Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan Baseline Report v2.0 May 2016

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 1 2 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan Contents

1. Purpose of this document 04 2. Planning Policy Context 06 3. Introduction to Wallingford 08 4. People and population 10 5. Housing 12 6. Working and Shopping 14 7. Accessibility and Movement 18 8. Leisure and Wellbeing 20 9. Environment, Sustainability and Design Quality 22 10. Past Consultation 26 11. Summary of Key Issues 27

Annex 1. References 29 Annex 2. Past Consultations 30

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 3 1. Purpose of this document

This section introduces the intention of the baseline report and the context of the Neighbourhood Planning process in Wallingford.

The Baseline Report brings together and summarises Town Council has been designated by SODC as the lead body information from a range of background reports and evidence in the production of the WNP (see Figure 1.1: Neighbourhood base studies. These primarily comprise those that have been Plan Boundary). produced as part of the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) planning policy evidence base. A full list of data In September 2015, Nexus Planning was appointed by sources is set out in Annex 1. Wallingford Town Council to assist with the preparation of the WNP. This Baseline Report identifies the key social, environmental and economic characteristics of Wallingford, providing The process of producing a Submission Version of the WNP is a shared resource and reference point for all parties anticipated to take at least 12 months. SODC will then review contributing to the Neighbourhood Planning process. the Neighbourhood Plan, before it is independently examined and finally, undergoes a referendum (or public vote). A Neighbourhood Plan is a relatively new type of planning document that was introduced by the Localism Act, which The remainder of the Baseline Report is set out as follows: came into force in April 2012. Neighbourhood Plans are intended to give local people a greater say in the future of Section 2: Planning Policy Context their communities. However, Neighbourhood Plans must Section 3: Introduction to Wallingford conform to the overarching strategic policy framework, which Section 4: People and Population in this case includes: Section 5: Housing Section 6: Working and Shopping • the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) Section 7: Accessibility and Movement • the adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011) Section 8: Leisure and Well-being • the adopted SODC Core Strategy (2012) Section 9: Environment, Sustainability and Design Quality • the emerging strategic policies of the new SODC Local Plan Section 10: Past Consultation Summary 2031 Section 11: Summary of Key Issues Annex 1: References and Figures As the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan (WNP) develops, a key challenge will be the need to respond to and reflect Annex 2: Past Consultation emerging strategic policies, including the new SODC Local Plan and any future housing requirements for the settlement. More detail on the current policy context is set out in Section 2 of this report.

Neighbourhood Plans cannot be used to resist appropriate development that is required. In this way, the WNP will need to consider how development needs are met; it could be used to influence the type of development that takes place in a neighbourhood area, where it takes place, what it looks like and the mix of uses proposed that are included. The WNP will set out a vision for the future of the area over the next 15 years, providing a strategy to manage improvements to the town and a land use framework for development.

On 1st May 2015 SODC formally agreed the WNP area boundary, which reflects the Town boundary. Wallingford

4 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan BRIGHTWELL - CUM - SOTWELL

CROWMARSH GIFFORD

CHOLSEY

Figure 1.1: Neighbourhood Plan Boundary (May 2015)

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 5 2. Planning Policy Context

This section of the report outlines the planning policy background that provides the context for the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan.

Status of Development Plan Document ‘Saved Policies from the SODC Local Plan (2011)’

As Neighbourhood Plans must conform to strategic Saved policies of relevance to the production of the policies, the status of the Local Plan for the Wallingford Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan include: area is of significance to the process. Wallingford is located within South Oxfordshire’s Plan area. Whilst the Core • Policy D1 seeks the principles of good design and the Strategy issues are not necessarily those that need to be protection and reinforcement of local distinctiveness covered by the Neighbourhood Plan, the Plan does need to should be taken into account. take account of and accord with the Core Strategy Policies. A number of policies relating to Wallingford have South Oxfordshire Development Plan consists of: since been superseded by the Core Strategy and/or the development to which the policy relates has been • the adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011) completed. (Ref: 1) ‘Adopted Core Strategy (2012)’ • the adopted SODC Core Strategy (2012) (Ref: 2)

• Adopted Neighbourhood Plans • Policy CSH3 ‘Affordable Housing’ outlines that 40% affordable housing will be sought where there is a net The District Council is currently developing a new Local Plan gain of three or more dwellings subject to the viability of to guide development up until 2031. The current timeline provision on each site. for the adoption of the emerging Plan is April 2017. • Policy CSWAL1 ‘The Strategy for Wallingford’ advises that proposals for development in Wallingford should be In April 2014, the local authorities across Oxfordshire consistent with the strategy which is to: published a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) (Ref: 3). This identified that South Oxfordshire needs to i. Strengthen the town centre including find additional housing beyond that originally planned for supporting schemes which allow for the re-use in the Core Strategy. In addition to the number identified in or redevelopment of the former Waitrose Site the SHMA, Oxford City Council has identified a difficulty in provided that the retail element and car parking is meeting housing need within the city boundary due to land retained; supply and greenbelt constraints and therefore it has been ii. Support housing and employment uses above suggested that other District Councils, including SODC, shops; may need to accommodate some of the unmet need and consultation has taken place on this issue. iii. Support the market place as a focal hub; iv. Support measures which improve the attraction of In order to take into consideration the increased housing Wallingford for visitors with particular emphasis on number, SODC is currently reviewing the existing plan the River Thames; to consider additional growth. For this reason, while v. Improve accessibility, car parking, pedestrian and Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan will need to also comply cycle links and local air quality; with the adopted Core Strategy, it will in the future need to be brought forward in accordance with any changes to the vi. Support schemes which enhance the town’s new Local Plan. environment;

______(Ref: 1) adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011) (Ref: 2) SODC adopted Core Strategy (2012) (Ref: 3) Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2014) 6 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan vii. Identify land for about 2ha for employment growth; Summary of Key Issues viii. Support schemes which improve the stock of existing commercial buildings and the environment • The Neighbourhood Plan must conform with a number of existing employment areas; of National and District Policies including the adopted ix. Identify land for 555 new homes (Policy CSWAL2); Core Strategy and saved Local Plan and • The relevant policies include requirements for the x. Allow housing on suitable infill and redevelopment allocated housing site, design quality requirements sites. and local distinctiveness as well as an outline role for Wallingford in the South Oxfordshire context. • Policy CSWAL2 ‘Greenfield neighbourhood west of • Policy CSWAL2 within the adopted Core Strategy 1 Wallingford ’ states permission will be granted for a new outlines specific requirements for site currently under greenfield neighbourhood of 555 homes to the west of consideration in West Wallingford. Wallingford provided that: i. The area is planned comprehensively and the development takes place in accordance with an agreed design brief as required by Policy CSQ4; ii. The form and characteristics of the development meet identified housing needs of Wallingford; iii. Access is from the western bypass, with no vehicular access provided through Queen’s Avenue; iv. A through route is provided for public transport; v. Measures are put in place to mitigate any impacts on the Wallingford Air Quality Management Area; vi. Safe pedestrian and cycle linkages are provided from the development to the town centre and to Hithercroft; vii. The western and southern boundaries are reinforced with significant landscape buffers, with no built development along the western boundary adjacent to the bypass; viii. The existing footpath through the site is developed into a green corridor linking the town to the wider countryside; and ix. Provision is made, or contributions are provided, towards the supporting infrastructure set out in SODC’s infrastructure delivery plan including a new primary school.

1 Land to the West of Wallingford (Site B) was submitted to SODC on the 4th September 2014 and is currently under consideration. (P14/S2860/O).

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 7 3. Introduction to Wallingford

This section describes the strategic location of the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan area.

Location and role of the town

Wallingford is situated to the north west of Reading and to the south east of Oxford. The town is located on the eastern bank of the River Thames and is closely linked to Crowmarsh on the western bank. Wallingford is the smallest market town of South Oxfordshire and hosts a long history as a critical defensive and trade settlement present since the bronze ages, which is reflected within its built environment. The picturesque market town is designated within the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy as a town centre serving a local catchment area.

The town has good links to Oxford, Reading, Didcot, Newbury, Maidenhead, Henley and Abingdon. The road networks allow access to the M40 and M4 via routes through the likes of Reading, Didcot and Oxford.

Historically located in Berkshire, the market town was transferred to Oxfordshire in 1974. The town has many historical assets including Wallingford Bridge which dates back to 1141 and the remains of Wallingford Castle, which was destroyed at the end of the Civil War.

The closest mainline railway station to Wallingford is Cholsey, 3 miles away. However Didcot, Goring, Reading and Oxford can all be reached by bus transfer from Wallingford.

Wallingford town centre offers a concentration of shops, services, leisure and community facilities. The town has one secondary, and three primary schools.

The Neighbourhood Plan area includes Winterbrook area in the south of the town. The town and surrounding area is shown in the Location Plan for Wallingford in Figure 3.1.

8 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan TOWARDS OXFORD

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9 WALLINGFORD

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9 CROWMARSH GIFFORD BRIGHTWELL 6 - CUM - SOTWELL 3 4 TOWARDS 8 READING

7

CHOLSEY

Figure 3.1: Wallingford Context Plan 4. People and population

This section considers some key characteristics of the population of the Plan area including current trends.

The population of Wallingford is approximately 8,000 South Oxfordshire will increase by 12.9% (12,666 residents). people. The 2011 Census (Ref: 4) established that there are The Forecasts also outline a significant increase in the 11,600 residents in Cholsey and Wallingford area (using the number of over 65s across all Districts in the County and as ward boundaries of ‘North Wallingford’ and ‘Cholsey and a result the average household size in South Oxfordshire Wallingford South’). This was an increase from the 2001 is expected to decrease from 2.37 to 2.18. However, the Census (Ref: 5) which recorded 10,425 residents within the projections also indicate an increase in the working age same defined boundary, an increase of 9% (1,175 people) in population in South Oxfordshire of around 14%. the 10 year period. Deprivation Demographics In terms of deprivation, the three of the five Lower Super The age profile of Wallingford, based on the 2011 Census, Output Areas (LSOA) that make up Wallingford are all shows that the largest proportion of residents are aged amongst the 50% least deprived neighbourhoods in the 25 to 44 (28%) which is in line with England and higher country (Ref: 7) and all ranked between 18-19,500 (out than the South Oxfordshire District (26%). Wallingford has of 32,844) LSOA (1 being the most deprived). This is comparable populations to the District in the 5-24 year old contrasted by the other two areas , which are amongst the age groups (22%), a slightly greater aging population (65+) 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in the Country, with and a smaller population (3%) of those aged between 45-64. both ranked at around 32,400 (1 being the most deprived). This suggests that deprivation within Wallingford is There is a slightly higher proportion of women in contained to certain areas, in particularly central areas of Wallingford (52%) compared to men (48%) and the the Town. population is almost entirely British at 96%, with only 4% of other ethnicities as represented in the 2011 Census. Social Tenure Wallingford’s British population (96%) is 5% greater than the South East Region (91%) and 11% greater than England (85%). The location of specific tenure types at output area level indicates potential pockets of deprivation in Wallingford The Census 2011 also indicates that the majority of beyond the deprivation indices. The average level of social Wallingford residents are classified as in good or very good rented properties across the town is 19% across all tenure health (51% and 33% respectively). This is the same as the types. Certain areas such as the vicinity of Borough Avenue South Oxfordshire District and higher than England and the (E00146046) with levels of social renting at 47%. With other South East. Wallingford residents in bad or very bad health areas such as the Brookmead Drive (E00173189), which has are comparable with the District, Region and England at less than 2% of properties classified as social rented. 4% of their respective populations. Suggesting that health is not a key issue in the town despite it’s proportionately older population. Employment The Census 2011 identifies some 6,000 employed residents Population Projections across Wallingford. Of these 13% are employed in the Wholesale/Retail trade and a further 13% in Professional, Future population projections (Ref: 6) have been Scientific and Technical activities. Employment is explored undertaken by SODC at County and District level. They in more detail in chapter 6. indicate that between 2011 and 2026 the total population of

______(Ref: 4) ONS Statistics, National Census (2011) (Ref: 5) ONS Statistics, National Census (2001) (Ref: 6) South Oxfordshire Population Projections 2026 (2011) (Ref: 7) Indices of Multiple Deprivation (2015)

10 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan Skills Summary of Key Issues Based on the 2011 Census, residents in Wallingford have slightly lower levels of skill in terms of qualifications, than • Wallingford’s population increased by 9% between the South Oxfordshire District and England. 2001 and 2011 with similar age profiles to the District, Region and England. This includes a higher rate of individuals with no • The population of South Oxfordshire is estimated to qualifications (20% compared to 16% in the District). increase by 12.6% by 2026. Wallingford also has lower levels of level 4 and above qualifications than the District (37% in district compared to • Wallingford has low levels of deprivation, with parts 36%) but again higher than the South East region (27%). of the Town among the 10% least deprived areas in the UK. Benefit Claimants • In 2011 there were some 6,000 employed residents in Wallingford, with the majority working in Professional/ As of November 2015 there was a total of 25 benefit Technical Services and Retail sectors. claimants across the Wallingford Town (based only on • Wallingford residents have generally lower levels those claiming Job Seekers Allowance and those out-of- of higher qualifications and more residents with no work claiming Universal Credit). Data from November 2014 qualifications than the District. indicates that a higher concentration of benefits claimants can be found in specific areas of the Town, including the • Wallingford residents are in general good health and area North of Wallingford School and properties either side South Oxfordshire is considered a safe area in terms of of Station Road (LOSA reference 012D and o12E). crime levels when compared to neighbouring Districts.

Social Issues

15% of Wallingford Residents have long term health problems of a disability; this is higher than the District (14%) but slightly lower than the South East region and England (16%).

Crime is generally a low issue across much of Wallingford, during September 2015 in the Wallingford, Berinsfield and Cholsey area 93 crimes were reported (Ref: 8). However, the ‘Crime domain’ element of the indices of deprivation highlights that Crime is more concentrated around the town centre, with the LSOA rated as 8,053 most deprived area in terms of crime (out of 32,844 LSOA).

In the South Oxfordshire District, Crime is not a critical issue, with a crime rate of 35.15 (Police recorded crimes per 1,000 population) as of June 2015 (ONS) compared to 53.57 in South Buckinghamshire for example.

______(Ref: 8) Neighbourhood crime statistics, https://www.police. uk/thames-valley/N381/(citied November 2015)

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 11 5. Housing

This section sets out the current housing circumstances in the Neighbourhood Plan area in relation to housing growth and housing needs.

Housing growth

As outlined within Section 2, SODC is currently preparing their Local Plan, which will set out new housing requirements for the District area as a whole, including Wallingford. It is likely that as a result of this exercise additional housing will be required within the Town Boundary that defines the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan area.

The latest Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) that will inform the Local Plan was produced in April 2014. This outlined the housing need for the whole of Oxfordshire County. The SHMA has outlined that an additional 5,100 dwellings will be required across the District, which has the potential to add additional housing above and beyond the current 555 dwellings required to be completed within the adopted Core Strategy period.

The SHMA outlines that between 2006/7 and 2010/11 South Oxfordshire completed 1,337 homes, well below the required target of 2,735. The assessment also outlined, based on the 2011 Census, that housing need is in some cases, causing overcrowding (2.5%) but also that there is an under occupation issue, with 77.5% of properties under Allocated site in the SODC Core occupied, a potential symptom of an aging population. Strategy (2012) Previously consulted options from the SODC Core Strategy 2012 The SODC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment Neighbourhoood Plan Boundary 2011 (updated in July 2013) (Ref: 9) assessed potential sites in Wallingford, with some of these being allocated by the Figure 5.1: Site Allocations plan for Wallingford currently adopted Core Strategy. The sites allocated are outlined in Figure 5.1. Housing stock The housing allocations within the adopted Core Strategy are likely to be updated as part of the emerging Local Housing ownership from the Census 2011 indicates that Plan process, which is currently discussing refined options home ownership in Wallingford (70%) is slightly lower than (Ref: 10). Within the latest publication, public consensus the District (74%) but higher than South East (69%) and was that major urban extensions and housing located England (64%). Wallingford offers a higher number of social in existing settlements such as Oxford, Reading and rented properties (17%) than the South Oxfordshire District potentially Wallingford was not favoured; with potential (11%) and the South East (14%). As a result Wallingford new settlements to the east of the region a more agreeable has less private rented housing (13%) than the South solution. Oxfordshire District (15%), South East (18%) and England ______(18%) respectively. (Ref: 9) SODC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) (July 2013) (Ref: 10) SODC Local Plan 2031 Refined options (2015)

12 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan The housing stock in Wallingford includes more semi- and further research would be required to determine any detached housing (36%) than the South Oxfordshire Wallingford specific need. District (32%), South East Region (28%) and England (22%). This coincides with Wallingford having significantly less In terms of the market housing the SHMA recommends the detached housing (22%) than the District. Wallingford following mix: also supports a larger number of flats (19%) and terraced housing (23%) than the South Oxfordshire District (13% and 19% respectively). The quality of housing stock can be linked Recommended market housing mix by size to characteristics such as the provision of central heating. 1 Bed 5% In Wallingford, 98% of homes have central heating. 2 Bed 25% 3 Bed 45% Affordable housing 4+ Bed 25% Figure 5.3: Recommended market housing mix by size Affordable housing can be considered to include Social rented housing, Affordable rented housing; and Summary of Key Issues Intermediate housing (including shared ownership and shared equity homes). • Additional housing may be required in Wallingford within the District’s emerging Local Plan. The adopted Core Strategy includes policies that specifically address Affordable Housing within the District. Policy CSH3 • The latest Strategic Housing Market Assessment outlines that ‘40% affordable housing will be sought on all (SHMA), outlines the need for an additional 5,100 sites where there is a net gain of three or more dwellings dwellings across the District. subject to the viability of provision on each site’. • The adopted Core Strategy has one site allocated in Wallingford to meet the full 555 housing allocation for The SHMA outlines a recommended housing mix the town - ‘Site B’ to the north of the Sports Park, for appropriate to meet housing needs across the South which a planning application has been submitted. Oxfordshire District area as follows: • Home ownership in Wallingford is less than District levels, with more residents living in social rented Recommended affordable housing mix by size housing. Figure 5.1: Site Allocations plan for Wallingford 1 Bed 25-30% • A significant amount of Wallingford’s Housing Stock is 2 Bed 30-35% semi-detached (36%) with a larger proportion of flats 3 Bed 30-35% (19%) than the District (13%). 4+ Bed 5-10% • There is a requirement at the District level to deliver Figure 5.2: Recommended affordable housing mix by size 40% affordable housing on new housing sites to meet existing and newly arising housing need, totalling 386 In terms of affordable housing need, the Oxfordshire units per annum across South Oxfordshire. SHMA identifies a requirement for 386 affordable housing units per annum for South Oxfordshire District as a whole, or 331 when taking into account the current planned development pipeline. This is split roughly as 70% smaller properties and 30% larger (3bed+). This need is a key driver for the Core Strategy 40% requirement of affordable homes on new development. Sub District analysis is not applied

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 13 6. Working and Shopping

The first part of this section looks at the employment offer as well as the types of jobs undertaken by local residents. The second part considers the retail performance of Wallingford Town Centre, including current issues and potential future requirements. Employment Travel to Work

The 2011 Census provides data on the type of industries in The 2011 Census provides the latest available information which residents of Wallingford are employed, with a total on methods of travelling to work. This indicates that in of 6,002 working residents recorded overall (irrespective Wallingford and the South Oxfordshire District over half of of where they work). The largest employment sectors the residents travel by car (59%), slightly higher than the are Wholesale/Retail trade and Professional, Scientific South East (57%) and England (54%). At the District level, and Technical (both 13%) followed by Social Work (12%), the split of travel to work methods for South Oxfordshire Education (11%), and Construction (8%). When compared is: to the South Oxfordshire District as a whole, the major industries remain the same, with Wholesale/Retail trade • Work mainly at or from home – 15% featuring slightly higher in the District (15%) and slightly • Train, underground, metro, light rail, tram, bus, minibus or less in other fields including human health (10%). The South coach – 8% Oxfordshire District and Wallingford both support more • Driving a car or van – 59% residents employed in Professional, Scientific and Technical • Passenger in a car or van -4% activities (13%) than the South East and England (both 7%). • Bicycle – 4% Employers • On foot – 9% • All other methods of travel to work – 1% The Business Register and Employment Survey (Ref: 11) provide data on the types of industries located within the In terms of where residents are working, the majority of Wallingford North and Cholsey and Wallingford South Wallingford residents are commuting to Reading, Oxford, Wards. Data from 2014 illustrates that businesses in Henley-on-thames with the majority travelling to work at Wallingford employ approximately 6,212 people (equivalent RAF Benson and Harwell Innovation Centre. to the number of workers). There are also a number of local employers within walking A number of key employment industries can be identified distance including those based on the Hithercroft Estate in Wallingford. These include: Professional, Scientific & and Howbery Park Business Park in Crowmarsh Gifford. Technical (15%) which makes up a significant percentage of employment and strongly compares to District trends (21%). Those commuting to Wallingford are typically travelling Others included Construction (10%), which is double the from Didcot, Cholsey, Berinsfield, Berrick Salome and rate of the District and Region (5%); Retail (10%) and Health Benson primarily, with a number coming from Abingdon, (10%) are also well represented employment sectors. Reading and Oxford.

Key employers in the town including Gladstone, Lesters, Employment Land Thames Travel, Fugro Geoconsulting and Royal Mail on the Hithercroft Estate. Although not within the Town Boundary, The 2007 Employment Land Review reports (Ref: 11) on the a number of key employment locations surrounding employment land context and outlines employment land Wallingford play a key role in the local economy, offering availability and needs within the South Oxfordshire District employment for Wallingford residents and attracting Area. people to the Town, these include Howbery Park Business Park in Crowmarsh Gifford and CAB International. The review outlines Wallingford’s role as one of the ______main four towns in the District containing significant (Ref: 11) Business Register and Employment Survey (2011) business floor space, with the Hithercroft Estate alone (Ref: 12) SODC South Oxfordshire Employment Land Review (2007) providing 85,722sq.m of total floor space. The Review also

14 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan identifies Wallingford as part of an area with a particular Retail Performance environmental sciences focus, with a number of key local and national research firms operating in the area. The SODC Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment (Ref: 14), which was produced in 2009 and updated in 2010 was A follow up Review was undertaken in 2008 (Ref: 13) to developed as part of the evidence base for the adopted update a number of projects and estimates using more Core Strategy. recent data to determine current and future needs for South Oxfordshire. This additional review indicated no This Report noted that the centre contains 21,870 sqm specific requirements for Wallingford but based on ONS gross of class A1-A5 floor space which is the lowest of the population growth forecasts concluded that an additional four town centres in the District. Of this, the main food 16.8ha of employment land needs to be provided within store anchoring the centre is the 2,394 sqm net Waitrose South Oxfordshire up until 2026. at St. Martins Street. The former Waitrose store is the only significant vacant site in the town centre. Wallingford Summary of Key Issues is characterised by its high proportion of independent retailers, which represent 87% of the comparison units.

• There are some 6,000 employed residents and In terms of spending, only 51% of the convenience businesses in Wallingford employ approximately 6,212 expenditure is retained in Wallingford, with 35% lost to people, with the majority working and operating in neighbouring centres such as Didcot, Oxford and Reading. professional/technical services, construction, health and retail sectors. In relation to the future retail floor space required for • In Wallingford over half of the residents travel to Wallingford town centre in quantitative terms the identified work by car (59%) with only 8% using public transport floor space is shown in Figure 6.1. services. • The majority of Wallingford residents work in Oxford The South Oxfordshire Retail and Leisure Needs and Reading with people coming from local towns Assessment 2015 (Ref: 15) is currently being developed as primarily to work in the Town. part of the evidence base for the emerging Local Plan. Thus far, the assessment has outlined key headline findings for • In terms of employment land, Wallingford is one of the each of the key local and district retail centres in the area, main four towns in the District containing significant including Wallingford. business floor space. The Assessment Report’s headlines comprise the following:

Shopping • Wallingford exhibits generally positive signs of vitality and viability; The adopted Core Strategy outlines that Wallingford is classified as a town centre serving a local catchment. Policy • The convenience goods function of the centre is CSWAL1 details a range of objectives such as improving particularly important to the overall ‘health’ of the centre; accessibility, enhancing the town centre environment, • Comparison goods retail offer is a mixture of day-to-day supporting employment growth and encouraging goods and services, interspersed with a more specialist employment uses above shops. retail offer, largely provided by the independent retail sector; ______(Ref: 13) SODC Revised South Oxfordshire Employment Land Projections (2008) (Ref: 14) SODC Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment Update (2010)

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 15 • The retail offer of the centre is more functional rather than higher-end side; Summary of Key Issues • The vacancy rate in the town centre is below the UK • Wallingford town centre contains some 21,870 sqm average but higher than other centres in the District; gross of class A1-A5 floor space which is the lowest of • There may be scope for an improved range of evening the four town centres in the District. economy uses, particularly restaurants, within the centre; • Wallingford’s retail offer provides a viable and vital and offer with a mix of day-to-day goods and services, • Environmental quality of the centre, in common with the interspersed with a more specialist retail offer, largely other smaller centres in the District, makes a positive provided by the independent retail sector. contribution to the overall vitality and viability of the town.

•Type of space 2007-2016 2007-2027 Shops - A1 comparison net 1,000 3,000 Shops - A1 convenience net 300 700 Financial and services A1 ser- 100 300 vice/A2 net Total net for A1/A2 uses 1,400 4,000 Total gross for A1/A2 uses 2,000 5,700 Restaurants, cafes and bars A3, 500 1,200 A4 and A5 gross Total gross for A1 – A5 uses 2,500 6,900 Figure 6.1: Quantitative Retail Need for Wallingford

The Wallingford Town Centre the Future (Ref: 16) document outlined a number of challenges and issues that impacted the town centre during the economic downturn, including many relating to the retail offer of the town.

In particular, a general economic slowdown had been indicated and that the south side of the town had been badly affected by Waitrose. This would seem to be less of an issue now with vacancies in and around the town centre not being an issue.

______(Ref: 15) SODC South Oxfordshire Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment (2015) (Ref: 16) Wallingford Town Centre for the Future - Vision Strategy and Action Plan (2006)

16 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan Figure 6.2: Town Centre Plan

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 17 7. Accessibility and Movement This section highlights the issues surrounding transport in Wallingford in regards to walking, cycling, buses and road networks.

Wallingford is located to the south west of South Street due to pinch points at Wallingford Bridge and the Oxfordshire with good road links to Henley, Didcot and Lamb Crossroads. Thame also located within the District. The road network from Wallingford allows for access to London via the M40 In certain areas, narrow carriageways only allow one which is located approximately 10 miles to the east of the direction of traffic movement at any one time. This causes town. queuing traffic and vehicles to take an alternative route through the residential area north of Wallingford. This Roads exacerbates traffic issues from local schools within the area. The Wallingford Bypass to the south and west of the town was completed in 1993. Parking

The main road networks are illustrated in Figures 3.1 Wallingford has a number of key parking locations, and 6.2. The High Street and Station Road run through including St Alban’s (190 spaces), Cattlemarket (151 spaces) Wallingford and provides access over the River Thames and and Goldsmith’s Lane (138 spaces) car parks. out of the town. The principle “A” Roads are summarised below and allow access to various areas across the District Parking provision is important in the town due to the tight and further afield: carriageways and limited on-street parking which results from its historic urban grain. The town has a particular • A4074: Reading - Wallingford - Oxford shortage of long term parking for those commuting to • A4130: Henley on Thames - Wallingford - Didcot work in the town. • A415: Berinsfield - Abingdon - Witney Walking/cycling According to the SODC Evaluation of Transport Assessment (Ref: 17) the junctions in Wallingford are over capacity Wallingford is a compact and relatively flat town which which results in a pattern of peak hour delays. lends itself to walking. The town has easy access to the surrounding countryside with a number of walks beginning The majority of traffic movements within Wallingford town in the town and providing routes to Benson and Ewelme. centre originate from the local area. There is a recognised need for local residents to use more sustainable transport Wallingford is located on the popular Thames Valley cycling particularly for trips into the town centre. route which starts at Putney Bridge in London and goes on to Oxford taking in Maidenhead, Reading, Abingdon and One of the main problems associated with the traffic in Wallingford. Wallingford is the challenge of air quality. In 2006 South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) declared the town an The Thames path is also an attractive route for both Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). walkers and cyclists alike.

When compared to other towns in the County with Local groups such as Sustainable Wallingford are declared AQMA’s, traffic levels through the town are not committed to making Wallingford more environmentally particularly high. However, congestion and air quality issues sustainable by improving walking and cycling routes. within the town centre arise from the historical layout causing pinch points in the network. For example, queuing traffic can be seen throughout the day particularly along sections of the High Street, Castle Street and St Martins ______(Ref: 17) SODC Evaluation of the transport impacts associated with development options in South Oxfordshire (2009)

18 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan Public Transport

The town is well served by local bus routes. The current bus routes as taken by Thames Travel are shown in Figure 7.1 below.

Route Serving X1/X2 Oxford- Abingdon- Milton Park- Didcot- Wallingford X39/X40 Oxford- Wallingford- Reading 97/114 Wallingford-Berinsfield-Abingdon-Didcot 135 Wallingford - Moulsford - Stratley - Goring 136C Wallingford- Cholsey- Wallingford 139 Wallingford- Benson- RAF Benson- Huntercombe- Nettlebed- Henley Figure 7.1: Bus time table for Wallingford

There is no mainline station in Wallingford however the neighbouring town of Cholsey, approximately 3 miles to the south west and Didcot Parkway provide a regular service to Oxford, London Paddington and Banbury respectively. Services from further afield are available from Didcot Parkway to the West Country and Wales.

Cholsey and Wallingford Railway is a 2.5 mile route connecting Wallingford to Cholsey via a former branch of the Great Western Railway. The route has been maintained primarily for heritage purposes.

Summary of Key Issues

• Wallingford’s central location in the District is supported by good road links to main District towns as well as Oxford, Reading and London further afield. • Traffic and Air Quality are known issues in the town with the District Council declaring the Town an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). • Wallingford is a compact and relatively flat town which lends itself to walking. • The town is well served by local bus routes with the nearest local train station situated in Cholsey (3 miles away).

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 19 8. Leisure and Wellbeing This section describes the facilities present in Wallingford for leisure activities and wellbeing in regards to education and healthcare.

Leisure As mentioned previously, the Chosley and Wallingford Railway (CWR) is a 2.5 mile heritage railway that links Cholsey Wallingford has a number of leisure facilities which add to with Wallingford. Although passenger services ceased in the sense of place currently portrayed across the town. 1959, the CWR Preservation Society secured the line in 1981 The Thames Path which links Wallingford to Benson Lock and aim to enhance the facilities that the railway offers and provides a picturesque setting. The Castle Gardens and to improve the Wallingford station site. The railway aims to Meadows covers approximately 16 hectares on the banks of offer steam hauled trains where possible, but also operates the River Thames and contains the site of Wallingford Castle. an interesting fleet of 08 class diesel locomotives with services running on selected weekends and bank holidays. A Community and Leisure Facilities Museum and souvenir shop are also located here.

Wallingford has a number of community and leisure facilities There are a number of churches within Wallingford including including: St Peter’s Church, Wallingford Baptist Church, St John the Evangelist, Saint Mary-Le-More, Wallingford Methodist • The Corn Exchange Theatre Church, St Leonard’s Church and the Quaker Meeting House. • Wallingford Library The town also supports a single hotel, ‘The George’ a 16th • Wallingford Volunteer Centre century coaching inn located on the High Street and has 39 • Wallingford Museum rooms. • Wallingford Day Centre • Wallingford Childrens Centre Educational Facilities • Allotments Wallingford has three primary schools, Fir Tree Junior School, Wallingford plays host to four local Markets, including Local St Johns Primary School and St Nicolas Church of England Producers, Farmers, Country and Charter Market, which is Infants School plus Wallingford School, a secondary school the oldest market in Wallingford and has had a charter since with sixth form. the 12th Century, but is likely much older. Wallingford School educates circa 1,200 pupils and in the A number of events take place in Wallingford each year last Ofsted Report (November 2012) was rated as ‘Good’ including food festivals, a classic car rally parade, music standard. Wallingford School also offers a range of sports festivals and a carnival day. facilities to the local community including an all-weather 3G football/hockey pitch, multi-purpose sports hall, dance Agatha Christie lived for much of her life on the outskirts of studio, indoor and outdoor netball courts and tennis court. Wallingford and is buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s in Priority usage is given to the school between 8:30 and 16:00 nearby Cholsey. Wallingford Museum, family friendly local with the availability for hire to the community at other times. history museum situated in the heart of the town, has in the past exhibited Agatha Christie along with Wallingford’s Royal Pre schools within Wallingford include Paddocks Pre School Castle Revealed and the Magna Carta and All That. and Rainbow Pre School.

The popular TV series ‘Midsomer Murders’ has also been Sports Facilities filmed in Wallingford and is known on screen as ‘Causton’, home to the main character of the series. The TV series can There are several recreational facilities and sports clubs in be experienced first hand with trails and driving tours around Wallingford many of which are linked to Wallingford Sports Wallingford. Park which hosts:

20 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan Outdoor Facilities Wellbeing

• 3 full size football pitches Healthcare • 5 full size rugby pitches • All weather astro turf pitch suitable for many sports Wallingford Medical Practice is a purpose built building including hockey and 5/6/11 a side football located next to the Community Hospital which currently has • 5 all-weather tennis courts over 16,000 patients. The Medical Practice covers patients in Wallingford, Cholsey and the surrounding villages. Patients • Petanque living more than a mile from the practice are able to collect • Fitness Trail medications from dispensing units. The practice runs a • An outdoor swimming pool Saturday service. There are 10 general practitioners currently working at the Medical Centre. Indoor Facilities As mentioned above, Wallingford Community Hospital is • 3 squash courts situated next to Wallingford Medical Practice. The Hospital • Skittles alley has both intermediate care and maternity services. • Large hall There are four Dentists located in Wallingford. While the • Small hall majority offer private services, Lawrence and Pinkerton • Meeting rooms Dentist Care offers only private services with the rest also Local Sports Clubs include: Wallingford Athletics Club, offering NHS services. Wallingford Rugby Club, Wallingford Rowing Club, Wallingford Hockey Club, Wallingford Football Club, Summary of Key Issues Wallingford Dance Club, Wallingford Bridge Club, Hithercroft Squash Club, Portcullis Tennis Club and Petanque Wallingford • Wallingford has a number of community facilities including the Corn Exchange and the historic The Bull Croft includes a strong sports offer including football Wallingford Castle pitches, tennis and basketball courts. • In terms of educational facilities, Wallingford School is SODC produced a Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy (Ref: the main facility in the Town. 18) which stated that additional health and fitness suites in • Sports facilities include a number of football and rugby the District are needed in Wallingford more than any other pitches, rowing club, tennis and squash courts. location. • The Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy outlines The strategy also outlines scoping options for new facilities that additional health and fitness suites are needed in Wallingford, such as a Swimming Pool, Sports Halls and in Wallingford more than any other location in the the aforementioned Health and Fitness suites. The document County. specifically states that: • Healthcare facilities include Wallingford Medical Practice, Wallingford Community Hospital along with a ‘Wallingford has the highest shortfall of health and fitness number of GPs and Dentists. stations (109) and a new facility should be considered which provides a health and fitness suite’

______(Ref: 18) SODC Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy (2011)

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 21 9. Environment, Sustainability and Design Quality

The quality of the historic landscape and attractive environment is one of the key defining features of Wallingford. Maintaining and managing the environment, promoting sustainability and establishing design standards are potential areas of significance for the Neighbourhood Plan area.

Design Quality

Within the Town Boundary of Wallingford there are two Conservation Areas; Wallingford and Winterbrook. (Figure 9.1) These cover a significant part of Wallingford and demonstrate the historical quality of the local built environment. The town also contains a number of listed buildings including the Corn Exchange and the Town Hall along with over 100 Listed buildings and monuments in the town centre alone.

Wallingford Conservation Area was first designated in 1969 and encompasses the town’s historic core, including a significant number of Listed Buildings. These include the Grade I Listed Town Hall and the Grade II* Listed Church of St. Mary-le-More. The other Conservation Area is the recently designated Winterbrook Conservation Area, located to the south of the town centre along Winterbrook Neighbourhoood Plan Boundary Road. There are a number of Grade II listed buildings Conservation Area Boundary including Winterbrook Lodge. Figure 9.1: Wallingford Town Conservation Areas A Conservation Area Appraisal for Wallingford is currently being undertaken by the District Council. Currently there is History no date set for the publication of this document. Wallingford is an ancient town which only emerged as a Within the Wallingford Conservation Area are three fully-fledged town in Anglo-Saxon times. Scheduled Ancient Monuments, The Saxon part of the town which defines the historic core of the town centre, The location of the town was a critical factor in both Wallingford Castle to the north and Wallingford Bridge. periods, as it is a key river crossing point, playing an These have been highlighted in Figure 9.2. important role in trade and also defence. (Ref: 19)

Wallingford was the largest of the ‘new towns’ known as ‘Burghs’ constructed in the 9th Century by Alfred the Great, it played a key role in defending the Kingdom of Wessex from the Danes. The town was enclosed on three ______sides (the river formed the fourth defence) and was (Ref: 19) Wallingford Town Council, http://www.wallingford.co.uk/ surrounded by a wet moat. For a time Wallingford was the pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=8651 (cited November 2015) location of a Royal Mint. Following the Battle of Hastings (Ref: 20) Wallingford Town Council, http://www.wallingford.co.uk/ pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=8651 (Cited November 2015) (Ref 21) SODC Draft Wallingford Conservation Are Appraisal (2012)

22 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan in 1066, Wallingford Castle was constructed, reinforcing Architecture and Urban Form Wallingford’s role as the main settlement in the region until the 15th Century. The historic core of Wallingford has a tight urban grain, with the Market Place, St Martin’s and St Mary’s Street With its long history, Wallingford has an interesting offering a contrast from the tight streets and passages archaeology with evidence of early settlers from the surround the town centre. The towns form is also informed bronze ages to the more significant Wallingford Castle and by its Saxon heritage, which can still be seen today in a the previous fortification of the town. This has drawn in number of burgage plots between st Mary’s Street and interest from university research and local archaeological Wood Street. The width and depth of these plots has groups including the University of Leicester which produced the fine grained townscape which can still be undertook an extensive assessment of the town between seen in Wallingford in the 21st century (ref. 21) 2008-11 (Ref: 20). The majority of individual buildings within the Conservation Area, whether grand or modest, contribute to the character and appearance of the streetscape.

Figure 9.2: Wallingford Key Historic Sites and Assets

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 23 The Market Place and the town centre as a whole include The District Council have also produced traditional shop a fine array of traditional buildings and shop fronts from front guidance (Ref: 23) to protect the character of the the Victorian and Georgian periods as well as a number District’s retail centres, including Wallingford. of earlier periods, reflecting the long history of the town. Many of the buildings around Market Place are Georgian This document provides guidance on design detailing, or older, some with Victorian style shop frontages added including materials and colour; ensuring they are in-keeping at a later date. The Grade I listed Town Hall, defines with the building and character of the area. Market Place. It was constructed in the 1670’s, and the building which has been well maintained with its distinctive Environment and Landscape Quality colonnade, a grand balcony overhanging the Square and white paint finish provide a distinctive feature in the heart The majority of the Town Boundary Area of Wallingford is of the town. urban, but with a number arable location’s on the edge of the town within the ring road that bounds the town and Wallingford Bridge, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is a Neighbourhood Plan area. Within the town there are three medieval road bridge, which has been present in various significant green spaces in Bull Croft Park, Castle Gardens forms going back to the 12th Century. The Bridge, along and Kinecroft. with the ruins of Wallingford Castle engage the western bank of the river and the surrounding landscape, offering There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) an attractive and picturesque setting. in the Neighbourhood Plan area. However, the Goring Conservation Target Area, a wildlife designation, falls within Wallingford has over a hundred listed buildings and the Neighbourhood Plan boundary. Also, just south of the monuments in the town centre alone. Figure 9.2 illustrates area is a nitrate vulnerable zone in respect of ground water. the location of the Grade II* listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the town. The South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment (Ref: 24) helps to define the landscape character and geological To the east and south of the historic core of the town settings across the District. Wallingford is included as part there is a more residential suburban setting, with tree lined of the ‘River Thames Corridor’ character area. In terms of suburban estates hosting a variety of two storey properties landform and land cover, the area is exceptionally flat, with from the Victorian Period to more modern developments. little perceptible variation in relief.

Typical building heights within Wallingford are two and The surrounding area retains a predominantly rural three storeys with four storey buildings along the High character with some particularly attractive areas of Street, in particular around Market Place. landscape which have retained a strong structure of hedgerows and trees with a particularly rich, diverse and Design Guidance well-managed character and a high scenic quality. These mainly comprise the pastoral floodplain pasture landscapes SODC have produced the South Oxfordshire Design Guide and the small areas of remnant parkland immediately next 2008 (Ref: 22). This comprises a manual of design principles to the Thames. and practical advice for new development within the District. In geological terms, Wallingford is located upon Portland ______Beds which make up the River Thames region of South (Ref: 22) SODC South Oxfordshire Design Guide (2008) Oxfordshire. (Ref: 23) SODC Traditional Shopfront Design Guide (1995) (Ref: 24) South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment SPG (2003) In terms of activities that could impact the environment (Ref: 25) Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (2015) in and around Wallingford, a key activity to consider is the (Ref: 26) SODC Core Strategy Climate Change and Sustainable Design sand and gravel extraction on a site to the north and south Background Paper (2011) of the town, with a further two sites are subject of scoping (Ref: 27) Oxfordshire Air Quality (citied November 2015) 24 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan requests . The sites are referenced in the Oxfordshire Flood risk zones 2 and 3 are presented on Figure 9.3 Mineral and Waste Local Plan (Ref: 25) and will be impacted (see environmental agency website for flood risk zone by the outlined increase in gravel extraction in South definitions). This plans account for flooding from local Oxfordshire from 0.715 to 1.015 million tonnes a year, until rivers, in this case the River Thames. However, Wallingford 2031 if the plan is adopted. does suffer from additional flooding threats from surface water drainage issues linked to its historic drainage system. Sustainability Summary of Key Issues Climate change • There are two Conservation Areas in Wallingford; The adopted Core Strategy outlines the importance of Wallingford and Winterbrook which cover a significant tackling climate change. The Core Strategy Climate Change part of the town. and Sustainable Design Background Paper (Ref: 26) indicate • Wallingford as a settlement has a long history, with a clear focus on reducing CO2 Emissions, in the context of the town playing a key role as a defence and trade South Oxfordshire as a whole. The document goes on to hub. say that South Oxfordshire emits more emissions per capita than any District in the County, generating less sustainable • Wallingford has strong architectural characteristics, energy and using more domestic energy per household. reflected in the number of listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments situated within the Policy CSQ2 within the adopted Core Strategy outlines that town. ‘All new developments incorporate measures that address • The District has produced two design guides, one on issues of adaptation to climate change taking account general design principles and the other relating to of best practice and that new buildings should meet shop front design. recognised sustainable design standards such as BREEAM’. • The majority of the area is urban with the surrounding Air quality land being predominantly flat and arable. There are two significant green spaces in Bull Croft Park and Air quality is an area of concern in the town. This has been Kinecroft Park. caused by increased through traffic and congestion as a result of road network changes in previous years. Although no definitive study has been published to quantify the air pollution and noise levels generated, annual and daily information on air quality is available online at Oxfordshire Air Quality (Ref: 27). The adopted Core Strategy acknowledges this challenge with Policy CSWAL1 outlining that local air quality improvements should be factored in to any proposals for new development.

Flooding

The Environment Agency (EA) Flood Risk Maps (Ref: 28) and the South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment Study of Wallingford indicate that the majority of the area is not within an area of particular flood risk. Figure 9.3: Environment Agency Flood Map ______(Ref: 28) Environment Agency Flood Risk Map- Available at: http://maps. environment-agency.gov.uk (Wallingford) Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 25 10. Past Consultation This section offers a short summary of a number of relevant consultations undertaken relating to Wallingford. A full summary of each consultation can be found in Annex II.

South Oxfordshire District Council Local Plan 2031 Issues & Scope Consultation (2015)

The Consultation took place from the 11th June to 23rd July 2014 based on the “Local Plan 2031 – Issues and Scope” consultation document. This was seen as the first step toward creating a new Local Plan for the District and sets Figure 10.1: Consultation Response out a number of issues which the new Plan would need to address. The supporting comments were from an array of local residents and statutory consultees. They citied issues and Foremost among these was the need for the District to plan for a higher level of housing than in the existing Core opportunities associated with the discussed options. Strategy which had been adopted in December 2012. Other matters including planning for jobs, improving town Wallingford Town Centre - The Future – Vision centres and better transport in the District were also under Strategy and Action Plan (2006) consideration. A Centre Vision report prepared for Wallingford Town South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Development Council and South Oxfordshire District Council by the Civic Site Options for Wallingford (2010) Trust. This was in association with DTZ Pieda and with the support of Waitrose plc. The exercise engaged with As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options exercise, stakeholders, individuals and town centre businesses (25 in it was deemed necessary to undertake additional and total) and identified an array of key issues. specific consultation in relation to development sites being explored by the SODC. In total, 545 responses were gathered in addition the preferred options consultation.

The consultation exercise generated a range of issues similar to those generated as part of the Preferred Options Consultation and directly related to the site allocations (referred to in the site allocations plan in Figure 5.1).

South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation Wallingford (2009)

As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation, the proposed development of a number of sites, including Slade Farm (Site B) and Winterbrook (Site E) underwent consideration. The responses, in terms of objectives and assessments are outlined in Figure 10.1 below.

26 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan 11. Summary of Key Issues

Planning Policy Context Working and Shopping

• The Neighbourhood Plan must conform with a National • There are some 6,000 employed residents and businesses and District Policies including the adopted Core Strategy in Wallingford employ approximately 6,212 people, with and saved Local Plan policies. the majority working and operating in professional/ • The relevant policies include requirements for the technical services, construction, health and retail sectors. allocated housing site, design quality requirements • In Wallingford over half of the residents travel by car and local distinctiveness as well as an outline role for (59%) with only 8% using public transport services. Wallingford in the South Oxfordshire context. • The majority of Wallingford residents work in Oxford and • Policy CSWAL2 within the adopted Core Strategy Reading with people coming from local towns primarily to outlines specific requirements for site currently under work in the town. consideration in West Wallingford. • In terms of employment land, Wallingford is one of the main four towns in the District containing significant People and Population business floor space. • Wallingford town centre contains 21,870 sqm gross of • Wallingford’s population increased by 9% between 2001 class A1-A5 floor space which is the lowest of the four and 2011 and had similar age profiles to the District, town centres in the District. Region and England. • Wallingford’s retail offer is considered viable with positive • The population of South Oxfordshire is estimated to vitality; offering a mix of day to day goods and services, increase by 12.6% by 2026. interspersed with a more specialist retail offer, largely • Wallingford has low levels of deprivation, with parts of provided by the independent retail sector. the town among the 10% least deprived areas in the UK. • Wallingford residents have generally lower levels Accessibility and Movement of higher qualifications and more residents with no • Wallingford’s central location in the District is supported qualifications than the District. by good road links to main District towns as well as • Wallingford residents are in general good health and Oxford, Reading and London further afield. South Oxfordshire is considered a safe area in terms of • Traffic and Air Quality are known issues in the town with crime levels when compared to neighbouring Districts. the District Council declaring the town an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). Housing • Wallingford is a compact and relatively flat town which • Additional housing may be required in Wallingford within lends itself to walking. the District’s emerging Local Plan. • The town is well served by local bus routes with the local • The latest Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), train station situated in Cholsey (3 miles away) outlines the need for an additional 5,100 across the District. • The adopted Core Strategy has one site allocated in Wallingford to meet the full 555 housing allocation for the town - ‘Site B’ to the north of the Sports Park, for which a planning application has been submitted. • Home ownership in Wallingford is less than District levels, with more residents living in social rented housing. • A significant amount of Wallingford’s Housing Stock is semi-detached (36%) with a larger proportion of flats (19%) than the District (13%) overall.

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 27 Leisure and Wellbeing

• Wallingford has a number of community facilities including the Corn Exchange and the historic Wallingford Castle • In terms of educational facilities, Wallingford School is the main facility in the town. • Sports facilities include a number of football and rugby pitches, rowing club, tennis and squash courts. • The Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy outlines that additional health and fitness suites are needed in Wallingford more than any other location in the County. • Healthcare facilities include Wallingford Medical Practice, Wallingford Community Hospital along with a number of GP’s and Dentists. Environment, Sustainability and Design Quality

• There are two Conservation Areas in Wallingford; Wallingford and Winterbrook which together cover a significant part of Wallingford. • Wallingford as a settlement has a long history, with the town playing a key role as a defence and trade hub. • Wallingford has strong architectural characteristics, reflected in the number of listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments within the town. • The District has produced two design guides, one on general design principles and the other relating to shop front design. • The majority of the area is urban, with the surrounding landscape predominantly flat and arable. There are two significant green spaces in Bull Croft and Kinecroft Parks.

28 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan Annex 1. References

References Figures

1. The adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011) 1.1: Neighbourhood Plan Boundary 2. SODC Core Strategy (2012) 3.1: Wallingford Context Plan 3. SODC Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2014) 5.1: Site Allocations Plan for Wallingford 4. ONS Statistics, National Census (2011) 5.2: Recommended affordable housing mix by size 5. ONS Statistics, National Census (2001) 5.3: Recommended market housing mix by size 6. South Oxfordshire Population Projections 2026 (2011) 6.1: Quantitative Retail Need for Wallingford 7. Indices of Multiple Deprivation (2015) 6.2: Town Centre Plan 8. Neighbourhood crime statistics (citied Nov 2015) 7.1: Bus Time Table for routes in Wallingford 9. SODC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 9.1: Wallingford Town Conservation Areas (July 2013) 9.2: Wallingford Key Historic Sites and Assets 10. SODC Local Plan 2031 Refined options(2015) 9.3: Environment Agency Flood Map 11. Business Register and Employment Survey (2011) 10.1: Consultation Response 12. SODC South Oxfordshire Employment Land Review (2007) 13. SODC Revised South Oxfordshire Employment Land Projections (2008) 14. SODC Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment Update (2010) 15. SODC South Oxfordshire Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment (2015) 16. Wallingford Town Centre for the Future - Vision Strategy and Action Plan (2006) 17. SODC Evaluation of the transport impacts associated with development options in South Oxfordshire (2009) 18. SODC Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy (2011) 19. Wallingford Museum (citied Nov 2015) 20. Wallingford Town Council (Cited Nov 2015) 21. SODC Draft Wallingford Consultation Appraisal (2012) 22. SODC South Oxfordshire Design Guide (2008) 23. SODC Traditional Shopfront Design Guide (1995) 24. South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment SPG (2003) 25. Oxfordshire Mineral and Waste Local Plan (2015) 26. SODC Core Strategy Climate Change and Sustainable Design Background Paper (2011) 27. Oxfordshire Air Quality (citied Nov 2015) 28. Environment Agency Flood Risk Map (citied Nov 2015)

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 29 Annex 2. Past Consultations

South Oxfordshire District Council Local Plan employment growth were linked and located close to each 2031 Issues & Scope Consultation (2015) other.

The consultation took place from 11 June to 23 July Housing Growth 2014 based on the “Local Plan 2031 – Issues and Scope” consultation document. This is was a first step in creating Regarding Housing, the Report asked ‘Which level of a new Local Plan for the District, and it set out a number of growth do you think we should plan for, and why?’ issues which the new Plan would need to address. The document set out a range of possible housing growth Foremost among these was the need for the District to numbers drawn from the SHMA. The “planned economic plan for a higher level of housing than in the existing Core growth plus affordable housing uplift” number of homes Strategy, which had been adopted in December 2012.Other (825 houses per year) was most favourably discussed matters including planning for jobs, improving town centres with54 positive responses, while the option with the fewest and better transport in the District were also identified. positive comments (21) was meeting our full affordable housing need (965 houses per year). Affordable housing In total, 3944 comments from 771 contributing consultees was raised by many; the most frequent comments were were recorded. The top ten issues in order of responses that affordable housing is greatly needed but currently in were: short supply, and that an increase in housing figures may help in the delivery of affordable housing – on the whole • Impact on countryside and/or Green Belt the view was that affordable housing is necessary and should be provided. • Housing should be located close to employment sites/ areas Many respondents suggested that new housing should • Challenge/object to SHMA and housing numbers be located close to areas where economic development is • Impact on transport proposed, so that the need to commute is reduced. • Infrastructure can’t cope • [Small-scale] development to meet local [affordable] Another housing related question asked ‘Do you have housing need information or views about why we can or cannot • Maximum use of brownfield sites accommodate the highest level of housing need?’ 260 respondents answered this question, creating • Market saturation and pressure on local services. more than 500 specific comments. The largest area of concern, prompting over 80 comments, was the level of District Vision infrastructure available to support any further growth. Comments included references to transport issues – road The Report asked questions such as, ‘Do you support the and car parking capacity in particular – school and doctors’ existing Core Strategy vision for the District’ to which 52% surgery capacity, and utilities’ ability to cope with the agreed. Many commented that the Vision was sensible demands of additional housing, especially for water supply and that there was no reason why it should be changed. and sewerage. Ten comments simply suggested that the Others said it contained too many themes and was merely numbers presented were too high. an optimistic wish list. Among specific suggestions made as to how the Vision could be changed, the most common A number of comments made reference to the impact was that greater prominence to the protection and on the natural environment. Flood risk (21 respondents), enhancement of the District’s countryside and natural ecological constraints (14 respondents), the landscape environment should be given, while there was also some and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (13 respondents) support for us seeking to ensure that housing growth and and air quality (8 respondents) were all mentioned as

30 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan important factors to consider. The potential impact on the supporting this option included that it would “ensure general character of the District (17 respondents) received each community had a fair share of growth”, that as long a number of comments and specifically the Green Belt as sufficient attention was paid to quality of design and and Grenoble Road (20 respondents) were of concern. planning “new housing will be more easily absorbed by Twelve comments highlighted the appropriateness of a existing communities”. Green Belt review as part of the process for understanding the capacity for development in the District. There were Development of extensions next to neighbouring urban calls to consider Brownfield land as a priority for growth areas (Option F) was also suggested and this prompted a locations (5 respondents) and that agricultural land should largely negative response. This mostly focusing on Oxford be protected (6 respondents). The general affordability and protecting Green Belt land, loss of open space and of housing was also a concern for some (6 respondents). agricultural land. There was a broad view, included in fourteen responses, which was put forward to suggest a balanced and Other options looked at increasing density (Option G) and sustainable approach should be taken to planning for any Infrastructure funding (Option H) which both prompted required growth. fewer responses but generally positive, as did providing appropriate housing for older people and locally-needed Housing locations affordable starter homes.

Along with the volume and general considerations of South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Development housing growth in the District, the consultation also looked Site Options for Wallingford (2010) at a range of sites. As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options it was Option A suggested that the Core Strategy distribution deemed necessary to undertake additional and specific strategy should continue to be used. This drew 100 consultation in relation to development sites being supportive comments and 50 negative comments, some explored by the SODC. In total, 545 responses were of which referred to the concerns that the market towns gathered in addition to the Preferred Options Consultation. were taking the main share of housing numbers, including Wallingford. The exhibition identified a range of issues similar to those generated as part of the Preferred Options Consultation Option B suggested that Science Vale and “sustainable and directly related to the site allocations (referred to in settlements” could take additional housing growth, which the Site Allocations Plan included within the document) prompted 70 supportive and 25 negative comments. with residents being asked specifically about sites A, B and Outlining similar issues to Option A, Option C considered all E. housing located in the Science Vale. Option D outlined the potential for new settlements. There were over 50 positive The most common advantages given for Site A centred comments on this option, although many included provisos around the closeness of the site to facilities such as the that a new settlement would need significant investment secondary school and town centre facilities. Comments also in transport and infrastructure connections, and even suggested that the site provides an excellent location for a then might not be well integrated with the rest of South new primary school. The most voiced disadvantages were Oxfordshire. issues to do with traffic and access. Option E, the idea of Dispersal across all of the District Site B did not generate as many comments as Site A or Site received a high negative vote although there were over E. Nevertheless, the most popular advantage given was the 70 positive comments on this approach; reasons for

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 31 close proximity to town centre facilities. This was closely The supporting comments were from an array of local followed by the issue of safety in accessing the secondary residents and statutory consultees. They citied issues and school. The disadvantages of Site B were around increased opportunities associated with the discussed options. traffic on local roads such as Wantage Road and increased car usage due to distance to town centre facilities. Wallingford Town Centre - The Future – Vision Strategy and Action Plan (2006) There were a large number of general comments, which were not site specific. A Centre Vision report prepared for Wallingford Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council by the Civic The most common advantage given for development at Trust, in association with DTZ Pieda and with the support of Site E was the ability for vehicles to access the bypass Waitrose plc. without going through the town. This was closely followed by the fact that the site is closest to the town centre and The report engaged with stakeholders, individuals and associated facilities. Site E identified disadvantages were town centre businesses (25 in total) and identified a around the unsuitability of the access for pedestrians. number of key issues, including: The comments clearly identified that there was a • There is an economic slowdown generally large response against the allocation of 750 houses to Wallingford. • Many businesses have been hit by construction work and by the move of Waitrose Other consultation was undertaken along with discussions • Some retails have ‘bounced back’ (from Waitrose) generating similar concerns to those at the exhibition. • The south side of the town has been badly affected South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Preferred • The new food store is attracting more people to Options Consultation Wallingford (2009) Wallingford but not enough are visiting the rest of the centre

As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options • Car parking is not working well for many of the traders Consultation, options for the proposed development • Many traders are on the edge of a number of sites, including Slade Farm (Site B) and Winterbrook (Site E). The responses to these, in terms of • Customers are local and loyal objectives and those in favour are outlined in over page. • The town could appeal more to tourists but the shops are

Figure A1: Consultation Response Figures

32 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan closed on Sundays and moorings on the river are limited • The town centre is basically very attractive but is let down by aspects of the street environment • There is a strong tradition of community endeavour, but cohesion is lacking and the business spin-off from this has yet to be achieved

They also undertook a Community Workshop: to identify Issues, Opportunities and Action of which the key findings were:

• There is a severe slowdown in the growth of High Street sales nationally. People are spending less and times are harder. Wallingford faces increasing competition from Oxford, Reading and Henley and, more recently, Didcot. The role of Wallingford has changed • The new Waitrose store is attracting more shoppers to the town from further afield, but the new location has disturbed the traditional pattern of shopping activity in the centre. The centre of gravity has shifted northwards • Car parking is a “bone of contention” for traders in particular: its location and pricing rather than capacity. Overall there is a need to persuade people to stay longer and spend more. Good car parking can help • Surveys have shown that local people are concerned about the width and condition of footpaths and the density of traffic in the narrow streets – despite the bypass • Many feel that Wallingford could do better from tourism if the heritage and waterfront appeal of the town were marketed better, the shops were open when tourists are around and if there were more places to eat and drink • No one doubts the affection local people have for their lovely town. A consensus is needed for the future so individual efforts are not dissipated and so all can work together productively in partnership.

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 33