Sevenoaks Weald Village Design Statement the Parish of Weald

Sevenoaks Weald Village Design Statement The Parish of Weald

THE PARISH OF WEALD SEVENOAKS IS SET IN ‘AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY’

WEALD VILLAGE

HILDENBOROUGH

THE A21 BY-PASSES WEALD VILLAGE

NORTH

This image is an extract from The Millennium Map TM which is copyright getmapping.com.plc Introduction

Why have a Village Design What is a Village Design How the Village Design Statement? Statement? Statement was produced

The Town Planning process is A Village Design Statement has to The village design statement undergoing the greatest change be broadly in accordance with the covers the whole of the parish. In since its introduction over 50 years advice and objectives of the compiling this Statement all of the ago. The Government said in July Countryside Agency and an village were invited to give their 2002, "For too long, people have effective Village Design Statement: views and all opinions were taken been alienated by a planning into account. These views and system which has acted in the • is developed, researched, opinions were gathered through community’s name but without its written and edited by local questionnaires, meetings, support. Our proposals will open people; presentations and discussions. up the planning system and The statements and conclusions increase participation right from the • is representative of the views of set out here represent the views of start of the process. People must the village as a whole; the majority of the community. engage with plans for development in their area." The Village Design • has involved a wide section of The consultation with the residents Statement is part of this process the village community in its of the village took place during and enables the community to production; 2002/3. have some input into local planning matters. • describes the visual character of the village;

• demonstrates how local character and distinctiveness can be protected and enhanced in new development;

• draws up design principles which are compatible with the statutory planning system and the local planning context and are suitable for approval as supplementary planning guidance;

• is applicable to all forms and scale of development;

• is about managing change, not preventing it. History of the village

The oldest part of this building is Map of village from 1889. Parish Church. from the 15th Century.

Weald village and its surrounding The clay soil made travel very The parish church started its life as parish lies on the southern side of difficult in winter, and only the a chapel in 1822 and since 1896 the Greensand Ridge on the edge important routes between London has remained substantially the of Kent/Sussex Weald. The village and the coast were maintained. same. The railway and the is built on a knoll formed by the flow Weald did not have an ancient Sevenoaks tunnel were completed of two streams. route passing through it to be by 1868 but no station was built to developed into a major road and serve the village. Shops, garages Occupation by man and the start of this is one of the reasons why the and public houses developed and, agricultural practices resulted in village has managed to preserve although fewer now, they are still substantial tree clearance, leaving its rural character. an integral part of village life. small areas of copse, a system of hedges, and some trees. The field The earliest buildings in the village After the Second World War the pattern has remained unchanged are over 600 years old. housing in the village was for over 500 years. increased substantially and by the The village developed slowly and late 1970's the 'Village Envelope' randomly until the end of the First was defined. The purpose of this World War. Since then large areas was to stop the spread of buildings of land have changed hands as on Green Belt land. well as farms and smallholdings. Small housing estates were built on some of this land. Ribbon development and infilling took place. The village primary school Catholic Church which opened in Victorian times is a focal point in the village. The Village Today

The parish is within the The parish is mainly mixed Since the end of the Second World Metropolitan Green Belt (MGB) and farmland with the village of Weald War the spaces between houses entirely within the Kent Downs Area placed within it. Field sizes still have gradually been filled in. of Outstanding Natural Beauty remain relatively small although a Orchards and farmland within the (AONB) which is equivalent to a number of hedges have been village envelope were developed in National Park in terms of landscape removed in the past to enlarge the 50's and 60's to form mainly quality. It is also defined as a them. This has often left isolated cul-de-sac developments of 20 or Special Landscape Area (SLA). trees marking the original hedge so houses. Infilling continued Within the parish there is a Site of line. Farms have become larger regularly and most of the available Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and many farmhouses, once each land has been developed. and Sites of Nature Conservation the centre of a small farm, are now Interest. (SNCI) private houses unconnected with the surrounding farmland. Farm buildings in many instances have been converted for private dwellings or commercial use. The Village of Weald: Amenities

1 2 3 4 5 6 Pub Post Office Garage Butcher Church Tennis Courts

7 14 School Church

6 2 1 8 7 3 4 Shop 8 10 12 13 11 9

9 14 Allotments

Village Green Children’s Play Methodist Chapel Village Hall

10 11 12 13 Residents' Views

Number of "Likes" recorded

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Quiet / Rural

Good communicat ions

Sense of village communit y

A questionnaire was Facilit ies – good shops/pub made and distributed at The Green various functions held in School the village. Functions Variet y of Buildings included Jubilee Day picnic party (the Village "Contained" village Design Statement launch Church day), the PTA fete, and Tradit ional det ails End of Jubilee Year show. Questionnaires Hedges and trees were also distributed to Good walking individuals whenever the Lit t le through traf f ic opportunity occurred. Saf e

No street light s

The questionnaire was Narrow winding roads designed to find the "Likes" and "Dislikes" residents might have of the village and attempted not to lead the recipients Number of "Dislikes" recorded too much by asking specific questions. The 0 20 40 60 80 100 questionnaire asked: Traf f ic: Amount

Traf f ic: Parking

What is it about the Traf f ic: Speed village that made you decide to live here? For "Ident ical" housing example, it is a quiet and Modern houses pretty village; it is close to In-f illing Sevenoaks yet is clearly in the country; it has No cheap housing good access to motorway Road/ Aircraf t noise and rail systems. Creeping urbanisat ion

Big propert ies

What aspects of the Telecom masts village and its Lit t er surroundings do you like and what do you dislike? Too few children’s facilit ies Narrow roads/no pavement s

Dormit ory village What are the things that particularly represent the Replacement windows character of the village? Obt rusive conversions

What aspects of design No st reet light s are there that should be preserved, or examples Whit e/ rendered houses of development that Street furniture should not be repeated? Silos Children’s Views

Number of "Likes" recorded

0510 15 20

The Green

School/teachers

Shops, etc

Tennis courts

Park The schoolchildren Events were also asked to write their "Likes" Friendliness/people and "Dislikes" of Woods/trees/pretty scenery the village. Thirty- eight children aged Peaceful 7 to 11 responded Village environment with a total of 91

Field behind school likes and 29 dislikes . Ease of access to motorways/London

Like it as it is

Rope swing in the Wickets

Lack of traffic and pollution

Children’s activities

Number of "Dislikes" recorded

0510 15 20

M ore facilities for older children (7+)

Not enough benches on the green

Traffic

Dogs' mess

Football area not good enough

No pavement on Scabharbour Road

Look/effect of bottle bank

Park could be improved

Grass not cut enough

Only one male teacher at school

Skateboarders

Not enough bins round the green

No school car park

No skate park The Village Context

DESIGNATION Hatch colour

SSSI = Mauve

SNCI = Green

THE VILLAGE ENVELOPE = Red

‘WAYS IN’ TO VILLAGE =

THE VILLAGE SEEN FROM HUBBARD’S HILL

THE TOPOGRAPHY HIDES THE VILLAGE FROM THE WEST

THE VILLAGE SEEN FROM MORLEY’S FARM

PICTURESQUE FARMS CLOSE TO THE VILLAGE

Weald village is set in gentle, hilly, The feature of trees dotted about The village is a properly functioning attractive countryside which is fields, small copses randomly one. It has evolved in an designated as an Area of placed around the village and unstructured way as a place for Outstanding Natural Beauty and hedged fields are well-liked and ordinary people to live. There is no Special Landscape Area. There adds to the overall beauty of the "High Street" as village shops and are beautiful views both from within area. Walking in the area is other facilities are dotted around the village and from many points enjoyed not only by the residents the village. This lack of structure round it. Preservation of the but by numerous visitors. There or formality in the layout is well- surrounding countryside and its are many excellent foot paths and liked and should be preserved. status is of paramount importance bridle ways in the parish. Modern housing developments and great care must be taken in have deviated from this any changes made. unstructured arrangement and detract from the character of the village.

• The status of AONB, SLA, • The countryside, featuring • Any addition to the building Green Belt, and the present hedges, dotted trees and stock in the village must village envelope must be copses, should be preserved. recognise the informality of preserved as must the SSSI • Consideration should be given layout of the village. and Sites of Nature to preserving individual trees, Conservation Interest. belts of trees and hedges which are particularly important to the village setting. The Green and its surrounding Views towards the ridge are The village is not a suburb of buildings, trees and views important but are in danger of Sevenoaks as it is surrounded by epitomise the character of the being spoiled by inappropriate countryside. It is self contained village. Wherever one looks in and building on the ridge. and entirely distinct from any other around the village the view may be settlement. This is well-liked. described as very pleasant. It is not necessarily spectacular but The village boundary may be quintessentially English and reviewed during preparation of the residents do not want it changed. new Local Development Similarly, views of the village from Framework. vantage points around show the village, in general, to be well shielded by trees and unobtrusive.

• The character of the Green • Any development on the ridge • Any ribbon development along must be preserved. must be unobtrusive as views roads outside the village • Development in the village from the village, especially envelope must be resisted to should take into account the towards the ridge may be preserve the self contained effect it might have on views destroyed by additional or effect. from the ridge and steps taken changed buildings on it. • The village envelope is to be to lessen any visual impact. preserved as it is. The Village Buildings

Houses Details

There is a wide range of housing in Houses in the village are an eclectic the village and residents span all mix ranging from fifteenth century ages. This helps the village exist houses, Victorian cottages, 60's as an entity. It is a very attractive culs-de-sac and modern village to live in and being in the constructions. Southeast, these factors cause house prices to be above average. There is no single style of house to As time passes this will count represent the village, however, against people with young families, there are features which are first or second-time buyers and traditional in the Kent style. These those looking for cheaper rented include the use of mellow red accommodation. As time passes bricks, use of blue brick-ends to this will change the mix of people make patterns in the walls; weather- and alter the character and indeed boarding and wood cladding; tile- the viability of the village. hung walls, gables, and small- paned windows.

• The mix of housing in the • Design of new buildings and village must be preserved . alterations should recognise the local characteristics for buildings. Most buildings, ancient and The village was originally stocked Developments must be good, modern, are buildings of their time. with smaller houses and cottages modern design but sympathetic to Changes to existing buildings and careful consideration should the village environment. Larger should maintain the original be given to the size of house that buildings are not natural to the character. New buildings need to fit might be permitted. Developments village and may change its into the existing village environment have tended to increase the character. and not detract from or overwhelm average size of houses either by surrounding buildings. extensions or by building large properties which are out of Some residents consider that character. Smaller houses are houses such as the 60's attractive but many of these have developments did not take heed of been extended or rebuilt. the village structure at the time and Therefore, in order to maintain changed the existing village balance of property in the village it character. is felt that developments of smaller housing units would be preferred.

• Developments should not • Alterations to existing buildings • The village should continue to detract from or overwhelm must preserve their original offer a wide range of buildings existing buildings. The rural character. from small to large and from and random characteristic old to new. must be preserved. The Village Community

Many residents comment on the While it is accepted that the considerable community spirit viability of any shop, pub, garage within the village and there are and similar in the village is the many well-supported village responsibility of the owner these organisations both social and places form an integral part of the sporting. This community spirit is fabric of the community. Contact encouraged by residents' living in a between villagers is made at these pleasant environment with a places, all adding to the sense of number of amenities including community. Loss of any such allotments and tennis courts which enterprise would undermine the are conducive to engendering conditions for maintaining a personal contact. There are a community spirit. Any number of riding stables situated in development or change should the parish. Adding to this there is a take into account the effect on good social mix with no overt village present businesses. hierarchy. The churches are active and many Residents with young children events and activities are organised remark upon the suitability of the by them. village for bringing up children and they generally consider it safe. The school is held in high regard and is an essential part of the community.

• The conditions and environment for shops, pub, Post Office, garage, school and similar should be such that they can remain serving the community. Village Urbanisation

LIKED

LIKED DISLIKED

Many people of the village came to The village grew out of a collection Some items of street furniture may escape from the urban of farm-workers' houses placed in be described as too harsh for the environment. Others who were close proximity to orchards and environment they are in. Although either born here or have been here fields which in bygone times were this street furniture is needed for a long time feel that it has changed bounded by hedges and trees and, the public there is scope for too much and the rural character is with the coming of the railway, rationalising it or softening its being eroded. Once urbanisation railway workers' houses. Hedges impact. of any village occurs it is very remain in many places in the difficult to reverse. Residents did village and many are ancient and There are no street lights in the not come here to be in an urban are a distinct and well liked feature village. In general this is seen as environment. of the village. They are in an advantage in that it gives a preference to walls and fences. country feeling at night. Too bright The village retains a traditional This aspect and the lack of hard privately installed lights appear to rural atmosphere. There is not an kerbs and harsh paving in most be disliked by many residents as overwhelming feeling of being back parts of the village adds to the they tend to spoil this country feel. in time but there are many aspects country feel. which remain and modernising Telecommunications masts are them is not seen as any great disliked. advantage.

• The rural character of the • Hedges containing traditional • Street furniture, notices etc village must be preserved. bushes and trees of local should be strictly controlled • Statutory Utility providers native species should be and rationalised. should consult the parish encouraged. • Street lighting should be before carrying out works • Boundary walls and fences are resisted and care should be contrary to the general wishes to be discouraged, particularly taken with the installation of expressed in this Statement. high and aggressive security private lighting. fencing. • Telecommunications masts • Soft verges should be retained. are to be discouraged or sited • Harsh paving should be and camouflaged discouraged. sympathetically. Traffic

Communications Traffic

The village is within striking The greatest concern of the distance of the M25 with its relative residents is the traffic in the village: ease of access to airports and other amount; speed; and parking. parts of the country. It is also close to Sevenoaks for the facilities of a The village has a number of larger town. This, along with commercial enterprises including convenient rail travel to London, farms, Gaza industrial estate, small provides residents with all urban workshops as well as the garage, based necessities while still living in the Post Office and other shops. a rural community. All these enterprises need to be serviced with goods coming in and However, closeness to airports and product or bought goods going out. major roads has the drawback of All cause traffic and the modern noise from aircraft, both commercial trend is for larger lorries to be used and recreational, and passing traffic for economy. The heaviest on the A21. Commercial aircraft vehicles allowed on British roads noise may have to be tolerated and regularly come through the narrow this is outside the scope of this streets of the village and they Statement. Recreational aircraft frequently use roads which are noise should be subject to the indicated as being unsuitable for representation to the specific clubs heavy vehicles and cause or organisations. obstruction and damage to verges. The school in the village takes a Road traffic noise from the A21 has number of children from outside the increased firstly through increased village and, with little public traffic and secondly as a result of transport, they are brought by car. tree loss in the 1987 Great Storm. Tree replacement could alleviate this problem to some extent.

• Tree planting to reduce the • Full recognition must be made noise from passing traffic on of the incremental amount of the A21 is to be encouraged. traffic caused by any new • Acceptance by the authorities enterprise. of development of airfields • Commercial enterprises are to must take account of the be welcomed but all add added noise which may be traffic. inflicted on the village. Roads and Pavements

There is a shortage of public and All roads into the village lend Some parts of the village are more private parking in the village and themselves to vehicles' speeding affected than others by passing little opportunity to provide it. This because the approach is down hill traffic and although there are no means that many cars are parked or roads are perceived as "quiet major routes to any distinct outside the owners' houses. Infill and little used" where excessive destination through the village a means that any spare space for speed is considered by drivers as considerable amount of traffic parking is denied to present acceptable. The roads into the passes along most village roads. residents thereby aggravating the village are narrow, winding and The roads are being used as a problem. have no pavements. This is seen back route to other villages by many residents as adding including Edenbridge. Footpaths charm to the village but when away from roads within the village combined with speeding traffic it are beneficial in separating can be dangerous. pedestrians from traffic and give pedestrians access to other parts of the village.

• The residents feel that • Measures should be • Consideration must be given adequate parking should be implemented to promote road to re-routing traffic to various considered when infilling takes safety to account for volume destinations (e.g. Gaza place. and speed. estate). • Ensure vehicles can easily • Means have to be provided to • Any development should take clear the road when parking or reduce the speed of traffic in into account the need for delivering by, for example, the country roads and in the pedestrians from it to reach setting back entrance gates village. other parts of the village from the road. without using village roads. Recommendations

Prevent developments spoiling Maintain the village environment Limit the impact of parking valuable views by: by: congestion by:

• Preventing obtrusive • Maintaining the informality of • Fully recognising the development on the ridge layout of the village. incremental amount of traffic caused by any new enterprise. • Minimising the effect of • Preserving the mix of housing in development in the village on the village. • Recognise full parking need for views from the ridge development and taking • Preserving the character of the account of parking space • Minimising the visual impact of Green. reduction caused by infilling. telecommunications masts • Preserving the allotments as a • Providing means to park off the village amenity. road when making deliveries etc.

Preserve the environment round Maintain and respect the village Recognise the need for the village by: character by: pedestrian safety by:

• Preserving the status of Area of • Preserving the rural character of • Controlling traffic speed in the Outstanding Natural Beauty, the village. country roads and in the village. Special Landscape Area, Green Belt, Site of Special Scientific • Keeping new buildings and • Re-routing traffic away from the Interest and Sites of Nature extensions in scale with existing village. Conservation Interest. buildings. • As far as possible, providing • Maintain the present village • Ensuring alterations and pedestrians from new envelope. extensions of buildings maintain developments with the their original character. opportunity to reach village • Preserving the countryside, amenities without using village featuring hedges, dotted trees • Discouraging walls and fencing, roads. and copses. especially security gates and fencing, in favour of preserving • Preserving individual trees, belts and encouraging hedges of trees and hedges which are containing bushes and trees of particularly important to the traditional local native species. Reducing environmental village setting. pollution by: • Not installing street lighting and minimising private lighting. Control development in and • Reducing the noise from around the village by: • Discouraging harsh paving and passing traffic on the A21. kerbs in favour of retaining soft • Ensuring Utility Providers consult verges. • Reducing the noise impact of the parish before carrying out any airfield development. works contrary to the general • Rationalising and minimising the wishes expressed in this amount of street furniture, Statement. notices and advertisements.

• Encouraging sympathetic commercial enterprises.

• Promoting the conditions and environment for shops, pub, Post Office, garage, school and similar to thrive.