Settlement Hierarchy

Winchester District Development Framework Market Towns and Rural Area Development Strategy Background Paper July 2011 ii Contents 1 Introduction ...........................................................................................1 2 Spatial context of Winchester District....................................................2 3 Policy Background ................................................................................4 National Policy Background......................................................................4 Local Policy Background...........................................................................6 • Blueprint.........................................................................................6 • Rural Masterplanning.....................................................................7 4 Revised Methodology..........................................................................12 • Sustainability assessment criteria ................................................12 • Population ....................................................................................17 • Employment .................................................................................17 5 Results ................................................................................................18 • Settlement Profiles.......................................................................23 • Settlement Hierarchy....................................................................23 6 Conclusions – the revised settlement strategy ....................................25 Appendix 1: Facilities Questionnaire sent to Parish Councils .................29 Appendix 2: Settlement Connectivity/Assessability Assessments .........30 Appendix 3: Settlement Profiles...........................................................165 Appendix 4: Catchment Areas ..............................................................183 Tables Table 1: Common issues raised by Blueprint...................................................6 Table 2: Sources of information for sustainability assessment ......................13 Table 3: Accessibility criteria..........................................................................14 Table 4: Settlement Scores 2011...................................................................19 iii 1 Introduction 1.1 This study forms part of the evidence base for the Winchester District Development Framework. Its purpose is to identify the current role and function of settlements through a range of considerations, including the facilities and services they provide, to inform the rural settlement strategy in the Core Strategy. It will also provide the background to allocating non- strategic sites in the Development Management and Allocations Development Plan Document. 1.2 It is an update and extension of the background paper prepared to inform the Preferred Option version of the Core Strategy published in 2009 - settlement hierarchy covering the Market Towns and Rural Area. 1.3 The 2009 background paper set out a settlement hierarchy for the District based on the number of facilities and services available in each settlement and the size of their population. This was then translated into draft planning policy, sub-dividing the market towns and rural area into four levels according to the above provisions, with a corresponding development strategy for each. Whilst this approach was generally supported through the Preferred Option consultation, there were a number of matters raised. In particular, there was a lack of consensus about the right amount of new development which should be proposed in the development strategy for each level. 1.4 At that time there was much debate nationally as to the sustainability of rural settlements and how they could overcome the ‘sustainability trap’. This matter was explored further by a specific study commissioned by the Government and undertaken by Matthew Taylor MP, its key findings and relevant recommendations are set out in the following sections of this report. 1.5 This paper updates the data previously collated and includes an updated methodology, informed both by the outcomes of the Department of Communities and Local Government Rural Masterplanning project undertaken by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) and comments received to the Blueprint consultation in autumn 2010. 1.6 In common with the Preferred Option approach, each settlement is assessed against the number of facilities and services available. In addition other elements are taken into account including an assessment of how well settlements are connected by public transport, and their spatial and functional relationships with each other. 1 2 Spatial context of Winchester District 2.1 The Winchester District is a predominately rural area, coving over 65,000 hectares (approximately 225 square miles). In addition to the urban areas of Winchester and Whiteley, there are over 50 smaller settlements. These range from larger villages of a few thousand population, to small hamlets of a few dwellings originally serving the agricultural industry. 2.2 Studies undertaken for the Local Development Framework (LDF) have revealed that there are three distinct economic areas within the District: • Winchester Town (the historic core and immediate surroundings of Winchester itself) • The South Hampshire Urban Areas (focussing on the southern urban parts of the District, particularly Whiteley and the development area of West of Waterlooville). • The Market Towns and the rural area (covering all the market towns, smaller villages and rural area). 2.3 This background paper focuses on informing the development strategy for the Market Towns and Rural Area. 2.4 A significant part of the District now lies within the South Downs National Park, which became the Local Planning Authority for that area on 1 April 2011. Eventually the National Park Authority will devise its own distinct planning policies, but for the time being there will be a jointly-adopted Core Strategy covering the whole of Winchester District. Therefore the Market Towns and Rural Area includes settlements within the National Park. 2.5 The work undertaken for this background paper shows that the settlements in the South Downs National Park have functional relationships with towns and villages outside the Park, many performing a ‘gateway’ role. 2 Spatial Areas 3 3 Policy Background National Policy Background 3.2 The principle of sustainability and the creation of sustainable communities is well established in Government guidance. The 2009 background paper outlined key guidance at both national and regional level. This guidance is still relevant today (although the Government has announced its intention to abolish Regional Strategies through the Localism Bill). Indeed the Localism Bill introduces the concept of Neighbourhood Plans to be produced by individual communities and data collated in this paper will be able to be used to inform that process if required. 3.3 The Commission for Rural Communities has also published a range of reports on various aspects of rural living/economy, and in 2008 they brought the Rural Coalition together (comprising Action with Communities in Rural England; Campaign to Protect Rural England; The Country Land and Business Association; The Local Government Group; The Royal Town Planning Institute and the Town and Country Planning Association). In August 2010 the Rural Coalition published a report ‘The Rural Challenge’, which through a series of propositions aims to achieve its key message of “Creating and maintaining sustainable rural communities”. 3.4 Of particular relevance to this paper is the Taylor Review published in July 2008. In September 2007 the Government asked Mathew Taylor MP to conduct a review to investigate how the planning system could better support the sustainability of rural communities, focusing on the rural economy and affordable housing to ‘further support the creation and maintenance of sustainable, socially inclusive, economically vibrant and mixed rural communities – within the context of existing protection for the natural environment.’ 3.5 The outcomes of his study are set out in ‘Living Working Countryside’ often referred to as ‘The Taylor Review’ and can be viewed on the DCLG website at www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/livingworkingcou ntryside 3.6 That report made 48 recommendations to the Government including the steps necessary for the planning system to play its role in realising the vision of mixed, thriving and sustainable rural communities. The Government’s response to the Taylor Review, published in March 2009, can be viewed at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/responsematthe wtaylor, where it was concluded that “a one size fits all approach cannot do justice to the diversity of rural communities and experiences…sustainability is not about choosing the environment over development but about recognising both and striking a balance”. 3.7 Consequently, in response to Recommendations 4 and 10 which suggested the publication of a new design guide to assist local authorities with best 4 practice in community design, the Government made available funds to explore this issue further. It published a Rural Masterplanning Fund prospectus in November 2008, inviting local authorities to bid for support on the basis of - “Authorities who present the most compelling vision for their futures would receive a package of resources, and be given expert support to help

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