- Bideford Town Study Core Strategy Evidence September 2011 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 5 2. OVERVIEW 5 Population 6 Income 7 Benefits 7 Employment 8 Unemployment 10 House Prices 10 Housing Supply 11 Deprivation 12 Health 12 Schools 13 Open Space 14 Heritage 14 Landscape 15 Community Facilities 15 Transport 16 Tourism 17 Summary 18 3. SIGNIFICANT PLANNING 19 APPLICATIONS 4. SIZE, LAND USE AND 20 CHARACTER 5. CONSTRAINTS 20 Flooding 20 Topography 22 Landscape 22 Conservation 22 Bideford Town Study Contents 6. RELATIONSHIPS TO 23 OTHER CENTRES 7. COMMUNITY 24 Bideford Community Plan 24 Regeneration 25 Cattle Market 25 Kingsley Road Football Ground 25 The Pill 25 Bridge Street 26 East-the-Water Wharves 26 North Devon and Torridge Local Strategic Partnership – January 27 2010 8. NORTH DEVON UNESCO BIOSPHERE 28 RESERVE 9. VISION 28 10. KEY ISSUES 29 Housing 29 Employment 30 Retail 30 Regeneration 32 Community 32 Infrastructure 33 Transport 33 Shipping 33 Public Transport 33 Walking and Cycling 34 11. POTENTIAL FOR 34 GROWTH Bideford Town Study Contents North of Abbotsham Road – 34 Option 1 South of Abbotsham Road – 36 Option 2 South of Atlantic Village – 36 Option 3 South of Caddsdown – Option 37 4 South of the Cemetery – Option 37 5 South of Handy Cross – Option 38 6 South of East-the-Water – 38 Option 7 Regeneration – Option 8 39 12. GROWTH OPTIONS 39 13. SPATIAL ISSUES 40 Housing 40 Employment 40 Retail 41 Social 41 Infrastructure 42 14. CONCLUSION 42 TABLES Table 1 : Population 6 Table 2 : Average Household 7 Incomes (2009) Table 3 : Benefit Claimants (May 8 2009) Table 4 : Employment 8 Development Opportunities Table 5 : Employment Sectors 9 (2007) Table 6 : Unemployment 10 Claimants 2001 - 2011 Table 7 : Average House Prices 10 2001 - 2009 Bideford Town Study Contents Table 8 : Schools Capacities and 13 Roll Forecasts (2011) Table 9 : Open Space (2010) 14 Table 10 : Landscape Types 15 (February 2011) Table 11 : Community Facilities 16 (June 2011) Table 12 : Annual Bideford Tourist 18 Market Potential (2008) Table 13 : Summary of Findings 18 Table 14 : Significant Planning 19 Permissions (2005 - 2009) Table 15 : A Summary of the Themes and Identified Projects 24 (May 2009) Table 16 : Key Issues (January 27 2010) Table 17 : Provisional Housing 29 Requirements 2006 - 2026 Table 18 : Retail Footprint 31 Catchment Leakage Bideford Town Study Bideford Town Study 1 Introduction 1.1 This report provides an overview of the characteristics and issues which define the form and function of Bideford and how such could impact on the delivery of sustainable growth. The report presents a profile of Bideford that provides information and comment on such matters as: housing growth and needs, economic activity, service provision and infrastructure capacity, environmental considerations and development opportunities and constraints. It is through the examination of such matters that informed decisions will be enabled in relation to how best to accommodate the town’s future needs. 1.2 The purpose of the report is to support community focused consultation related to the North Devon and Torridge Joint Core Strategy. The Core Strategy being the first of the Local Development Framework Development Plan Documents prepared by North Devon and Torridge District Councils. It is the most important document in determining how the area will evolve. Through the Core Strategy direction will be given to guide the location, form and scale of development that is required to achieve sustainable growth that will meet the areas long term needs. 1.3 It is essential that local aspirations are reflected through the Core Strategy’s vision and objectives. Through undertaking additional town focused consultation it is hoped that locally relevant and supported visions can be established for the towns of northern Devon. Figure 1 Bideford Long Bridge Source: Torridge District Council 2 Overview 2.1 Bideford is a medieval market town straddling the River Torridge. It is supported by good highway access from the Atlantic Highway / A39, offering good connections to Bude and North Cornwall in the south and Barnstaple in the North. Bideford Town Study 5 Bideford Town Study 2.2 Bideford is well known for its Pannier Market, the historic Long Bridge that connects East-the-Water with the town centre of Bideford, the port and narrow streets that help define the character of the town. All services expected in a market town, such as shops, industry, schools, health etc, are readily available. Population 2.3 The town has grown steadily over the last 20 years, with development occurring in locations all around Bideford, significantly at: Grenville Ridge, Londonderry, Eastridge View, Ayers Close and ongoing development adjoining Manteo Way at East-the-Water. The parish population has increased by 31% over the period 1991 to 2010, providing an annualised increase of about 214 persons per year. In 1991 the population of Bideford was 13,006 residents rising to 15,000 in 2001 with a projected level of 17,070 in 2010. The rate of population growth being greatest over the period 2001 to 2010. 2.4 From 2001 to 2010 the population of Bideford increased by 2,070 people representing a 13.8% increase overall. This rate of increase was greater than that experienced in other Torridge towns (Holsworthy, Great Torrington and Northam), the District and Devon as a whole. The changes in population are shown in Table 1. 2.5 The age distribution within the Bideford population presents a range of variances from the wider geographic areas presented in Table 1. The proportion of the Bideford population within the younger age bands 0-19 and 20-39 is significantly higher than for other towns in the district and Torridge as a whole. The proportion within the 40-59 year age band is generally comparable, however within the older age bands, 60–79 and 80+, the proportion of Bideford populations is significantly lower than the Torridge average and lower than that at the county level. Table 1 : Population Other Torridge Bideford Torridge Devon Towns Total Population 2001 15,000 19,266 58,965 1,136,500 2010 17,070 20,922 65,716 1,179,354 Change 2,070 1,656 6,751 42,854 % Change 13.8% 8.6% 11.4% 3,7% 2010 Age Group Proportions 0 - 19 24.6% 18.9% 21% 21.5% 20 - 39 24.4% 19.6% 19.6% 23.9% 40 - 59 27.6% 26.7% 28.3% 27.2% 60 - 79 18.7% 26.8% 25% 21.4% 80+ 4.7% 8% 6.1% 6.0% Source: Office for National Statistics - Census (2001), South Devon Health Informatics Service - Family Health Services Authority (FHSA) (2010): Retrieved from Devon Facts and Figures (Devon County Council) 6 Bideford Town Study Bideford Town Study 2.6 Although the elderly population in Bideford is currently lower than the district and county average, change is reflective of the national trend of an increasingly ageing population. In 2008, 19% of the population in the South West was estimated to be 65 years and older. By 2033 more than a quarter of the population of the South West will be 65 years and over. The population in Torridge District already exceeds these levels(1), although in Bideford the current population has not yet reached the high rates anticipated for 2033. 2.7 The population of Bideford / Northam is projected to increase by 4,874 people (2), 2006 - 2021, an increase of 13.2%. Income 2.8 Average household incomes in Torridge are the lowest of any Devon District. At £24,958 (2009), the average household income within Torridge was £2,015 (8%) below the Devon average. The average household income in Bideford is £23,448, which is £1,510 (6%) below the district average and correspondingly £3,525 (13%) below the county average. As illustrated in Table 2 there is however a variance in household incomes across the three town wards of approximately 8%. 2.9 Table 2 illustrates geographic variance in average household incomes and the proportion of those households with incomes below £15,000 and £20,000. Residents in Bideford North, Bideford South and Bideford East had income levels well below those of both the district and county levels. Table 2 : Average Household Incomes (2009) Total Households Household % Households % Households with Income Average with an Income an Income of Less (Median) Less than than £20,000 £15,000 Torridge 29,362 £24,958 26.3% 35.1% Devon County 331,804 £26,973 25.7% 34.3% Council Bideford North 2,844 £24,580 24.9% 33.2% Bideford South 2,339 £22,565 13.6% 18.1% Bideford East 2,234 £22,934 20% 26.7% Source: Household Income Average (Median) - CACI Paycheck data (2009) / CACI (2008) Benefits 2.10 All benefits listed in Table 3 are provided at a higher rate in Bideford than for the district, county and at the national level. The percentage of recipients of Job Seekers Allowance and Pension Credits is significantly higher than the district and county average. 1 Sub national Population Projections, ONS (May 2010) - http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pproj0510.pdf 2 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Holsworthy Profile 2009: http://www.devon.gov.uk/jsna Bideford Town Study 7 Bideford Town Study Table 3 : Benefit Claimants (May 2009) Percentage of: Bideford Torridge Devon National 16 - 59 year olds claiming income support 6.3% 4.5% 3.9% 5.6% 16 - 64 year olds claiming job seekers allowance 4.3% 2.8% 2.0% 3.7% Total population claiming disability living allowance 5.7% 4.8% 4.2% 5.2% 65 and older claiming attendance allowance 19.3% 16.0% 17.3% 18.2% 60 and older claiming pension credit 22.4% 17.0% 15.3% 20.6% Source: Department for Work and Pensions: Retrieved from Bideford Devon Town Profile 2010 (DCC) Employment 2.11 Bideford provides the focus for economic activity within Torridge District.