visual appeal of the area. Shop and other stakeholders has the immediate area of the site and frontages that are poorly designed confirmed that they continue to be (iii) it would not result in a cluster of and/or badly maintained detract relevant and provide a sound basis non-shop uses (generally no more from this visual appeal. to improve the town centre. This will than three in a row). be used to work with developers, In addition, Well designed shop fronts make a NEDDC, Town Council and other • the residential use of the upper significant contribution to the quality relevant organisations to realise floors of properties within the town of the public realm and the town’s improvements, including through centre will be supported subject to distinct identity and character. developer contributions. transport, environmental, parking and amenity considerations; and Within the defined Dronfield town • they should conserve, and centre, new shopping uses, along where possible, enhance with social and community uses, will its visual and physical be supported. In supporting such attractiveness; and uses, the Plan recognises that the • they should role of town centres is changing, have regard within a broader pattern of changes to and to how consumers shop and access respond services. The approach taken in the Plan is a flexible one that will allow owners and developers to grow and evolve in a way that is sympathetic to the role and historic context of Dronfield.

■ POLICY E1: MAINITAINING AND ENHANCING THE ROLE AND ATTRACTIVENESS OF DRONFIELD TOWN CENTRE

The Plan will support development proposals that protect and enhance Dronfield town centre’s role in providing services to the town and the wider area. To help ensure this within the defined Dronfield town centre, see Map 3 development proposals for the following uses will be supported. a) shops (Use classes A1, A2, 32 Economy Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Economy 33

Generally, the town centre has Chesterfield Road ■ POLICY E3: SHOPPING HUBS pleasant quality shop fronts, but With a run of service provision and AND OTHER LOCAL SHOPS there has been concern that its a small retail offer, Chesterfield 0UTSIDE DRONFIELD TOWN character has been eroded by poor Road is the main thoroughfare from CENTRE and unsympathetic alterations to Sheffield through the town and shop fronts, particularly in the town’s out to Chesterfield and lies within Development proposals that would conservation area. the town’s conservation area. This result in the loss of a shopping use area is identified by the Dronfield outside the defined Dronfield town Where any proposal would require 20357-23 document as being part of centre will not be supported unless a new shopfront, these will be the town centre; this is recognised it can be demonstrated to NEDDC, encouraged to be of good design but, for the purposes of this Plan, including through discussions with and enhance the character of the the area is referred to separately. the Town Council, that its contin- area. Particular attention should be Most units are situated in buildings ued use for shopping is no longer given to retaining and reinstating of interest and front the railway viable and the site has been actively traditional shop features such station. The road can be seen as an marketed for at least six months for as nameplates and decorative important visual front for the town. shopping purposes. The develop- stonework. Lighting and security Improving the quality of signage and ment of local shops to serve the grilles; should be appropriate and commercial frontages would have a day-to-day needs of the immediate sympathetic to the area. positive impact on the appearance community will be supported. of this area. Parking is restricted, ■ POLICY E2: SHOP mostly on the road and further Hot Food Takeaways FRONTAGES IN THE limited by commuters using the rail Hot food takeaways (Use Class A5) TOWN CENTRE service and residents’ parking. include shop types such as chip shops, kebab shops, Indian and Development proposals to alter, Greendale & Pentland Road other takeaways, but not sandwich replace or introduce shop fronts in Both sites are purpose-built and bars and restaurants and cafes. the town centre will be required to consist of shop units with some be of high quality, contributing to residential accommodation above. In recent years, there has been an an overall improvement in terms of Each site provides both shops and increase in the number of, and urban design and architecture, by: service provision. While well used interest in the development of, hot • being in keeping with surrounding and prized by the local community, food takeaways in the town centre buildings; they are a bit ‘tired’ and would and more widely. • enhancing streets and spaces benefit from refurbishment. through quality design and Whilst it is recognised that hot architecture; Barnes Avenue, Barnes Lane food takeaways can contribute to • promoting visual links between the & Highfields Road the mix of shopping uses and can interior of the shop and the street; There are three to four units provide a popular service to local • supporting crime prevention, embedded within housing estates communities as well as providing community safety and security; and incorporating services such as employment opportunities, the • any lighting should be subtle and hairdressers, a nursery and shops view is if their spread is not appropriate. such as a butcher and newsagent. controlled, they will detract from the retail offer. They are displacing Shopping Hubs The Forge other shops to the detriment of Outside the town centre, the This is a ‘boutique shopping the town and residents. town has a network of smaller centre’ towards the lower end of Clustering of hot food takeaways shopping hubs supplying the local the town centre; it is an extremely can lead to dead frontages during community with fast food outlets, popular shopping area which has daytime hours. small convenience stores and some regenerated the economy in this service provision such as vets, area of the town. The consultation also shows the dentists and hairdressers. community is concerned about These provide a much needed In addition to these shopping hubs, some of the negative aspects some- service close to where people live. there are several other (many times associated with these uses, These shops can be found scattered stand-alone) to be found scattered including noise and disturbance, across the town and include several across Dronfield. All are important antisocial behaviour and increased shopping hubs. for meeting the day-to-day needs of litter, especially if several of these These hubs comprise: the communities they serve. uses are clustered together. 32 Economy Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Economy 33

They are also linked to the space from Wreakes Lane to The draft Local Plan seeks growing levels of obesity in the Sheffield Road. Further industrial to safeguard several major town and more widely. This is one space is provided for Gunstones employment areas in the town, of the greatest health challenges bakery operating from Stubley Lane notably the Callywhite Lane, Stubley facing the Country. There is a clear and Dunhams builder’s merchants Lane/Wreakes Lane Industrial link between increased body fat on Snape Hill Lane; both sites are Estates for employment use. (obesity) and the risk of medical surrounded by housing and are not conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, considered to have an adequate This issue of protection of suitable cancer, heart and liver disease. transport connection. employment sites and buildings is of special importance to the town. Its ■ POLICY E4: HOT FOOD The Plan seeks to enhance the historic development has meant that TAKEAWAYS economic role of Dronfield as a Tier residential and employment areas 1 settlement. However, as it will have developed simultaneously, Development proposals for hot food also be providing infrastructure and and many of the current businesses takeaways (Use Class A5) will be services for outlying settlements are situated within or adjacent to supported where it: with limited sustainability such residential areas. This includes a) can be demonstrated to NEDDC as schools, medical centres, a growing and above average in consultation with the Town Council and transport etc. the current number of residents who work from that it makes a positive contribution infrastructure is under strain home. The vast majority of such to the viability and vitality of the town and needs improvement and businesses can operate and prosper centre, where appropriate; regeneration money before any in residential areas without issue. b) would not adversely affect significant new housing is built in the There have been some concerns, the shopping element within the town. such as noise, parking and traffic, immediate area of the site; with a small number of sites and c) would not result in more than two To make sure the town continues to buildings, notably ones which have A5 units being located adjacent to provide sustainable and accessible not been designed for, nor can each other; and job opportunities, it is considered be adapted to, modern business d) would not negatively impact important to ensure the continued needs. The evidence of the adverse upon the amenity of surrounding availability of a choice of sites and impact of employment uses near businesses or residents. premises. To help achieve this, to residential uses is shown by the Plan supports the retention the complaints made to the Town In addition, it should include the of suitable employment sites and Council and NEDDC with regard to provision of a litter bin on land within buildings. the premises; the property will be responsible for its maintenance, It is recognised, however, that there emptying it on a regular basis and may be some circumstances the area adjacent to the premise will where it may not be appropriate be kept clear, where appropriate. or beneficial to safeguard an Where a litter bin cannot be existing employment site provided within the curtilage of the or building. Where, for premises, a commuted sum will be example, its design may sought towards the provision of a not be suited, or easily litter bin within a nearby location. adapted, to meet the needs of modern Business and business. Employment The Plan, The town is home to a wide range therefore, seeks and growing number of businesses. to retain suitable There are numerous small employment sites businesses, employing fewer than and buildings ten people, as well as some very that meet modern large employers. The town has a business needs, a core industrial area which stretches policy position that along Callywhite Lane to the east of is supported by local the town; in addition, there are high and national planning end industrial providers occupying policy. 34 Economy Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Heritage & Design 35

Gunstones, for example. While not housing, for example where the site significant adverse effect on, an seeking the closure or relocation of is considered to be inappropriately existing employment use will not Gunstones, the Plan does consider located, the proposed use would be supported unless the use is that its future use for employment provide for a more sustainable ancillary to the employment use, or purposes should be reconsidered development or there are more it has been demonstrated that the should the opportunity arise in the suitable sites in the District. current use is not viable, required or future. suitable, or it can be shown to North In addition to protecting suitable East Derbyshire District Council Further, the consultation raises employment sites, the town also that it does not meet the needs major questions and concerns about needs to create more jobs and of modern business and that all the impact of the safeguarding of wealth by taking full advantage of reasonable steps have been taken land at Callywhite Industrial Estate its role and competitiveness as a to let or sell the site or building for for employment purposes. These local centre serving Dronfield and employment purposes for a period include its impact on the transport the surrounding villages. Further of least 12 months. network, the amenity of nearby employment generating activity may residents and the lack of market be supported provided that they ■ POLICY E6: NEW SMALL- interest. It also identifies that a key are of a scale and type that do not SCALE EMPLOYMENT USES piece of land, the Dronfield Nature impact on residential amenity or the Park, would be under threat if character and appearance of the Development proposals for new, or proposals to improve connectivity area and strengthen its economic the expansion of existing, suitable were to go ahead. Unless these role. The town is considered to be located small-scale employment factors can be resolved, the Plan especially suitable for development uses will be supported where it will would not support further expansion proposals involving legacy not generate unacceptable noise, to Callywhite Lane. businesses; self-employment and fumes or smells; will respect and is micro-businesses; high gross added compatible with local character and NPPF7-1 places no protection on value; farming and horse related; uses; and would not be harmful to employment land being reserved for leisure and support such as care for the living conditions of neighbouring that purpose if no longer required. residents. residents or cause serious harm in This Plan supports the NPPF7-1 terms of road safety or the free flow statement, and the Town Council ■ POLICY E5: EXISTING of traffic. will actively seek alternative uses EMPLOYMENT USES for employment sites which it considers could be better used Development proposals that for another purpose, including result in the loss of, or have a 34 Economy Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Heritage & Design 35 THE PLAN HERITAGE AND DESIGN ronfield has a long documented important smaller hamlets such as HERITAGE Dhistory, and evidence of the Stubley, Barnes and Summerwood. town’s medieval origins can still As well as designated heritage be found in the surviving cruck assets the town has many other non- What our buildings, the parish church, and designated assets that contribute community says: a number structures of historic to the rich and distinctive built importance on the High Street and environment. The Plan identifies The heritage of our town town centre. a schedule of buildings which are is very important The Plan aims to enhance and regarded as important in a local conserve Dronfield’s heritage and context and should be conserved and to create an environment which enhanced. is attractive to both residents and Policies in the Plan aim to visitors. ensure that the town’s historic Our heritage creates a The town has three major sites and buildings are respected strong sense of place and conservation and historic areas and protected from inappropriate belonging – in Dronfield itself, Coal Aston and development. Dronfield Woodhouse, along with

The Civic Society & Heritage Trust make a valuable contribution to understanding your town’s history 36 Heritage & Design Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Heritage & Design 37 Themes and Policies ■ THE PLAN AIMS: and other public spaces do not HERITAGE match the quality of the historic • To enhance and conserve AND DESIGN the town’s built heritage buildings and need to be improved in key locations”. The Plan offers an Background: • To ensure a high-quality opportunity to build on and ultimately What is a Heritage Asset? historic environment deliver this vision for our town. attractive to businesses, The Government defines a heritage visitors and residents Historic Buildings asset as: “A building, monument, • To ensure that any Dronfield has a number of important site, place, area or landscape development is of high quality listed buildings including a Grade identified as having a degree of and in keeping with the size I parish church. The town centre, significance meriting consideration and scale of the existing built including parts of “Dronfield Bottom”, in planning decisions, because of environment. was designated a conservation area its heritage interest. Heritage asset in 2000 but has not been subject to includes designated heritage assets with the trappings of a local council, further appraisal or evaluation since and assets identified by the local Town Hall, School Board schools, a that time. Commercial activities in the planning authority (including local new grammar school, the Midland town are quite widely distributed. The listing)” (Annex 2, NPPF, March Railway and station, a piped water old town centre is the location of a 20127-1). “These assets may include supply and a cemetery. It was during number of important public services buildings and structures, landscapes/ this period that the actual town of including the library (housed in the landscape features, areas of Dronfield developed as two distinct grade II manor house) and a health archaeological interest and historic settlements, one the historic core centre as well as a variety of shops, settlements.” between the parish church and including supermarkets, public Manor House and the other along houses and a café. Furthermore, There are three larger historic the turnpike road and railway, known it has significant public venues settlements in the town, Dronfield, today as Dronfield Bottom. including the Heritage Barn, the Coal Aston and Dronfield Woodhouse Peel Centre, the parish church and along with surviving examples of The town developed quickly in the the Baptist church. The Heritage smaller hamlets such as Stubley, post-war years when its population Barn, the refurbishment of the Barnes and Summerwood. increased more than four-fold to over Blue Stoops and the conversion 20,000 people, many of whom were of the Church Street Cruck Barn Historically, the Dronfield area was housed in the new estates built on have added significantly to the mainly agricultural until the 18th the fields which formerly separated improvement of amenities, heritage Century, although the wealth of Dronfield from Coal Aston and and the local street scene and plans a number of its more prominent Dronfield Woodhouse. The historic to re-configure the parish church residents, whose historic houses cores of these three settlements to accommodate public events will survive today, derived from the lead remain and are now conservation further enhance the town centre. trade. Small-scale coal and iron areas. working occurred before the 18th Research and studies notably by the century but the major industrial Dronfield 2035 A Vision for the late Professor David Hey7-30 & 7-31 have growth occurred in the 19th century Town7-23, the report commissioned increased our knowledge of important initially using the water power of by NEDDC and published in 2016, buildings, and the continuing work the Drone which was the site of set a clear vision for Dronfield of the Dronfield Heritage Trust will a number of mills, some used for town centre which depends on a add to that knowledge. For example, grinding tools and culminating in the co-ordinated approach to project Historic England dendro-datings of development of a number of coal delivery by the public, business and the Church Street Cruck Barns and mines and the opening of the Wilson community organisations. It identified High Street Heritage barn indicate Cammell Rail works on Callywhite a range of potential improvements 15th-century dates. Similarly, a Lane in 1873. The 1860s and ’70s to the public realm having observed part of Dronfield Woodhouse Hall saw the birth of Dronfield as a town that, “The quality of the streetscape has been dated to the early 16th 36 Heritage & Design Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Heritage & Design 37

century whilst the restoration of the Although a conservation area, Forge adjacent to Dronfield parish that the town centre has suffered church revealed timber-framing. degradation since its designation Dronfield Bottom also has a number was a major theme of the of significant historic buildings consultation undertaken as including Chiverton House, Rose part of the development of Hill and the Victorian new Grammar the Plan. This has been in School, now Dronfield Henry the form of inappropriate Fanshawe School. signage, the decay of some buildings The Church Street/High Street and the poor state axis of the town centre also of footpaths and the contains a significant element of public realm generally. residential properties, including Some businesses important listed houses which have enhanced the contribute significantly to the street street scene with their scene. Including Machin Court, sensitively designed Fanshawe Bank and properties not shop fronts whilst others immediately visible, the number of demonstrate a disregard residential properties is equal to for conservation area or greater than the number of all principles. other types of property. Despite these positive features, the old Dronfield Woodhouse and upper town centre suffers from a Coal Aston also have important number of negative impacts. In listed buildings including Dronfield particular, it is a major through Woodhouse Hall and Aston End. road for traffic which, alongside The latter is cruck framed and dates narrow and uneven pavements, from the 16th Century. Both Coal ■ POLICY D1: makes for an uncomfortable and Aston and Dronfield Woodhouse LISTED BUILDINGS sometimes dangerous experience were distinct settlements separated for pedestrians. Recent traffic from Dronfield by fields until Listed buildings are an important surveys by the Safer Roads for the 1960s and ’70s housing feature of the townscape and Dronfield campaign have, for the developments. Like Dronfield, their add to the attraction of the town. first time, highlighted the high traffic early economy was based on mixed Development proposals which volumes through the town centre farming but with early examples support, conserve and enhance and along “Dronfield Bottom”, of coal mining and metal working their value and appreciation, such much of it through traffic. There is including edge tool production. as the best practice exhibited in also considerable pedestrian traffic Coal Aston sits adjacent to the recent restoration of the Cruck across the High Street, especially important areas of ancient and Heritage Barns and the Blue between the Civic Centre and the woodland in the Moss Valley. Stoops, will be encouraged. Barn, the library/health centre and Sainsbury’s, and Sainsbury’s and Alongside buildings, walls, hedges Dronfield Character Gosforth/Stubley Lane where at and trees are an important feature Buildings and busy times pedestrians, especially of all three conservation areas Structures of Local the elderly and infirm and those with contributing to the distinctive Heritage Interest pushchairs, have difficulty crossing. character of these areas. In As well as designated heritage Similarly crossing at the bottom of Dronfield, for example, coal assets, such as the listed buildings Church Street is hazardous with the measures sandstone walls identified in Appendix 4, the need to look three ways and deal provide boundaries to a number town has many other buildings with turning vehicles. Church Street of important buildings as well as and structures that contribute and High Street are also well-used enclosing paths between buildings. to the rich and distinctive built by pupils, especially from Dronfield environment. The Plan has taken Henry Fanshawe School. There is The full schedule of listed buildings the opportunity, using published no designated pedestrian crossing can be found in Appendix 4 and guidance from Historic England, on High Street or on Church Street. on Map 5. to identify a schedule of buildings and features which, although not 38 Heritage & Design Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Heritage & Design 39 Plan formally listed, are regarded as identified. It has been produced appropriately taking account of important in the local context and based on desk research on current local styles, materials and details. should be conserved and enhanced. publications and field work by local The loss of, or substantial harm, The importance or significance of volunteers. Assets on the list are to a Dronfield Character Building any asset will relate to its historical, required to meet certain criteria in and Structure of Local Heritage architectural, archaeological or terms of their significance. Interest will not be supported unless artistic/aesthetic merit. A number of exceptional circumstances can be the locally identified heritage assets ■ POLICY D2: DRONFIELD demonstrated. are within the conservation areas. CHARACTER BUILDINGS AND While this provides them with some STRUCTURES OF LOCAL Conservation Areas statutory protection, the Plan lists all HERITAGE INTEREST A conservation area is an area important heritage assets within and of special architectural and outside the conservation areas to The Plan identifies the heritage historic interest, the character or underline their significance7-32. assets listed in Appendix 5 as appearance of which it is desirable Dronfield Character Buildings and to preserve or enhance. The 1967 The Dronfield list of Character Structures of Local Heritage Interest Civic Amenities Act empowered Buildings and Structures of Local (see Map 8A and 8B). Development local authorities to designate areas Heritage Interest (Appendix 5) is an proposals relating to these assets which they thought of special iterative list subject to continuous will be required to take into account interest and character and worthy revision as new assets are the character, context and setting of protection. Dronfield has three of the building or structure including conservation areas: Dronfield Town important views towards Centre and Dronfield Bottom first or from the asset. designated in 1971 and extended Development will in 1980 and 1991; Coal Aston be required to designated in 1983 and Dronfield be designed Woodhouse designated in 1990 (see also Map 4). All were subject to Character Statements by NEDDC: Dronfield in May 2000;7-27 Dronfield Woodhouse in November 20027- 28 and Coal Aston in November 2003.7-29 These statements are important and detailed documents which provide a valuable inventory of the town’s most important historic assets and provide a policy framework for the planning authority to control development and to encourage owners to preserve the original character and details of their buildings.

The consultation highlighted several concerns about these conservation areas. These include owners and tenants often do not know they are in a conservation area which can lead to inappropriate development. The conservation area character statements (which give a summary of the history and development of each conservation area and what makes them special) are now out 38 Heritage & Design Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Heritage & Design 39 Plan of date, and there is a need for a reappraisal of the conservation areas taking into account recent research as well as deterioration within the areas. In addition, as noted in the Vision 20357-23 study, there is a mismatch between the quality of historic buildings and that of the public realm, especially within Dronfield, with its uneven and unsafe pavements, heavy traffic, and the lack of safe crossings for pedestrians.

The District Council has a statutory responsibility for the appraisal and management of conservation areas in the town. Such responsibility requires the District Council to undertake a regular review of the areas, at least every 10 years, as part of their management, and ideally to produce a management plan. It is recognised that conservation areas are subject to It is change and that their boundaries as important well as their management should be that new building kept under review. There is some benefits from high- evidence that the three Dronfield quality design so that it conservation areas, especially makes a positive contribution to The Plan will also seek to Dronfield, have been subject to enhancing this distinctive character. ensure that all new development inappropriate development including It should take inspiration from the contributes to reducing flood risk by obtrusive signage, poor design of rich heritage of Dronfield. This for example incorporated surface shop fronts and the use of non- includes ensuring that it would water mitigation techniques into traditional materials such as UPVC not lead to a significant adverse their design to minimise the amount windows. It is, therefore, requested impact on key heritage assets (both of surface water run-off from the that NEDDC undertake a review of nationally and locally designated). concerned site onto the wider area. the conservation areas and seek the Surface water run-off is a major views and co-operation of owners, In addition, the Plan encourages source of flooding. residents, businesses, amenity the use of materials and design that groups and other organisations in promotes sustainable development To ensure this new development conducting such a review. that is in keeping with the character will be assessed against the criteria of the area. It is crucial for its in D3. This is in line with national Design future success that Dronfield town planning policy which promotes The consultation showed many embraces the need for sustainability good quality design. Policy D3 also people valued the built environment and that it becomes a prime provides further detail to accompany and expressed concern that it is consideration in design proposals, emerging planning policy to conserved from insensitively located for its economic value to residents promote design housing quality in or designed development. as well as environmental benefits. the emerging Local Plan, including North East Derbyshire District The built form of Dronfield boasts Further, the River Drone runs Council’s Succesful Places: A Guide an interesting mix of architectural through the town from which it to Sustainable Housing Layout and styles, much of it historic. This adds takes its name. The low lying areas Design – Supplementary Planning to the town’s vibrancy and informs adjacent to this river and their Document*.

its distinctive character. tributaries are at risk of flooding. * https://www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/images/ Repository/S/Successful_Places.pdf 40 Heritage & Design Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 41

■ POLICY D3: GOOD DESIGN styles and materials including local • incorporates sustainable design sandstones and gritstones and and construction techniques to Development proposals must Derbyshire Stone Slate on roofs with meet high standards for energy and respond positively to the character irregular forms should be retained water efficiency, including the use of and historic context of existing and used; renewable and low carbon energy developments within the town. • good use should be made of site technology, as appropriate; However, contemporary and characteristics and surroundings, • incorporates suitable measures innovative materials and design including: layout and use; and form to ensure that surface water is will be supported where positive of space within the site; siting; scale; managed in such a way as not to improvement can be robustly height; proportions and massing; exacerbate, and where possible demonstrated without detracting orientation; architectural detailing; reduce, existing flooding problems from the historic context. The Plan landscape, existing plants, trees and either within the site or elsewhere in requires that they have regard to the other features and materials; the town; following design principles, where • established building arrangements • should minimise the impact on appropriate: and forms such as front gardens general amenity and give careful • should reflect and reinforce the should be respected; consideration to noise, odour, distinctive natural and built character • should provide safe environments light and loss of light to existing and historic context environment in that “design out crime”, and generally properties; which it is situated, including any meet the requirements of “secure by • appropriate and adequate external historic assets, routes and patterns of design”; lighting should be included. Light development.; • suitable external amenity space pollution should be minimised • materials chosen should should be incorporated (in terms of wherever possible; and complement the design of the size and no negative impact on the • where on the edge of settlements development and add to the quality public realm) for waste and recycling it should improve access to the or character of the surrounding bins and containers and bicycle countryside, enhance the local environment, wherever possible parking to ensure a well-maintained landscape and respect important and appropriate, traditional building landscape; views in to and out of the site. 40 Heritage & Design Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 41 APPENDICES Pentland Road, Dronfield, practice netting area, football pitches Derbyshire, S18 8ZQ and changing rooms) 1. Specialist Consultees Sindelfingen Park, Pentland Road, Representatives from: Dronfield Baptist Church, 1 Stubley Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 8ZQ Rykneld Homes Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1PE (basketball courts) Hallam Land Management Dixon Dawson Architects St John The Baptist Church, Church Hilltop Playground, Dronfield, LSP Developments St, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1QB Derbyshire, S18 1UH CPRE (kick around football pitch) Derbyshire County Council The Oaks Community Church, 4 Lea Transport Policy & Programmes Rd, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1SB Marsh Avenue Playground, Derbyshire County Council Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2HA Planning Department St Pauls Methodist Church, (kick around football pitch) Dronfield Civic Society Green Lane Cemetery Road Playground, 2. Assets of Community Value Holy Spirit Church, Stonelow Road Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1XY The following is already designated (mini football pitch) as an Asset of Community Value: Coal Aston Methodist Church, • Coach and Horses Pub, Sheffield Eckington Road Hallowes Golf Course, Hallowes Rd, Dronfield, Derbyshire S18 2GD Lane, Dronfield Derbyshire, S18 1UR St Philips Church, Holmesdale Road 3. Retention of Important Gosforth Valley Playing Fields, Community Assets Coal Aston Wesleyan Reform Church Bubnell Road (off Stubley Drive), • Police Dronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield Police Station, Lea Road, • Healthcare facilities Derbyshire, S18 8QY Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1SB Dronfield Medical Practice, High • Fire Service Street, Dronfield Derbyshire S18 1PY Coal Aston Bowls & Pavilion, Dronfield Fire Station,Hallowes Lane, Eckington Road, Coal Aston, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1ST Stubley Medical Centre, 7 Stubley • Post Office, 73-75 Chesterfield Drive, Dronfield Derbyshire, S18 8QY • Dronfield Cemetery, Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire, Cemetery Road, Dronfield, S18 2XD Gosforth Valley Medical Practise, Derbyshire, S18 1XY • Post Office, 37 Pentland Road, Gorsey Brigg, Dronfield, Dronfield Woodhouse, Derbyshire, S18 8UE • Pubs & clubs Derbyshire, S18 8ZQ Victoria, Stubley Lane, Dronfield, • Library Oakhill Medical Practice, Oakhill S18 1PE Dronfield Library, Manor House, Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2EJ High St, Dronfield S18 1PY Cross Daggers, Coal Aston, S18 3AJ • Sports and leisure provision, • Community centres & halls: including indoor and outdoor space: White Swan, Chesterfield Road, Gosforth Lodge, Cliffe Park, Dronfield Sports Centre, Civic Dronfield, S18 2XF Callywhite Lane, S18 2XP Centre, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1PD The Blue Stoops, High Street, The Peel Centre, High Street, Cliffe Park, Callywhite Lane, Dronfield, S18 1XP Dronfield Derbyshire, S18 1PX Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2XP (table tennis, mini golf, multi-use games Manor House, High Street, area with changing rooms, bowling Dronfield, S18 1XP Civic Hall, Civic Centre, Dronfield, green, 3 x tennis courts, basketball court) Derbyshire, S18 1PD Dronfield Woodhouse Recreation Green Dragon, Church Street, Coal Aston Community Hall, Ground, Carr Lane, Dronfield S18 Dronfield, S18 1QB Eckington Road, Dronfield, 8XB (football pitch, bowling green, tennis court, basketball court, cricket Derbyshire, S18 3AX Dronfield Woodhouse Sports and ground and pavilion) Social Club, Carr Lane, S18 8XF • Places of worship and Stonelow Recreation Ground, associated halls and spaces: Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2EP The Jolly Farmer, Pentland Road, St Andrews Community Church, (cricket ground and pavilion with Dronfield, S18 8ZQ 42 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 43

Hilltop Sports & Social Club, Boundary Wall Enclosing Outbuildings to the South of Longacre Rd, Dronfield S18 1UQ Gardens to Properties to the Chiverton House, Grade II, Chesterfield North Side of High Street Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire Hyde Park Inn, 2 Hilltop Road, to the West of Item 4, Grade II, Dronfield S18 1UH High Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire Pair of Cottages at Nether Birchitt, Grade II, B6057, Dronfield, • Car parks Building to the North East of the Derbyshire Civic Centre, Dronfield, S18 1PD Hall, Grade II,* 3 Chapel Yard, Dronfield, Derbyshire Premises Occupied by the Slinn Church Street, Dronfield, S18 1QB Computer Group, Grade II, Church Chiverton House, Attached Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire Dronfield Station, Chesterfield Road, Boundary Walls Gatepiers and S18 8UH Railings, Grade II,* Princess Road, Quoit Green House, Grade Dronfield, Derbyshire II, Hallowes Lane, Dronfield, Gorsey Brigg Shops, Dronfield, S18 8ZQ Derbyshire Church of St John the Baptist, Greendale Shops, Stonelow Road, Grade I, 8 Church Street, Dronfield, Range of Outbuildings to the East Dronfield, S18 2LJ Derbyshire of Silkstone Farmhouse, Grade II, Stone Close, Dronfield, Derbyshire Birches Lane, Coal Aston, S18 3AG Churchyard Cross, 20 Metres South of the Church of St John the Range of Outbuildings to Callywhite Lane, Dronfield, S18 2XP Baptist, Grade II, 8 Church Street, the South West of Dronfield Dronfield, Derbyshire Woodhouse Hall, Grade II, Barley Soaper Lane, Dronfield, S18 1QB Mews, Dronfield, Derbyshire, Dronfield Methodist Church, Dronfield Sports Centre, Farwater Grade II, High Street, Dronfield, Rookery Cottage, Grade II, High Lane, Dronfield S18 1PD Derbyshire Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire

• Allotments Dronfield Woodhouse Hall Rose Hill and Attached Boundary Gomersal Lane Allotments, Farmhouse and Attached Walls, Grade II, Princess Road, Gomersal Lane, Dronfield, S18 1RU Boundary Walls, Grade II,* 183 Dronfield, Derbyshire Carr Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire Cecil Road Allotments, Cecil Road, Silkstone Farmhouse, Grade II, Dronfield, S18 2GU Former Cruck Barn at Gosforth Stone Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire Farm, Grade II, Stubley Lane, Coal Aston Allotments, Dronfield, Derbyshire The Blue Stoops Inn, Grade II, Birches Lane, Coal Aston, S18 High Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire Gazebo to the South East Snape Hill Lane Allotments, Snape Hallowes Golf Clubhouse, Grade II, The Cottage, Grade II, High Street, Hill Lane, Dronfield, S18 2GJ Hallowes Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire Dronfield, Derbyshire

4. Listed Buildings Golf Club Locker Room to Hallowes The DCC Library, Grade II, Dronfield Golf Clubhouse, Grade II, 1 Highgate 14 and 16, Eckington Road, Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire The Green Dragon Inn, Grade Grade II, 1 Forrester’s Lane, II, 24 Church Street, Dronfield, Dronfield, Derbyshire Hallowes Golf Clubhouse, Grade II, 1 Derbyshire Highgate Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire 22-26, High Street, Grade II, 23 The Hall, Grade II, High Street, High Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire Manor Court, Grade II, 25 Gosforth Dronfield, Derbyshire Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire 7, 7a, 7b, 8, 10 and 12, Church The Manor Hotel, Grade II, High Norwood Farmhouse, Grade II, Street, Grade II, 8 Church Street, Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire Eckington Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire Dronfield, Derbyshire , Grade II, 6 Lea Road, Outbuilding to the South East of The Manse Grade II,* 25 Cross Dronfield, Derbyshire Aston End, Chiverton House, Grade II, Princess Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire 42 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 43

The Monument, Grade II, High Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire

The Old Grammar School, Grade II, Church Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire

The Old Vicarage, Grade II, Church Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire

The Red House, Grade II, 21 Church Street, Dronfield

Two Farm Buildings to East of Norwood Farmhouse, Grade II, Eckington Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire

Two Pairs of Gatepiers to the East of Premises Occupied by the Slinn Computer Group, Grade II

24 Church Street, Dronfield, Derbyshire

Upper Birchitt Farmhouse, Grade II, Barnes Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire

Vale House, Grade II, 8 Lea Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire 44 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 45 5. Proposed Donfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest (number referencing included on maps 8A and 8B)

Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description

1. *Houses 29-31 High Street Described as important buildings in the Dronfield Conservation Area Character Statement (No.28). Stone-built C20 houses are an attractive feature of the street scene.

2. Dronfield War Library Gardens 1922, Built by public subscription, designed by Joseph R. Sydall Memorial R.A. and crafted by stonemason George Platts. Bronze plaques list the names of local people who died in both world wars.

3. Baptist Chapel Stubley Lane Inscribed ‘Baptist’ and ‘1873’ on façade. Unlike the Peel 1873 Centre (former Free Methodist Church) the Baptist Chapel is not listed.

4. *Victorian Stables Rear of the Library Former stables of the Manor House in the ownership of NEDDC and latterly used for storage. Contain stable stalls and attractive tiling. Currently has planning permission for conversion to housing.

5. Victorian House Corner of High Street Two storey stone house. Front gable with stone pediment – now offices of CFi and Gosforth Lane over first floor window. Impressive arched gateway. All formerly within the curtilage of the manor house.

6. Street furniture. Within the grounds Manhole covers inscribed with the name ‘Margerrison, Cast iron manhole of The Cottage, High Dronfield’. There are several such covers within the grounds covers Street of the Cottage. Margerrisons were Dronfield builders working from the late nineteenth century to around the 1950s. Their original yard was on the site of the Forge and they later moved to Green lane.

7. Street furniture For example, Victoria Street on Original cast iron street signs are found in various parts - Victorian street wall of the Victoria pub. Stubley of the town. The Stoops Yard name plate mounted on the Lane on the Stubley Lane side signs of the Victoria pub. West Street, wall of the Blue Stoops at the entrance of this former yard high of the wall of the first house. occupied until the mid-20C by up to 8 cottages. Such yards Soaper Lane mounted on a were a feature of High Street from the mid 19C and at their building at the junction with High Street. Hill Top Road, mounted peak housed several hundred people. on cottage at the junction with Salisbury Road.

8.*C18 Century Nos 3 and 4 Chapel Former Friends meeting house later used as a Methodist House Yard ( High Street) chapel, hence Chapel Yard. (No. 37 in Character Statement list of important buildings)

9. *Town Hall, High Street No .39 in Character Statement. Built for the Local Board of 1862/3 Health following its formation in 1862

No. 40 in the Character Statement. These two buildings High Street/ 10.*Taylor’s Building along with the former Shentall’s shop below the Taylor Church Street 1877 building are a prominent feature of this part of the town and continue on their upper floors to provide accommodation for entertainment activities. They are both significant in marking Dronfield’ emergence as a town in the late C19. 44 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 45 5. Proposed Donfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest

Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description 11. Shop Fishers, High Street This has been a butcher’s shop since the early C18 and at least from 1878 has been in the hands of the Fisher family. Timbers reputedly date to the early C 18.

12. Wall and window At the rear of Coffee Perhaps a remaining wall the former tithe barn now of former barn. Central, High Street. the site of the Church Hall.

13. Ornamental Above steps to Parish Attractive wrought iron arch perhaps locally made. Ironwork Church, Church Street

14. Dr. Fletcher Dronfield Parish Church, Recently restored by the Civic Society. Dr. Fletcher was a grave North Side of grave yard generous benefactor to the town including gifts of the Manor House (Library) and the Grange. He also donated the land for Dronfield’s first council houses, Flecther Avenue

15. *The Forge Church Street Former foundry of W.H. Butler and sons who incorporated and Lea Road former cottages on Lea Road and a former shop on the corner of Church Street and Lea Road into their premises. Conversion to shops in 1998 revealed a timber box-framed building dating from 1526/7 adjacent to the Church Yard. Listed as important buildings, 51, 52 and 53 in the Character Statement.

16. *Chapel The Oaks Christian Opened in 1861 Opened in 1861 replacing an earlier chapel Centre, Lea Road of 1812 this was Dronfield’s Independent Chapel. It contains some original interior features

17. *Bank 24 Lea Road Currently the RBS bank. The building has an almost identical doorway as the Manse. Opened as Dronfield’s first bank in 1873

18. Victorian The Knott, Lea Road Attractive cottages in two groups. Cottages

19. *Mid-nineteenth Fanshawe House, Formerly the public bath and wash house century brick-built Fanshawe Bank house.

20. *Stone-built South View Cottage, Two storey early nineteenth century House. nineteenth century Fanshawe Bank. House 46 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 47 5. Proposed Donfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest

Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description

21. Farm and Fanshawe Bank Farm Two storey farmhouse c. 1858 buildings

22. Former hatter’s Brookside Cottage The probable home and workshop of Joseph Jenkinson, workshop and (formerly Bath Cottage) hatter. ( See ‘The Diary of Joseph Jenkinson of Dronfield cottage Fanshawe Bank 1833-43, Kathleen M. Battye, 1987)

23. Dronfield Junior School Lane, Dronfield Neo-Gothic stone building with decorated mullions, gables School, Former and bell tower. Architects Flockton and Abbot of Sheffield. Cross Lanes Board School 1875

24. Council Houses, Fletcher Avenue Dronfield’s first council houses 1925. Named after Dr. 1925 Fletcher who was a councillor on the UDC at the time and a benefactor to the Town. Built following national legislation relating to housing the working classes.

25. Police Station Lea Road/Cross Lane Former Police station, now flats,

26. Dronfield Cemetery Road Two mortuary chapels – Anglican and Independent. Cemetery 1877 Architects Flockton and Abbot, Sheffield

27. Public House The White Swan An important historic coaching Inn on the Turnpike Roads. A range of buildings of various ages including a coach house. Mentioned in 1722 and used as a meeting place by political groups in the nineteenth century (see Diary of Joseph Jenkinson).

28. *Victorian 60-68 Chesterfield Road Mid C19 terrrace of 5 houses on ‘The Landing’. Adjacent Houses two dwellings ( formerly a single house) between the terrace and the site of the old cinema is an earlier date, possibly C18.

29. Alley or Jennell To the rear of the White An important remnant of Old Dronfield. Swan between Lea Road and The Landing.

30. *Victorian house 113 Chesterfield Road semi-detached house

Two storey 19th century

31. *Mid C19 House 105 Chesterfield Road Coal Measures sandstone, central doorway, flanked by sash windows. Iron railings to street side.

32. *Dronfield Henry Sheffield Road Architects Flockton and Abbot. Elizabethan style with Dutch Fanshawe School gables and a bell tower. Mullion and transomed windows, 1867 one with stained glass. 46 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 47 5. Proposed Donfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest

Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description 33. *House west Dronfield Henry Two storey nineteenth century house. of main Henry Fanshawe School Fanshawe building.

34. *Victorian Princess Buildings, Named after Princess Alexandra and marked a stage in the building 49-55 Chesterfield Road expansion of the Victorian town following the coming of the 1873 railway in 1870 and housed drapers, printers and high class grocers in Dronfield’s first purpose-built shops with some original C19 features.grocers in Dronfield’s first purpose-built shops with some original C19 features.

35. *Former Public Simply Chinese, c. 1677 with later additions. Altered when converted to House former Rock Tavern, Chinese restaurant. Chesterfield Road.

36. Stone Arch In Lucas Gardens, Lucas arch, all that remains of the former Lucas malleable Sheffield Road iron foundry established in 1790 and closed in 1971. Arch inscribed with brief history of the site.

37. St, John’s Former Local Board Note key stone date over the arch, 1873, initials H.S. refer Ambulance Brigade Office and stores to Henry Silcock who was a local sickle maker. Old fire Chesterfield Road. palces in the yard behind contain gravestone of Martha, wife of Henry Silcock, 1848.

38. Steps and cast Leading from Sheffield Historic footway. Iron handrails and posts probably iron rail Road to Holborn Avenue manufactured locally. ( see reference in ‘Derbyshire Detail and Character’, Joyce, Michell and Williams,1996)

39. Foundry Wall adjacent to Steps Crucibles used in foundries were often disposed of by using Crucibles leading from Sheffield them as walling material. These probably came from one of Road to Holborn Avenue. the Lucas factories across the road.

40. Former Dronfield Main Road, Dronfield Neo-Gothic. Architects Flockton and Abbot. Woodhouse Board Woodhouse School, now a nursing home.

41 & 42. Dronfield Hartington (no.41), The Dronfield Freehold Land Society was formed around Freehold Land Cecil, Egerton, 1872 with the aim of developing 140 plots in the Hartington Society Estates Alexander and Road area and more on Scarsdale Road and Hallowes 1876 - Fanshawe Roads. Lane. Freehold Land Societies were developed to enable Scarsdale Road (no. 42) working people to gain the vote attached to property rights.

43, 44 & 45. Two restored by Dronfield The K6 was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to K6 Telephone Boxes Civic Society. One at the commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the coronation of King junction of Stone Road and George V in 1935. Some 60,000 examples were installed Eckington Road Coal Aston and the other at Junction across Britain, which is why the K6 has come to represent of Oakhill Road and Falcon the red Telephone Box. Over 11,000 K6s remain and they Road Dronfield. One are the most visible examples of the eight kiosk types. unrestored on Holmesdale Road by the shops. 48 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 49

5. Proposed Donfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest

Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description

46. *Cottage, former Top Cottage Mill Lane Two storey nineteenth century house, formerly the public house. ( no. Tap public house. 13 in Character Statement)

47. Mill Lane Nature Mill Lane Recently restored nature area and important industrial area and site of history site. Damstead works was one of six water powered Damstead Works. sites on the Drone in Dronfield. First recorded as Damstead in 1633 the nineteenth century works belonged to George Ward and Co. manufacturers of spindles and flyers. The concrete and stone housing for the beam engine is still in place. The works featured in the Sheffield outrages when gunpowder was dropped down the chimney in January 1856 resulting in an explosion.

48. Bull Close Bull Close Farm, Hill The only surviving C19 coke ovens in Dronfield Colliery site and Top, Dronfield (on private land) coke Ovens

49. Frith Wood Callywhite Lane Ancient Woodland

50. Milestone. Rodmoor Road Gleadless to Calver Turnpike

51. Former Mason’s Cemetery Road Stone’s brewery public house in mock-Tudor style dating Arms – now The from the post-war period. (See similar styles of r Stones Three Tuns (closed public houses at the former Blackamoor Inn on Snowden January 2018) Lane and the Hearts of Oak on Northern Common (now demolished)

52. Example of Hope Terrace, Lea Victorian Housing in Road. Also colloquially Dronfield known as Curtain Row

53. Cliff Park Callywhite Lane Donated to the Town by J.G. Graves in 1934

Lane leading to Guide 54. Victorian Four stone cottages possibly relating to mining activity. Cottage Acre, off Hill Top Road

Key to the table above * Indicates the building, although not listed, was identified as important in the Dronfield Conservation Area Character Statement (NEDDC May 2000).

Further details about the proposed Dronfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest including justification and photos of sites can be found at http://www.dronfield.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan.html 48 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 49

6. Proposed Local Green Spaces (number referencing included on map 6)

Name/Type of Asset Location Brief Description 1. Cliffe Park, Callywhite Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2XP

2. Sindelfingen Park, Pentland Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 8ZQ

3. Hilltop Playground, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1UH

4. Marsh Avenue Playground, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2HA

5. Cemetery Road Playground, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1XY

6. Moonpenny Way Playground, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1SA

7. Moonpenny Fields, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1SA

8. Birches Fold Playground, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 3AG

9. Dronfield Woodhouse Recreation Ground, Carr Lane, Dronfield S18 8XB

10. Lundy Road Playground, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1UY

11. Stonelow Recreation Ground, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2EP

12. Jubilee Park, Green Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 2FH

13. Dronfield Nature Park, Chesterfield Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire

14. Leabrook Valley, off Gosforth Drive, Dronfield, Derbyshire

15. Well dressing site, Carr Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire

16. Dronfield Junior School Fields, Dronfield, Derbyshire

17. Gosforth Valley Playing Fields, Bubnell Road (off Stubley Drive),

Dronfield Woodhouse, Derbyshire, S18 8QY

18. Radbourne Common (off Pentland Road), Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 8ZQ

19. The Green, Longacre Road

20. The Green on Burns Drive

21. The Green and path network along Shakespeare Crescent

22. The Green on top of Poplar Close

23. The Green at the junction Hallowes Drive/Hazel Close

24. School Wood, off Barlow Lees Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire

25. Hollins Spring Wood, off Barlow Lees Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire

26. Long Acre Wood, off Barlow Lees Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire

27. Frith Wood, off Stonelow Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire

28. Woods adjacent Sindelfingen Park, Pentland Road, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 8ZQ 50 Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 51

6. Proposed Local Green Spaces, continued (number referencing included on map 6)

29. Mill Lane Environmental Corridor, Dronfield

30. Lea Brook Valley Green Corridor, Dronfield, Derbyshire

31. Open space behind Coal Aston Village Hall, Coal Aston Playing Fields,

Eckington Road, Coal Aston, Dronfield

32. Small garden at bottom of Green Lane, Dronfield

33. Green area behind co-op and civic centre car park and Moonpenny

34. Well Dressing Site at Coal Aston – ‘used to be ‘the pond’ filled in during the 60s

opposite the Royal Oak, Eckington Road’

35. Railway Station Gardens, Chesterfield Road, Dronfield

36. The Green, Quoit Green, Lea Road, Dronfield

37. Land to rear of 33-47 Gosforth Drive, Dronfield

38. ‘The Alma site’, off Sheffield Road, Dronfield

39.‘The Ridding’, north east of Frithwood and Meadowland (Derbyshire Wildlife Trust)

40. Greenacre at end of Buckingham Close, off Wentworth Road Dronfield Woodhouse

41. Greenacre at end of Belton Close, Dronfield Woodhouse

42. The woods and path along the bridle path from Hill Top to the foot bridge at side of golf course

43. Corner junction of Eckington Road and Dyche Lane, Coal Aston

44. Lucas Gardens, Sheffield Road, Dronfield

45. Snape Hill Lane Allotments, Snape Hill Lane, Dronfield, S18 2GJ

46. Coal Aston Allotments, Birches Lane, Coal Aston, S18

47. Gomersal Lane Allotments, Gomersal Lane, Dronfield, S18 1RU

48. Cecil Road Allotments, Cecil Road, Dronfield, S18 2GU Appendices Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Appendices 51

7. Evidence Base (number referencing used throughout the Neighbourhood Plan)

1. DCLG National Planning Policy Framework, 2012 2. 2005 North East Derbyshire District Local Plan 3. Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulation 2012 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1927/contents/made 4. 2017 CEBR Royal Mail report 5. NEDDC Local Plan (2014-2034) Publication Draft 2018 6. Consultation results report 7. 2011 Census 8. Public Health Marmot Indicators 2015 9. School Performance Tables 10. Settlement role & function study 2013 11. Localism Act 2011 12. Green Belt Infrastructure Study 2012 13. NEDDC Green Belt Functionality Study – Final Expanded Report 2014 14. Areas of Multiple Environmental Sensitivity 2013, Technical Support Document 1, Derbyshire County Council 15. The Landscape Character of Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council 2013 16. Historic Environment Study, The Constrained North, November 2012 Final Draft 17. NEDDC Green Infrastructure Plan 18. Moss Valley Biodiversity Study (DCC Countryside and Natural England, 2005 19. UK Biodiversity Action Plan 20. Landscape Character Descriptions, Derbyshire County Council 2015 21. The Habitat Creation Guide for Lowland Derbyshire 22. Housing Needs Report, North East District Council 23. Dronfield 2035: A Vision for the Town 24.Transport Studies report NEDDC 25. NEDDC Town Centre Health Check 2013 26. NEDDC Retail Capacity Study 2008 27. NEDDC, Dronfield Conservation Area Character Statement, May 2000 28. NEDDC, Dronfield Woodhouse Conservation Area Character Statement, November 2002 29. NEDDC, Coal Aston Conservation Area Character Statement, November 2003 30. David Hey, Medieval and Tudor Dronfield, Books at the Barn, 2015 31. David Hey, The Houses of the Dronfield Lead Merchants, Books at the Barn, 2015 32. Dronfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest: Supporting Evidence 33. Dronfield Proposed Local Green Spaces: Supporting Evidence 34. Dronfield Housing Need and Characteristics Report: Supporting Evidence, Andrew Towlerton Associates, 2018 GLOSSARY The following abbreviations have been used within this neighbourhood plan: • NEDDC - North East Derbyshire District Council • NPPF - National Planning Policy Framework 52 Map 1: Plan Area Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Map 2: Green Belt Boundaries in The Adopted Local Plan (2005) 53 54 Map 3: Town Centre Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Map 4: Conservation Areas 55 54 Map 3: Town Centre Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Map 4: Conservation Areas 55 56 Map 5: Listed Buildings Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Map 6: Proposed Local Green Spaces 57 56 Map 5: Listed Buildings Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Map 6: Proposed Local Green Spaces 57 58 Map 7: Proposed Lea Brook Valley Green Corridor Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Map 8A: Proposed Dronfield Character Buildings & Structures of Local Heritage Interest 59 60 Map 8B: Proposed Dronfield Character Buildings and Structures of Local Heritage Interest (Central Area) Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan Map 9: Traffic Accident Data 61 62 Map 10: Public Transport Network Dronfield: Neighbourhood Plan