Cheddington Fact Pack May 2011

The Vale of Aylesbury Plan Cheddington Fact Pack May 2011

St Giles Church

Contents

Section Page

1 Introduction page 3 2 Location and Setting page 6 3 Story of Place page 8 4 Fact File page 10 5 Issues Facing the Parish page 38 6 Parish Constraints page 40 7 Annex page 45

Front Cover Photo Source: AVDC, 2010

1. Introduction

Purpose of the document

This Fact Pack document was initially produced in 2010 to help inform the town/parish council about the characteristics of their parish for the ‘community view’ consultation. This consultation was undertaken early on in the preparation of the Vale of Aylesbury Plan as part of a bottom up approach embracing localism and aiming to get local communities more involved in the planning process. The town/parish council were asked to consult with their community on the following:

 The level of future housing and/or employment development up to 2031, including specific types of homes, employment and other development  The location, sizes and phasing of development  The types of infrastructure (social, community, physical) needed to enable development, including where it should be located  Any other issues relating to planning and development

This Fact Pack document has also been used to support neighbourhood planning by providing evidence for the context of the neighbourhood plan, including information on housing, employment, infrastructure and the environment.

This Fact Pack document has also been used to support the Vale of Aylesbury Plan Settlement Hierarchy Assessment. This forms part of the evidence that classifies settlements into different categories, where different levels of growth are apportioned to over the next 20 years.

The document also forms part of the background work relating to Neighbourhood Plans as well as the production of the Vale of Aylesbury Plan. The Fact Pack does not form planning policy for Aylesbury Vale.

What the Fact Pack includes

The content of the Fact Pack reflects the size of the parish or town, providing the most detail for larger villages/towns which are likely to experience greater levels of growth, compared to smaller parishes/villages which are likely to experience less growth. Smaller parish’s Fact Packs have a more limited content in the Fact Packs. Fact Packs for larger villages/towns identify the following information:

 Location and setting within the district (relationship to other settlements)  Story of place (how the parish has developed from its origins to the present day)  Issues facing the parish (e.g. infrastructure and local services deficits)

 Social demographics (population, age profile, social groups, levels of deprivation and crime levels)  Economic profile (allocated employment sites, change of use to employment looking back 5 years, sectors of employment, levels of economic activity, distances travelled to work and broadband speeds)  Local service provision (retail, healthcare, leisure, public open space, tourism, and education)  Housing profile (dwelling types, tenure, occupancy, past completions and commitments, average house prices, housing needs waiting list and gypsy and traveller sites)  Transport infrastructure (road network, cars per household, public transport provision)  Environmental constraints (maps to identify agricultural land quality, landscape sensitivities, biodiversity constraints, flooding and historic constraints)

Fact Packs for smaller parishes/villages identify the following information:

 Location and setting within the district (relationship to other settlements)  Social demographics (population and age profile)  Housing profile (dwelling types, tenure, occupancy, past completions and commitments, average house prices, housing needs waiting list and gypsy and traveller sites)  Economic profile (employment change of B use classes looking back 5 years, sectors of employment and levels of economic activity)  Issues facing the parish (e.g. infrastructure and local services deficits)  Environmental constraints (maps to identify agricultural land quality, landscape sensitivities, biological constraints, flooding and historic constraints)

Where possible information in the Fact Pack has been supplemented with information from the town/parish council to draw upon local knowledge, particularly for the section on issues relating to the parish. Some town/parish councils have also published the document on their website for the community to view and use.

In addition to this Fact Pack, a district wide Fact Pack has been written to develop an understanding at the strategic level on the availability of infrastructure, services, facilities, planning issues and environmental constraints. This can be viewed on our website1.

Availability of data

Statistics identified in the Fact Pact are primarily from Census data (2001), AVDC monitoring data (updated annually) and research carried out by Buckinghamshire County Council. There are also a number of websites that have been used to retrieve information, such as crime statistics, broadband coverage and housing sales. Where possible, parish level data has been used. If this level of data is not available super output area (SOA) boundaries or ward boundaries have been

1 District Fact Pack http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local-development-plans/planning-policy/vale-of- aylesbury-plan-/fact-packs/ 4 used (often these cover a larger area than just the settlement). The boundaries of the parish, SOA and ward can be viewed on map 1 in this document.

This Fact Pack is a ‘living document’ which is intended to be regularly updated. Information contained within the Fact Pack is correct at the time of writing. It is acknowledged that some of the information may change over time and the Fact Packs will be updated accordingly.

2. Location and Setting

Cheddington is situated some 7 miles east of Aylesbury, about 5 miles south of Leighton Buzzard and 8 miles west of Dunstable. The village lies in the Vale of Aylesbury at the northern end of the Chilterns. An outlying spur from the Chilterns forms two linked hills (Westend and Southend Hills) which act as a focal point in the expansive vale landscape. The countryside is pastoral and Cheddington lies concealed on the gentle northern slopes of the spur.

Originally, Cheddington was essentially a linear village stretching along the sinuous line of High Street/Mentmore Road and having two main laterals; New Street leading to Westend Road to the west and Church Lane to the east. It is contained by the hills to the west and the West Coast Mainline railway also to the west. Cheddington lies on the far eastern side of the district bordering Dacorum District.

SOA 7652

SOA 7651

Key

Ward boundary Super Output Areas Boundaries Parish Boundary

Facts and figures have been identified relating to three different geographical boundaries depending on the source of the information. In general all Census data is provided at parish level, AVDC Local Area Profile data relates to Super Output Areas (SOA) and Hometrack Housing Intelligence System data relates to the ward level.

Please note the 2011 Census will take two years to publish, as such this data will not be available until 2013.

In the case of Cheddingdon the parish, ward and Super Output Area form three different boundaries as shown on the location map on page 6.

3. Story of Place

Origins of the settlement

Known in ancient times as Cetendone, Cheddington is mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. Saint Giles Church dates back to 1190 but most of the present building dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. For centuries most men worked in agriculture with Cheddington particularly noted for its orchards.

The opening up of Cheddington was aided by the construction of The Grand Junction Canal at the turn of the 18th Century lies about 1.6 km to the south of the village. This provided a significant short cut of some 60 miles for freight traffic between Braunston on the Oxford Canal and Brentford, west of London, on the River Thames. Previously, all London bound traffic from the Midlands had to follow the winding, narrow Fazely, Coventry and Oxford canals and then transfer onto the Thames for a 100 miles to London.

Further accessibility was provided when The London & Birmingham Railway was completed in 1838. Following this in 1839 a branch line was built linking Cheddington to Aylesbury. This line is regarded as the world's first branch railway line. While the main London to Birmingham line remains, the branch line was closed to passengers in 1953, and fully closed in 1964.

Post 1945 development to 2000

The first significant housing expansion of the village occurred in the periods pre and post World War II. Local Authority housing was developed in New Street and extended in the 1950s into Sunny Bank and the High Street. There was a further spurt of development in the mid 1960’s off Church Lane and Barkham Close.

High Street, circa 1960 Source: BCC

The most significant period of development was from the late 1960s through to the mid 1970s under the proposals included in the Cheddington Village Plan (BCC, 1969). The Village Plan proposed an overall area of some 11.5 ha for new housing split into 7 sites (Plots H1 – H7 of the 1969 Village Plan). These areas have now all been developed with the last (area H6 Church Hill) being completed in the mid 1980s. New development in the village over the last two decades has been more restrained following the completion of the Village Plan proposals. New housing has generally been limited to small infill or conversion developments in the parish.

Development during the last 10 years

There has been 25 new dwellings over the last 10 years in the Parish. The largest recent scheme is the 12 houses off Barkham Close (a rural exception scheme for affordable housing) completed in 2009.

Current Planning Consent

As at the 31st March 2010 there were 2 dwellings which have planning permission but have not yet been implemented (Please note 2011 monitoring information for dwelling commitments and completions is not available until May 2011).

4. Fact File

Demographics

 Cheddington parish has a population of 1,852 (Census, 2001) with a village population of 1,729 (Settlement Audit, 2008), split between 49% males and 51% females (Census, 2001).

 The most recent data from the Office for National Statistics for the Super Output Area for SOA 7651 and 7652 estimates the population at mid‐2009 to be 3203. Please note this includes the settlements of Slapton and Marsworth, as seen on the location map.

 There are 299 dwellings within the parish of Cheddington (AVDC, March 2010).

Age profile

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 Number people of 0 People aged People aged People aged People aged People aged People aged People aged 0-4 5-15 16-24 25-44 45-64 65-74 75 and over

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

The population of Cheddington shows an above average number of young people for ages 0‐4 year olds (8%), 5‐8 year olds (6%) and 9‐12 year olds (6%) in the ward. In contrast the ward has the lowest percentage of 20‐24 year olds (2%), anywhere in Aylesbury Vale. Cheddington also has a below average proportion of elderly people over the age of 65.

Cheddington Population Change from 1951 to 2001

2000 1800 1600 1400 People 1200 of 1000 800

Number 600 400 200 0 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001

Year

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

Between 1961 and 1991 the population of Cheddington parish rose by approximately 1,700 people. Although between 1991 and 2001 the population increase tailed off. Most of the population live in the village and the small cluster of dwellings around the railway station, with the remainder in a few scattered properties outside.

ACORN GROUPS

A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods (ACORN) developed by the Bucks Strategic Partnership shows the distinct groups of people that live within Buckinghamshire. The county is made up of 10 groups of households whose residents all have very different demographic characteristics and lifestyles. This means that from the results it would be possible to identify that more affluent groups are likely to have very different public service needs from those less affluent groups. The different ACORN group types are explained at http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/research/bucks_acorn.page

ACORN Social Groups

1% 7% 9% Villages with wealthy commuters

Well‐off managers

24% 26% Flourishing Families

Secure Families

Settled Suburbia/Prudent Pensioners

Moderate Means 33%

Source: Bucks Strategic Partnership, 2010

Over half of this wards population (68%) live in areas classified by the five most affluent ACORN Groups in Buckinghamshire. The ‘Flourishing Families’ Group is the largest of these Groups accounting for a third of the ward (33%), followed by the ‘Well‐off Managers’ (26%) and the ‘Villages with Wealthy Commuters’ (9%).

The ‘Flourishing Families’ Group can be further described as ‘Larger families living in prosperous suburbs’ (12.3%), ‘Affluent working families with mortgages’ (10.8%), ‘Well‐off managers living in detached houses’ (6.0%) and ‘Well‐off working families with mortgages’ (4.2%).

A quarter (24%) live in areas classified by the ‘Secure Families’ Group. The majority of this Group (20.2%) are classified as ‘Middle income home owning areas’ , but smaller proportions of ACORN ‘Younger white‐collar couples with mortgages’ (3.2% of the ward) and ‘Mature families in suburban semis’ (0.4% of the ward) also make up this Group.

The ‘Settled Suburbia or Prudent Pensioner’ Group accounts for 7% of the ward and can be further described as ‘Lower income people living in semis’ (7.3%).

Just under 1% of the population live in areas classified by the ‘Moderate Means’ Group, these are areas with above average proportions of ‘Skilled older families living in terraces’.

Deprivation

The Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) provide an analysis of the levels of deprivation according to seven key indicators: income, employment, health, education, housing, crime and living environment (Office for National Statistics, 2007). This is identified by Super Output Areas (SOA) for each parish. The majority of Cheddington village falls within SOA 7652.

The table overleaf shows Cheddington falls within the top 2% for overall levels of deprivation, showing there are very low levels of deprivation. The least amount of deprivation is for the living environment and health deprivation, with the most deprivation for barrier to housing and services.

Indices of Deprivation

This image cannot currently be displayed.

Overall Deprivation Measures the following seven key indicators:

This image cannot currently be displayed. 1) Income Deprivation Measures unemployment, incapacity benefits and disability allowance

This image cannot currently be displayed. 2) Employment Deprivation Measures access to jobs

This image cannot currently be displayed. 3) Health Deprivation Measures population’s health

This image cannot currently be displayed. 4) Education Deprivation Measures skill levels and access to education

This image cannot currently be displayed. 5) Barrier to Housing and Services Measure access to affordable housing and services

This image cannot currently be displayed. 6) Crime Measures levels of burglary, theft, criminal damage and violence

This image cannot currently be displayed. 7) Living Environment Deprivation Measures both indoor and outdoor living conditions including condition of housing, air quality, road traffic accidents Sources: Communities and Local Government; Office for National Statistics; Valuation Office Agency, (2007)

Employment

Employment Sites

The 2003 Parish Plan noted that, whilst individual home working is becoming increasingly prevalent in the village, there are only a few other businesses. These include two pub/restaurants, a Post Office and store (now closed on High Street), a general store, a coach hire business, a taxi firm and a car repair garage.

The Marsworth Airfield (North) employment site is located some 2km to the west of the village off the road to Long Marston.

Employment change for completed development since 2005

The graph below shows net employment completions which are identified as B1, B2, and B8 use classes. This includes offices, research and development, light industry, general industry, warehousing and distribution. Net floorspace takes into account demolition and loss of B class uses. B uses are divided into, B1: Business, B2: General Industry and B8: Storage and Distribution. Please note at the district level B use employment is likely to only contribute to 50% of total employment with the other employment generated through non‐B uses, such as retail.

Cheddington Employment net floorspace

2009‐10 0

2008‐09 ‐56

2007‐08 0

2006‐07 ‐75

2005‐06 0

‐80 ‐70 ‐60 ‐50 ‐40 ‐30 ‐20 ‐10 0

Net Floorspace (m²)

Source: AVDC, March 2010

The graph shows since 2005 there has been no increase in employment B uses and two years where employment uses have been lost. Cheddington currently has 205 m² committed for B uses. This is where permission has been granted but not yet implemented.

Sectors of Employment

Sectors of Employment SOA 7651 SOA 7652 25%

20%

15%

10%

0% l s i g al s in r ing a in ms i lture r er ine he u tu Ret anc Adm Ot e/ Com n Health ac l Cat t/ Fi Bus lic uf sa s/ , Education Agric e l an Construction por ing Pub nt M hol Hote ans W Tr te/Re sta E al Re

Source: AVDC, 2006 Local Area Profile covering Super Output Areas

Like in many of the other wards across Aylesbury Vale, there are a some industries in particular in which large parts of the populations of Cheddingon are employed. In particular large numbers of people work in the Real Estate/ Renting (19‐22%), Whole Sale/ Retail (15–18%) and Manufacturing (13%).

In addition the most common type of employment is managerial and professional accounting for 44% of the parish population, which is quite high in comparison to other parishes (Census, 2001).

Economic Activity

Economic activity

All people aged 16 to 74: 27% Economically active : Employed

All people aged 16 to 74: Economically active : 2% Unemployed All people aged 16 to 74 : 71% Economically inactive

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

The economically active account for 71% of the population, with 2% unemployed. Economically inactive population accounts for 27%, for example this include children, students, disabled and the elderly.

Commuting from Aylesbury Vale Wards

Source: Aylesbury Vale Employment Land Study (AVDC, 2008) Note – the colour of the arrows correspond to the roads on the key

The graph shows that approximately a third of commuters travel Aylesbury Rural, equally another third travel to the M1 corridors. A small percentage of people travel to Aylesbury town, elsewhere and London. Very few people travelling to the M40 corridor.

Distanced Travelled to Work

Although Cheddington is towards the furthest easterly point of Aylesbury Vale, residents find themselves within relatively short travelling distances of Tring and Hemel Hempstead as well as Aylesbury itself. The most common distance travelled to work is between 10‐20km. Between 25‐ 29% of the population in all three wards travel this distance to work each day. Taking the distance of 40km and over as the figure for the number of people considered to be commuting out of the ward to work, 15% of people in Cheddington commuting on a daily basis (AVDC Local Area Profiles, 2006). The 2001 Census data shows the average distance travelled to a fixed place of work is 22.2 km.

Mode Travelled to Work

Mode of travel to work

16% 13% All people aged 16 to 74 in employment: Travel to work by public transport All people aged 16 to 74 in employment: Travel to work by motorcycle; car or van All people aged 16 to 74 in employment: Travel to work by 71% other means or work at home

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

The majority of people use car/van /motorcycle as a mode of travelling to work, reflecting on the location of village and relatively limited public transport opportunities compared with other settlements. 13% travel to work by public transport.

Broadband Speeds

There is no formal way of assessing Broadband speed and coverage. However we have drawn on some of the commercially available speed checking services to give a guide as to the coverage and speeds available in the parish/town. This does not mean that this is necessarily an obtainable level of service, but is as close as we are able to provide as an indicator.

Using www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk it would appear that the village/town has fair coverage and speeds obtainable appear to be in the range of 0.3 to 4.2 Mbps.

Shops and Services

Limited shopping facilities are provided in the village, including Mason’s General store on the junction of Barkham Close & Manor Road and a unit along the High Street that served as a general store/post office (now closed). The Three Horsehoes public house on the northern end of the village advertises “fresh fruit and veg” for sale on Thursdays.

Figgy’s Fish & Chips van Visits Cheddington Friday evenings at approx. 7pm at the Green. Howe & Son Fish & Chips visits Barkham Close Friday lunch‐times and Three Horseshoes car park at about 10pm on Wednesday evenings.

There are two Public Houses in the village, the Old Swan at the southern end and the Three Horseshoes at the northern end.

Health Care

A weekly doctors surgery is held in the Methodist Church (Tuesday 9.00 – 9. 30 & Friday 14.00 – 14.30). The nearest health centre is in Pitstone, approximately 2.5 km to the south east of Cheddington. The nearest hospitals are Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury or Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Luton. The 2001 Census showed that 78% of people are considered to be in good health, with 10% of people have a limiting long‐term illness.

Leisure Facilities

 Large, modern Village Hall at end of Church Lane ‐ well used by various sport/leisure/interest groups

 Methodist Church in The green – hall used by a variety of sport/leisure/interest groups

 Cheddington School Premises – hall available for hire.

 Leisure Groups include – Amateur Dramatics ; Junior Drama Group; Bridge Club; Church Bellringers; Flower Club; History Society; Nifty Fitties; Open Door; Pantomime Group; Whist Drive; W I.

 Recycling facility ‐ bottle bank, located at Village Hall.

 Large area of Allotments off end of Church Lane – well used.‐ room for expansion. Old allotments opposite Recreation Ground‐ now grassland/field.

 Scout Hut Headquarters on Station Road opposite Blenheim Close – Beaver Colony; Cub Pack; Scout Troop; Cetendone Explorer Scout Unit.

 Guides meet in Methodist Hall; Brownies in Village Hall & Rainbows in School.

 Children’s play area on The Green;

 Recreation Ground at southern end of village – football pitch, tennis, bowls etc. Other sports catered for in village include petanque and badminton.

 There are two places of worship, St Giles Parish Church located outside of the main built up part of the settlement and the Methodist Chapel in The Green.

 The canal boat marina of Cook’s Wharf lies some 1.6 km south of the village with a range of leisure facilities and opportunities (also partly within Marsworth Parish).

 Cheddington has a network of local public footpaths connecting to the Church, Station and the surrounding villages. The towpath of the Grand Junction Canal lies some 1.6km to the south of the village providing access to the national network of such routes.

 Mobile library

Route 7: Alternate Tuesdays Times Dagnall North Road 9.55‐10.10 Dagnall Dagnall School 10.15‐10.50 Ivinghoe Aston The Swan PH 11.00‐11.20 Marsworth First School 11.45‐12.00 Cheddington The Green 12.15‐13.15 Pitstone Health Centre, Yardley Avenue 14.30‐15.05 Pitstone The Crescent 15.10‐15.45 June: 1, 15, 29. July: 13, 27. August: 10, 24. September: 7, 21. October: 5, 19. November: 2, 16, 30. December: 14. January: 11, 25. February: 8, 22. March: 8, 22. April: 5, 19. May: 3, 17, 31.

As November 2010, Buckinghamshire County Council has proposals to potentially rethink library provision in the district. This may affect existing provision in the parish.

Leisure Facilities

 Pitstone Memorial Hall  Two children’s playground  Pitstone Green Museum  Allotments  Junior and Senior pitch  Mobile library – this visits on alternate Tuesday at the Health Centre, Yardley Avenue between 14.30 and 15.10. As of November 2010, Buckinghamshire County Council has proposals to potentially rethink library provision in the district. This may affect existing provision in the parish.  St Mary’s Church‐ not currently in use, although managed by a local community group called ‘Friends of Pitstone Church’.

Access to Green Space

The following are locations of green space for which the accessibility audit has been carried out:‐

Green Space Size St Giles Church Station Road 5563m2 Amenity Space Adj. Blenheim Close 387m2 Amenity Space Church Hill Road 698m2 Allotments Church Lane 11935m2 Open Space Church Lane 6258m2 Amenity Space Lammas Road 726m2 Open Space Lammas Road 541m2 Open Space High Street 6828m2 Recreation Ground High Street 30552m2 Open Space The Green 2435m2 Open Space Sunny Bank 591m2

The following table shows current provision against Accessible Natural England Standard (ANGSt) by Natural England which is considered a national benchmark and forms part of Government guidance on green space provision. The standard emphasizes the importance of accessible green space to local communities.

ANGSt Standard Sufficient Existing Provision 2ha‐20ha green spaces located within 300m of dwellings No. There are no sites to the north or west & east of the village. 20ha‐100ha green spaces located within 2km of dwellings No. A new site within Cheddington, Wingrave or Pitstone Ward is required for this standard to be met. 100ha‐500ha green spaces located within 5km of No. A new site within dwellings Cheddington, Wingrave, Pitstone or Edlesborough Ward is required for this standard to be met. 500ha+ green spaces located within 10km of dwellings Yes

Playing Standard Sufficient Existing Provision Pitch/Allotments LEAPs/ NEAPs 3 LEAP and 1 NEAP Yes. For existing urban development a LEAP provision is required to the south of the village (possibly located on the Recreation Ground) and to the west of the village. Also there is no Neighbourhood Equipped Area of Play (NEAP) within the village. The existing teenage provision located on the Recreation Ground should be enhanced to a NEAP standard.

Allotments 9 plots per 1000 population Yes. The amount of plots available within Cheddington complies with the 9 plots per 1000 population.

Tourism

AVDC monitor a number of tourist attractions within the district. There are no attractions within the Cheddington parish. The nearest attraction is Glebe Canal Cruises located in Pitstone, where in 2010 9,882 visited.

Crime

The above data is based on the number of burglaries, theft, criminal damage, violence (April 2002‐March 03). The column on the left shows a ranking of the relevant Super Output Area against all Super Output Areas nationally (there are around 3,228). An IMD score of 1 would mean the SOA is the highest crime area in the country. Whereas a ranking of 3,228 would be the lowest crime area based on these particular crimes.

Crime Deprivation

30000 25000 Deprivation

20000 15000 Multiple

10000 of

5000

Indices 0 7652 7651 Cheddington Ward Super Output Areas

Source: AVDC Local Area Profiles, 2006 The above data is based burglaries, theft, criminal damage and violence (April 2002‐March 03). The column on the left shows a ranking of the relevant Super Output Area against all Super Output Areas nationally (there are around 3,228). An IMD score of 1 would mean the SOA is the highest crime area in the country. Whereas a ranking of 3,228 would be the lowest crime area based on these particular crimes. Cheddington falls within the top quartile for crime deprivation.

Education

Pre‐school/sure‐start

There is one pre‐school in Cheddington ‘Cheddington pre‐school’ located at Cheddington School along the High Street.

Primary Schools

Cheddington falls within the Wing and Ivinghoe primary school planning area where there are ten primary schools. There is capacity for 1561 pupils within these schools. In 2010 1,365 pupils attended, leaving a surplus capacity of 13%.

Within Cheddington there is combined, community school, age range between 4‐11 for mixed gender. There is capacity for 210 pupils, in 2010 204 pupils attended leaving a surplus capacity of 3%.

Secondary Schools

The nearest secondary school is located in Wing.

 The Cottesloe School, Aylesbury Road, Wing http://www.cottesloe.bucks.sch.uk/. This is a Foundation school for ages 11‐18, mixed gender. In 2009/10, there were 1,132 pupils attending, which left a surplus of 27 places (2% of capacity).  Colleges are located in Aylesbury, Amersham, High Wycombe, Dunstable, Luton & Milton Keynes. Further Adult Education centre can be found in, Cheddington (1 venue), Aylesbury (34) and Wing (1).

Trends and Statistics

Key Stage 2 is ages 7‐11 (Junior School) within the Primary Curriculum. Level 4 is one of the higher standards of achievement for teaching effectiveness. More information on the stages and the curriculum is available at http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/primary

At Key Stage 2, 87% of pupils in Cheddington Ward achieve Level 4 or above in English, compared to a regional figure of 81.3%. In Science, 93% achieve Level 4 or above compared to a regional figure of 87.6% and in Maths, 87% achieve Level 4 or above compared to a regional figure of 78%.

At GCSE level, 73% of school pupils in Cheddington Ward achieved 5 or more GCSEs graded A to C, compared to a regional average of 65% (Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2009).

Housing Stock Profile

Dwelling type 1% Detached house / bungalows

41% Semi‐detached / terraced houses / bungalow

58% Flat maisonette or apartment; or caravan or temporary structure

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

The majority of the housing stock is semi‐detached or terraced, accounting for 58%. Just over a third of all properties are detached, with a very small proportion of flats/maisonettes or apartments. The average number of rooms per household is 6, this is slightly higher than the district average of 5.8.

Household Tenure

The majority of the households are owner‐occupied. 55% of the housing in Cheddington parish are owned with a mortgage, and a further 29% are owned outright. There are few properties being rented across the ward. Approximately 9% of properties are rented from Registered Social Landlords.

7% Tenure Households with owner‐occupied 11% tenure

Households with tenure rented from Council (local authority) or Housing Association / Registered Social Landlord Households with tenure rented from private landlord or letting agency or other tenure 82%

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

Household Occupancy

The graph overleaf shows vacant household space accounts for 1% of Cheddington parish housing stock. There are no holiday homes within Cheddington parish. For clarification a ‘vacant’ household space is unoccupied space which is not a household’s usual residence and is not a second residence or holiday accommodation.

Household Occupancy 1% 0%

Household spaces with residents Vacant household spaces

Second residence / holiday accommodation

99%

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

Market Data on Completions and Sales

Year ending 31st March: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total Dwelling Completions 0 2 1 1 14 1 Affordable Housing 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rural Exception Schemes 0 0 0 0 12 0

As at 31st March: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Commitments 4 2 15 14 2 2

Source: AVDC, March 2010

Since 2005 there have been 19 dwelling building within Cheddington parish. The most significant number of dwellings was in 2009 with the completion of 14 dwellings.

Commitment figures show the net housing commitments for Cheddington parish. In other words, they show the number of houses (both new dwellings and conversions) for which there is a valid planning permission, allowing for those houses which have already been completed, and allowing for dwellings which are to be demolished or otherwise lost.

During the last five years there has been one rural exception scheme for affordable housing off of Barkham Close, where 12 units were completed 2008/09.

Average Household Price over last 5 years

Average House Hold Price from 2005

£400,000 £350,000 £300,000 Value

£250,000 £200,000 Hold

£150,000

House £100,000 £50,000 £0 January July January July January July January July January July January July 2005 2005 2006 2006 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010

(Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

For Cheddington ward following a peak in early 2008 house prices have been fairly stable but showed a marked rise in mid 2010. 28

Housing Sales

In 2010 there were 19 property sales in Cheddington Ward. This equates to 1.5% of the private housing stock turning over, compared to a regional average of 1.2%.

Annual Dwelling Sales

90 82 80 66 64 70 60

Dwellings 50 38 of 40 30 30 19

Number 20 10 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

Cheddington Ward Stock turnover shows the percentage of Annual percentage housing stock as sales in a given year. of stock Turnover There has been a significant downturn in (%) house sales over the last three years, this 2005 5.27 reflects the regional picture. The highest 2006 6.55 number of sales was in 2006 with 82 2007 5.11 dwellings, accounting for 6.55% of the 2008 2.40 total housing stock (Hometrack, 2009 3.03 September 2010). 2010 1.52 (Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

New Build price comparison

The following graph for Cheddington ward shows that the previously occupied dwellings has been consistent over the last five years. The cost of a new build house in 2008 cost significantly less than a previously occupied house. During this year a new build flat cost more than a new build house, which is unusual in comparison to the rest of the district.

Price comparision for new builds compared to previously occupied dwellings

£500,000 £450,000 Previously Occupied Flat Prices £400,000 £350,000 value

New Build Flat Prices £300,000 £250,000 Previously Occupied House £200,000 Prices

Household £150,000 £100,000 New Build House Prices £50,000 £0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

(Source: HM Land Registry, September 2010) Please note not all the data is available for each year Please note this graph does not take into account the size of the dwellings sold, which will inevitably impact on the price of the dwelling.

Affordability

(Source: Hometrack, September 2010)

The graph shows for Cheddington ward in order to buy a terraced property for a first time buyer, you need to be earning at least £45,000 to £50,000. To buy a terraced property for a owner occupier, you need to be earning at least £40,000 to £45,000.

Housing Need

In Cheddington parish, there are 18 households on the waiting list for Council housing (Source, AVDC October 2010). The total number of people on the council housing waiting list is 4,410. Please note that within this figure there are 1,022 households on the waiting list from outside the district and 120 households where the Council has so far been unable to map their location due to unrecognisable postcodes (please see annex 1 for map of the number of houses on the district waiting list).

Gypsy and Traveller Sites

There are no site the council is aware of within Cheddington parish. The nearest gypsy and traveller sites are located at Cublington Road, Wing, where there are 7 pitches.

Transport

Road Infrastructure

Cheddington village is not on any A or B class roads although the B488 Leighton Buzzard to Tring road runs alongside the eastern edge of the Parish. From the village a number of C class roads extend from the village connecting to surrounding settlements and the main road network.

Number of cars/vans per household

9% 9% No cars or vans

One car or van

35% Two cars or vans

47% Three or more cars or vans

Source: Census, 2001 © Crown copyright

The graph shows in 2001 91% of households had one or more cars/van, with over 50% having two or more vehicles. Less than 10% of households have no cars/vans.

Public Transport

Bus services ‐ Cheddington has a limited bus service to Aylesbury, Tring and Leighton Buzzard. Service 164 during weekdays, provides two buses, via Tring to Aylesbury in the morning peak hours and two in the evening peak hours. In the period in between the same service runs at a roughly two hour period between Aylesbury, Tring and Leighton Buzzard. There is a limited service on Saturday to Aylesbury, Tring and Leighton Buzzard but no Sunday service. On Tuesdays only, Service 167 provides one bus a day each way to Leighton Buzzard. On Thursdays only, Service 175 provides one bus a day each way to Hemel Hempstead.

Source: BCC, November 2010

The map above shows the bus routes operating in Cheddington, with the key high lighting the bus operator. Bus services shown can be searched at on the Buckinghamshire County Council website at http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses‐and‐trains/Bus‐timetables.aspx

Basic bus stops (pole, flag and timetable) are located on High Street, The Green, Manor Road, Long Marston Road and Station Road. These are indicated by the yellow flags on the map overleaf. This map can be viewed online at http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses‐and‐ trains/Maps/Real‐time‐bus‐map.aspx.

Source http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses‐and‐trains/Maps/Real‐time‐bus‐map.aspx searched 12/10/2010)

Cheddington Station, some 1.3 km north of the village, lies on the London Midland Euston – Birmingham New Street Line. The frequency is essentially one train an hour to London & Birmingham throughout the day and evening. The service also provides for Intercity/cross country access at Stations up and down the line.

The Grand Junction Canal south and east of the village provides water borne and towpath access north and south via the national canal network.

A number of local taxi services operate in the Cheddington area

The nearest International Airport is London Luton in Luton.

There are four community bus/travel services with the potential to cover Cheddington; Aylesbury Vale Dial‐A‐Ride; The Townlands Trust, Winslow & District Community Bus; and The Buzzer (Leighton Buzzard & District CTA Ltd).

Cheddington has a limited network of local public footpaths connecting to the Church, Station and the surrounding villages. The towpath of the Grand Union Canal lies some 1.6km to the south of the village providing access to the national network of such routes.

Water Cycle

The Aylesbury Vale Water Cycle Strategy was completed by Halcrow with AVDC officers, Thames Water, Anglian Water, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders in December 2010. It provides an audit of water supplies, surface water management, flood risk, water quality, wastewater network and sewerage treatment works as relevant to a selected number of rural settlements in Aylesbury Vale. On flood risk, the study picks up all forms of flooding other than river flooding (which is separately covered by the Fact Packs the next ‘Constraints’ section). The Water Cycle Strategy also provides an appraisal of the available capacity in the above infrastructure and identifies how far constrained (or not) settlements are to potential further development.

The Water Cycle Strategy for Aylesbury Vale (Halcrow, 2010) sets out the following requirements for Cheddington:

Wastewater treatment works – No constraints.

Wastewater network – Significant existing capacity constraints.

Water Supplies – Some Anglian Water network extensions and upgrades needed.

Water Quality – Currently technology is hampering the ability for water companies to meet the Water Framework Directive “Good” standard. Water companies will look to address this matter in the future once the relevant technology becomes available. This issue has no impact on the future development of various sites around the village

Flood Risk – There is watercourse, sewer and groundwater flooding.

Surface water management – No constraints to the water cycle infrastructure.

Fact File Summary

 Cheddington has predominately an young population, with fewer than the average people over the age of 65.

 The 2001 Census data shows Cheddington parish to have a population of 1,852 split between 49% males and 51% females (Census, 2001).

 There has been continual population growth from 1951, with the greatest increase from 1961 to 1971.

 Cheddington is an affluent area where flourishing families, well off‐managers and secure families make up the majority of the population.

 The Indices of Multiple Deprivation shows low levels of deprivation within the parish, particularly low when compared nationally and with surrounding parishes;

 Low levels of employment within the village. Aylesbury town provides a number of employment sites.

 Broadband speeds vary throughout the village ranging from 0.3 to 4.2, showing a ‘fair’ coverage.

 Villagers are dependent upon private car for commuting and travel due to limited public transport connections and infrequent service;

 The village is served by basic facilities and has a few key services for villagers specifically a local store, post office and two pubs.

 The village also has a primary school which is just under capacity. The nearest secondary school is in Wing.

 The majority of houses are semi‐ detached (58%) with 41 % semi‐detached and terraced dwellings.

 There has been one completed dwelling in 2010 with 2 dwellings given permission but not yet implemented for 2010.

 Annual dwelling sales haven fallen since 2006.

 In Cheddington parish there are 18 households on the waiting list for Council housing.

 Low levels of crime, particularly when compared nationally;

 Wastewater treatment and network has significant capacity constraints, although this is not a constraint to prevent future development.

5. Issues facing the Parish

The following planning related issues have been identified from the 2003 Parish Plan:‐

General

To keep Cheddington as it is at present with good maintenance programmes and improvements to the existing facilities and services to be carried out by all providers, both direct and outside. This includes the Parish Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, the Utility Companies, Bus and Train Companies and the Police.

To support any village groups who wish to improve their particular activities and/or facilities for the benefit of villagers. Also to support funding and grant requests when appropriate. Initiatives should come from the groups themselves.

Specific topics

To press for footpaths to be constructed from the village to Cooks Wharf and also to the Mentmore Park spinneys to remove the danger to pedestrians.

To encourage activities for the young people in the village. This may include transport facilities to sporting events and evening entertainments. Dedicated adult helpers are required. Also to seek ways of preventing the drinking of alcohol in public areas.

To ensure as secure environment as possible for the elderly and the rest of the community. This means continuing support for Neighbourhood Watch and the Police. Other initiatives should be discussed and developed.

To keep pressing for a solution to speeding traffic and parking on footways. To continue lobbying the highway authority [Buckinghamshire C.C.] and Network Rail for urgent action on the station bridge to alleviate potential serious accident risks for both road and railway users.

To put pressure on the few dog owners who still let their dogs foul public open spaces, especially the recreation ground. The AVDC dog warden to be involved.

To plant trees to replace those which are coming to the end of their lives.

To discourage people who discard litter in the streets and open places.

Depending on individual villagers points of view, it is possible that those against enlargement would be faced with the need to take vigorous action to oppose major developments. Nevertheless, others may feel that developments could offer Cheddington an opportunity to benefit from developer funded improvements.

Finally, accepting the ever present need for affordable housing, there is also a lack of larger homes in Cheddington. Expanding families find it difficult to relocate within the village when looking for properties with extra bedrooms. Current infill development proposals seem to offer only small houses. A better balance could be encouraged by the planning authority.

6. Parish Constraints

The parish has a number of historic and environmental constraints to be considered. These have been identified on the maps on the next few pages with explanations setting out definitions for each designation.

Historic Constraints Map

Listed Buildings

There are eleven listed buildings with a 500m radius from the centre of the village (Heritage Gateway Online, 2010). Listed Buildings are listed by English Heritage and help and conserve the structure, use and setting of a building important to history or architecture. The older a building is the more likely it is to be listed.

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

A Schedule Ancient Monument, forming a Hillfort on Southend Hill on the outskirts of the southern boundary is located covering 6.5 hectares.

Archaeological Notification Areas

There are various pockets of Archaeological Notification Areas and a large Historic Park and Garden site towards the north, which stretches over to the village of Mentmore.

Environmental Constraints Map

Flooding

There are no significant flooding constraints, with very limited areas susceptible to surface water flooding. Surface water flooding occurs when high rainfall events lead to exceeded drainage capacity in an area.

Notable Species Sites

There are three Notable Species Sites in Cheddington. Notable Species Sites are locations of important ecological species recorded by the Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire Biological Records Centre. The Notable Species Sites are sensitive information and as such the species of wildlife cannot be stated in the fact pack. However, the Environmental Records Centre can be contacted to give a case‐by‐case response – contact [email protected]. The Centre also has an information request form that people can fill in to provide the details of their search enquiry. This can be downloaded from their website at the following address: http://www.buckinghamshirepartnership.gov.uk/partnership/BucksMKERC/data_search.page?

Biological Notification Sites

There is one Biological Notification Site towards the north of the settlement. Biological Notification Sites preceded Local Wildlife Sites as a local non‐statutory designation. All Biological Notification Sites are in the process of being re‐surveyed and assessed under Local Wildlife Site criteria.

Tree Preservation Areas

This same area is designated with Tree Preservation Orders settlement. These are orders established by the Council for either individual trees or hedgerows or groups of trees. They prevent trees being lopped/topped or uprooted that are particularly attractive or important to the character of the area.

Landscape Character Assessment Map

Landscape Character and Sensitivity

A Landscape Character Assessment was produced in May 2008. The assessment covers the whole of Aylesbury Vale District outside of the built up areas of Aylesbury, Buckingham, Haddenham, Winslow and Wendover and groups landscape into 79 landscape character areas and 13 landscape character types covering landscape, visual, historic and ecological considerations. The landscape character forms Chalk Foothills within the settlement and to the south, with Vale landscape adjacent to the northern boundary.

The Areas of Sensitive Landscape study (2008) followed up the Landscape Character Assessment looking specifically at the sensitivity of areas to change and new development. The following criteria determine how sensitive an area is; landscape quality, scenic quality, rarity, representativeness, conservation interests and wildness. There are four categories of sensitive landscape identified in the Areas of Sensitive Landscapes study – the higher the percentage shown on the map, the more sensitive a landscape is likely to be to new development.’ The landscape sensitivity lies between 50% and 75% within the settlement. The settlement is relatively flat. Agricultural Land Map

Agricultural Land

The Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) provides a method for assessing the quality of farmland to enable informed choices to be made about its future use within the planning system. It helps underpin the principles of sustainable development. DEFRA produced guidance on the ALC in the planning system in 1998 and the most up to date data, was produced by Natural England in 2002.

Detailed analysis of agricultural land classification around Cheddington has been carried out. The majority of the land is classified 3b although there are pockets of 3a, located at the allotments and recreation ground. Along the southern boundary of the site the land is classified as grade two.

Topography

Contours showing land at heights at 5 metre vertical intervals from Ordnance Survey maps. Land heights are above ordnance datum (sea level). Cheddington sits between 100 to 120 metres above sea level.

Infrastructure and Transport Connections map

Cheddington facilities, connections and infrastructure

The map on the following page shows Cheddington in the context of its transport connections, infrastructure and facilities. As discussed within section 3, Cheddington has a number of key facilities, including a first school, public houses, general store and a couple of retail units. In relation to employment, within the village there is limited employment available, Marsworth Airfield is located some 2km to the west of the village off the road to Long Marston providing some employment. Cheddington is near to the B488 connecting to Ivinghoe and Grove. From Ivinghoe the Tring Road connects to Dunstable and from Grove A4146 connects to Leighton‐ Buzzard. The London Midland Railways runs along the eastern boundary of Cheddington. A public footpath crosses through the centre of the village, through the High Street.

1 1 3 3 0 9 0 1 5 5 30 1 9 3

1 5 Cheddington1 Agricultural land use Classifications and Topogrpahy 0 130

1 2 1 5 5 5 2 5 2 1 1 9

5 12 0 0

3 0

12 1 1 0 5 3 1 5 5 11 1

15 120

0 9

110

0 1 9 20

1 05

0 10 9 0

9 5 95 0 10 5 5 10 10 105 0 1 1 1 1 5 90

110

85 1 5 0 9 5 5 11

0 1 1 Key 1 2 5

0 Agricultural Land Classification (detailed) 3 1 5 3 Grade 1 1 1 2 0 Grade 2 0 9 Grade 3a

1 Grade 3b 85 0 5

0 Grade 4 3 1 Not Surveyed Other

3 5 5 2 1 Agricultural Land Classification (Non detailed) 1 0 5 0 5 10 1 Grade 1 1 Grade 2 0 100 200 300 400 500 Grade 3 Metres Grade 4

This map is based upon Ordn ance Survey material with the 5 Grade 5 ´ 0 5 permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her 1 1 Majesty's Stationery Office. Non agricultural 1 © Crown copyright. Urban Unauthorised reproduction in fringes Crown co pyright Parishes and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 1:14,000 Aylesbu ry Vale District Council 100019797 2010 Contour Lines Cheddington Environmental Constraints

Cheddington CP

Key

Parishes 0 50100 200 300 400 500 600 TPO Metres Flood Plain This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her ´ Majesty's Stationery Office. Areas Suseptible to Surface Water Flooding © Crown copyright. % Notable Species Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. 1:14,000 Aylesbury Vale District Council 100019797 2010 Biological Notification Sites Cheddington Historic Constraints

Cheddington CP

Key

Parishes Listed Buildings 0 50100 200 300 400 500 600 Historic Parks and Gardens Scheduled Ancient Monuments Meters This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the Archaeological Notification Areas permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. ´ © Crown copyright. Historic Land Use Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright New Potential Contaminated Land and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Aylesbury Vale District Council 100019797 2010 1:14,000 Cheddington Landscape

Key HS2-ARP-00-GI-RW-00226_OptimisedRoute3_v3 Settlements LCT 01 Wooded Ridge LCT 02 Incised Valleys LCT 03 Valley Bottom LCT 04 Undulating Clay Plateau LCT 05 Shallow Valleys LCT 06 Greensand Ridge LCT 07 Wooded Rolling Lowlands 0 50100 200 300 400 500 600 LCT 08 Vale LCT 09 Low Hills and Ridges LCT 10 Chalk Foothills Metres LCT 11 Chalk Escarpment This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the LCT 12 Chalk Dip Slope LCT 13 Chalk Valleys permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of ´ Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Landscape Sensitivity © Crown copyright. 0 - 50% Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead 50 - 75% to prosecution or civil proceedings. 75 - 90% Aylesbury Vale District Council 100019797 2011. 1:14,000 90 - 100% Cheddington Infrastructure and Transport Connections

Key

Employment Facility Retail Service 0 50 100 200 300 Bus Stops

Metres Public Rights of Way This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Public Rights of Way

Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright ´ and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. kj Railway Station Aylesbury Vale District Council 100019797 2010 1:6,000 London Midland Railways

Annex 1: Housing Waiting List

Annex 2: References

Local Plans Source AVDC Community Led http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/community‐living/community‐ Planning led‐planning/ Community Led Plans ‐ www.clp‐se.org.uk South East Rural Communities Council Local Area Plans http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/our_communities/local_area_plans. page Statistics ACORN ward profile Paper copy. Buckinghamshire County Council, March 2010

Local Area Profile Paper copy, AVDC, 2006 Employment Land Study http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local‐development‐ 2008 plans/planning‐policy/withdrawn‐core‐strategy/avldf‐evidence‐ base/employment‐evidence/aylesbury‐vale‐employment‐land‐study‐ march‐2008/?LGNTF=71 ONS www.ons.gov.uk BCC education Paper Copy. BCC Cabinet report from May 2010. Also information from BCC, December 2010 School Location http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/schools/ea_Name_search.page Doctors Information from database held by the Primary Care Trust, October 2010 Housing Hometrack http://www.housingintelligence.co.uk/ (membership required) Completions AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing)

Commitments AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing)

Affordable Housing AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) Completions No. Parish Dwellings AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) (Housing Stock) Rural exception schemes AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) Employment Losses and gains in last AVDC monitoring data, 2010 (ongoing) five years (B1,2, and 8)

Environmental Constraints Listed buildings http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/

Maps AVDC, December 2010. Produced using ArcMap with license from Ordnance Survey Conservation Areas and http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local‐development‐ Management Plans plans/planning‐policy/supplementary‐planning‐ documents/conservation‐area‐supplementary‐planning‐document/

Green Infrastructure Aylesbury Vale Green http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure‐culture/parks‐open‐ Infrastructure Strategy spaces/aylesbury‐vale‐green‐infrastructure‐strategy/ 2011‐2026

Buckinghamshire Green http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/strategic_planning/green_infrastruc Infrastructure Strategy ture.page

AVDC Green Spaces http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/leisure‐culture/planning‐policy‐ Audit guidance‐17/‐green‐space‐audit/

Transport Public transport stops http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses‐and‐trains/Maps/Real‐ time‐bus‐map.aspx Bus time tables http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses‐and‐trains/Bus‐ timetables.aspx Community Transport http://www.alt‐transport.org.uk/schemes_av.asp Schemes Other Settlement audit 2008 http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/local‐development‐ plans/planning‐policy/withdrawn‐core‐strategy/avldf‐evidence‐ base/miscellaneous‐evidence/review‐rural‐settlement‐hierarchy Aerial Photography http://maps.google.co.uk/maps Population stats from AVDC, 2010, paper copies available on request for the last 5 censuses 1951