3.5 Horrabridge commissioned a survey and desktop examination of records and narrowed the affected area down to swathes of Part 3 The Core Strategy says the following land following the lines of the various about Horrabridge (section 3.5.4): mineral lodes. A number of properties A small town on the west of Dartmoor were found to be affected. Work to with its historic core centred on a Grade stabilise the areas affected has taken I listed bridge across the River Walkham. place to provide confidence and Its original industry was associated with reassurance to home owners. cloth mills and copper and tin mining. The town’s modern housing lies in sharp Improving the character and quality contrast to the modest buildings that of the built environment form the historic core. 3.5.3 Little survives of Horrabridge’s medieval Horrabridge’s vision looks to: roots today apart from the Grade I listed © sustain and improve the range bridge, fragments of the Chapel of John of local shops and services; the Baptist, and some typically medieval © resolve problems arising from property boundaries lying mostly to the historic mining activity; south of the river on the eastern side © improve the character and quality of the main street. Few early houses in of the built environment. the village survive in anything like their original form. The most striking change Sustaining and improving the range in the form of Horrabridge is the of local shops and services growth of 20th century urban housing 3.5.1 to the south of the river, which has Over the years there has been a significantly damaged historic field gradual reduction in the number of boundaries and disrupted the plan form shops and services operating in the of the settlement. In acknowledging centre of the village. Although this the need to protect what still remains trend is to some extent common of its original character, recent changes in many market towns and villages, to the Conservation Area boundary Horrabridge has a small central area mean that former medieval burgage principally on the north part of plots to the rear of South View Terrace Station Road, and across the bridge are included as is the former mill on Commercial Road. The loss of any building at Weir Park. shop or service contributes greatly to reducing the commercial ambience 3.5.4 of the village centre. Sympathetic Inappropriate development and consideration will therefore be given alteration to historic buildings in to proposals to open new retail and recent years has additionally meant office premises. Policies COR17 and loss of shop fronts, decorative features, DMD19 allow for opportunities to be railings and chimneys. Modern taken to protect and improve the range development and urbanisation within of local shops that serve both residents the Conservation Area itself extends to and visitors. the loss of historic fabric, of items such as windows, rainwater goods and roof Resolving problems arising coverings. Whenever possible, wooden from historic mining activity windows, natural slate roof coverings 3.5.2 and cast iron rainwater goods should Some houses in Horrabridge are located be retained. Careful attention should over the old underground workings be paid to sustaining the quality of new of the Wheal Franco mine, one of development within the Conservation the most important copper mines on Area. Small incremental improvements west Dartmoor. Shafts that had been and attention to detail will add inadequately capped posed a threat gradually to an overall raising of as a result of the cappings rotting. quality; this means that every planning West Devon Borough Council application must be carefully judged Dartmoor National Park Authority 102 Development Management and Delivery Development Plan Document Adopted Version July 2013 for its contribution to the village’s should be affordable housing to meet character and appearance identified local needs. Providing a wider range of Development on this site should include Part 3 accommodation opportunities to an area of recreational open space for meet the needs of local people community use. Proposals should be 3.5.5 supported by a flood risk assessment Refurbishment and sales of former and a mining site assessment including Ministry of Defence housing by in situ ground investigations. Annington Homes have improved the quality, range and accessibility of housing in Horrabridge. There has also been a significant addition to the number of affordable homes by registered providers in Horrabridge over the recent past, with development at Walkham Meadows, St Johns Road and Walkhampton Road. 3.5.6 A housing needs survey completed in August 2012 showed a requirement for 23 affordable units within five years. Nine affordable units were built since the last survey was complete in 2008. 3.5.7 In view of the current housing need, to provide some flexibility in the longer term and recognising existing high proportions of affordable housing in the village, two sites on the east side of Horrabridge are allocated for new housing. Between them, these sites have the potential to deliver approximately 65 dwellings. It should be noted that improvements to waste water treatment capacity would be required to accommodate the full additional demand of the allocated sites in Horrabridge. Development coming in advance of South West Water’s capital investment programme may therefore require developer contributions towards these improvements. Proposal HOR1 An area of land 0.3 ha in extent at Walkham Meadows, Horrabridge is allocated for housing, not less than 50% of which should be affordable housing to meet identified local needs. Proposal HOR2 An area of land 1.46 ha in extent at New Park, Horrabridge is allocated for housing, not less than 50% of which Dartmoor National Park Authority Development Management and Delivery Development Plan Document 103 Adopted Version July 2013 © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100024842. Dartmoor National Park Authority 104 Development Management and Delivery Development Plan Document Adopted Version July 2013 © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100024842. Dartmoor National Park Authority Development Management and Delivery Development Plan Document 105 Adopted Version July 2013.