Westbury Area Board Profile

2014 – 2026

(Draft_V1)

Report produced on behalf of Council by Ethos Environmental Planning

1.0 WESTBURY AREA PROFILE

1.1 Introduction

The Wiltshire Open Space and Play Area Study is presented in two parts. The first part comprises an overview of the whole study and includes details on local needs, methodology, open space typologies and analysis of provision which combine to make recommendations for future provision and policies for open space in the district. The second part of the study comprises 18 Area Board profiles which provides more localised information. The Area Board profiles should be read in conjunction with the main report (part 1). Each profile includes:

 Map of the parish showing open space;

 Quantity statistics of provision of open spaces with standards by parish;

 Map showing access to open spaces with standards across the parish;

 Map showing access to open spaces across the main settlement;

 Assessment of quality issues;

 Summary of issues and priorities for the Area Board. All of the maps provided within this section of the report are intended to be used for indicative purposes only. Larger scale maps have been provided as a separate database to the council.

1.2 Westbury Area Board

Westbury Area Board is made up of 6 parishes, which include:

 Erdington  Bratton   Coulston  Westbury  Heywood

The Wiltshire Core Strategy places settlements within the Westbury Area Board in the following hierarchical structure:

 Market Towns: Westbury  Large Villages: Dilton Marsh and Bratton  Small Villages: Edington / Tinhead.

Figure 1 below shows the area map of Westbury Area Board with parish boundaries and main transport routes mapped.

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Figure 1: Parishes in Westbury

1.3 Westbury Market Town

Westbury is an historic market town located in the west of Wiltshire between and . Westbury Community Area has 5 sites of Special Scientific Interest and 19 wildlife sites. Although the town is smaller than other nearby settlements (including Frome), it has a significant employment base of strategic value and enjoys excellent rail connectivity, with direct links to Bristol, London, Portsmouth and Exeter. The town has seen significant housing development in the past which has not been matched by an appropriate provision of services, facilities and new jobs. The town has a good representation of independent retailers, which the Wiltshire Core Strategy will look to enhance.

1.4 Population

Figure 2: Parishes and their populations in Wetbury Area Board Parish Name Size (Ha) Population Edington CP 1872.767 734 Dilton Marsh CP 1013.83 1934 Westbury CP 1491.495 14709 Bratton CP 1494.802 1248 Coulston CP 802.073 158 Heywood CP 652.887 798 6 7327.854 19581

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As the table shows there is a total population of 19,581 inhabitants in Westbury and the Area Board covers 7,328 hectares of land. The Area Board is relatively small in comparison with others in Wiltshire.

1.5 Westbury Joint Strategic Assessment (2012-2017)

The JSA provides local data about the area and plays a key role in ensuring informed decisions are made about the community. The data presented consists from a range of community level data and have contributed to the CAJSA for 2013- 2015.

The current CAJSA includes new chapters on culture and leisure giving a broader picture of the community. Updated population figures are included as well as a result of a local survey which asked residents about some of the most important issues facing the council and its partners.

Through the area boards is a growing level of community involvement in decision making and the information presented in the CAJSA will allow for focusing on creating healthy and vibrant communities. There are many opportunities to make the community stronger, including the community campus programme.

Key features within Westbury;  In the six rural settlements of the community area covered by the Rural Facilities Survey there are six recreation fields and three sports fields available for informal use. However, one of the six settlements has no recreation fields and four of the six settlements have no outdoor sports fields.  The main wildlife asset is calcareous grassland, largely the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), making up over 23% of the area. However, almost 95% of this is in unfavourable recovering condition. The Ministry of Defence and Natural are working to bring the SSSI into ‘favourable’ condition through scrub removal and juniper regeneration; the next SSSI condition assessment is scheduled for 2014.

1.6 Westbury Core strategy

The strategy for Westbury will deliver a reduction in housing growth compared to historic trends, with a focus on improving facilities, services and job creation. Existing employment in Westbury will be protected and expanded to reflect the wider strategic needs centres, including Frome, but rather consolidate and enhance its existing role and improve linkages with neighbouring settlements.

There are a number of issues and considerations in relation to Westbury which are highlighted in the WCS. These are as follows:

 linkages between the town and the industrial sites located to the north of the town will be strengthened through developing the area in proximity to the railway station;

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 the strategic development around Westbury railway station should also deliver improved access, particularly for buses with improved and integrated public transport connectivity; quality pedestrian and cycle linkages with the town centre and high quality public space with exemplar design;  the redevelopment of the High Street precinct will be supported, providing this incorporates high quality design and will support existing businesses;  Westbury suffers from traffic issues, including congestion from the A350 which runs through the town centre, further studies are needed in this area;  the provision of a new secondary school in Westbury could help deliver improved services, such as sports facilities with additional public access;  development in the vicinity of Salisbury Plain must protect the habitats, species and processes which maintain the integrity of the Special Area of Conservation, and;  Development which increases recreational pressure upon the Special Protection Area will not be permitted unless proportionate contributions are made to offset impacts through the Wessex Stone Curlew Project.

It is hoped that the scarp of Salisbury Plain including the White Horse will continue to provide social, environmental and economic assets to the area as part of a wider green infrastructure network which will be used and managed sustainably.

1.7 Development Potential

Spatial Strategy: Westbury community area

Development in the Westbury community area should be in accordance with the settlement strategy set out in Core policy 1.

The following principal employment areas will be supported in accordance with core policy 35: trading estate, brook lane trading estate and north acre industrial estate.

Over the plan period (2006 to 2026) 18.5 ha of new employment land (in addition to that delivered or committed at April 2011) will be provided including;

Over the plan period (2006 to 2026) approximately 1.615 new homes will be provided, of which about 1,500 should occur at Westbury, including land identified at station road for strategic growth.

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The strategic allocations will be brought forward through a master planning process agreed between the community, local planning authority and should be delivered in accordance with the development templates set out.

Approximately 115 homes will be provided in the rest of the community area. Growth in the Westbury community area over the plan may consist of a range of sites in accordance with core policies 1 and 2.

Figure 3: Delivery of Housing (2006-2026) Westbury Area Board

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2.0 Map of Community Area Board

3.0 Quantity of Open Space

3.1 Introduction

The figures for ‘Park and Recreation Ground (combined)’ comprise the sum of the following typologies:

 Park and Recreation Ground;  Outdoor Sports Space (Pitches);  Outdoor Sports Space (Other);  Outdoor Sports Space (Private).

It is the ‘combined’ figure that is used for the purpose of analysing quantity, as such it is only this figure where required provision and supply is relevant. Figures have been provided for the individual typologies which make up the combined figure for information only, however, there is no supply assessment for these, hence an ‘NA’ (Not Applicable) is provided. Existing quantity figures are also provided for a number of typologies where there are no standards, as such these also do not show figures for required provision (a figure of 0.00 is provided) and supply is ‘NA’, these typologies are:

 Education;  Churchyard and Cemetery.

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3.2 Urban Area Analysis

Table 1 Provision in Westbury Existing Existing Required Required Provision Provision Provision Provision Supply Sufficiency Typology (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) Supply (Ha) (Ha/1000) of provision UNDER Allotments 3.06 0.17 3.50 0.20 -0.44 -0.03 SUPPLY Amenity Green UNDER Space 25.40 1.45 26.24 1.50 -0.84 -0.05 SUPPLY Park and Recreation SUFFICIENT Ground Combined 35.38 2.02 20.99 1.20 14.39 0.82 SUPPLY Park and Recreation Ground 22.40 1.28 20.99 1.20 1.41 0.08 N/A Outdoor Sport (Pitches) 7.36 0.42 0.00 0.00 7.36 0.42 N/A Outdoor Sport (Fixed) 1.11 0.06 0.00 0.00 1.11 0.06 N/A Outdoor Sport (Private) 4.51 0.26 0.00 0.00 4.51 0.26 N/A SUFFICIENT Play Space (Children) 1.97 0.11 0.87 0.05 1.10 0.06 SUPPLY UNDER Play Space (Youth) 0.21 0.01 0.35 0.02 -0.14 -0.01 SUPPLY SUFFICIENT Education 21.79 1.25 0.00 0.00 21.79 1.25 SUPPLY Churchyards and SUFFICIENT Cemeteries 2.87 0.16 0.00 0.00 2.87 0.16 SUPPLY

3.3 Rural Area Analysis

Table 2 Provision across the Community Area Board (Rural Area) Existing Existing Required Required Provision Provision Provision Provision Supply Sufficiency of Typology (Ha) (Ha/1000) (Ha) (Ha/1000) Supply (Ha) (Ha/1000) provision Allotments 0.64 0.13 1.22 0.25 -0.58 -0.12 UNDER SUPPLY Recreation Space (public and SUFFICIENT private) 21.45 4.40 14.62 3.00 6.83 1.40 SUPPLY Recreation Space 21.45 4.40 14.62 3.00 6.83 1.40 N/A Recreation Space (Private) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A Play Space 0.19 0.04 0.34 0.07 -0.15 -0.03 UNDER SUPPLY Education 1.12 0.23 0.00 0.00 1.12 0.23 N/A Churchyards and Cemeteries 1.89 0.39 0.00 0.00 1.89 0.39 N/A

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Table 3 Summary of requirements (hectares) for each parish in rural area Recreation Churchyards Accessible Natural Recreation Space and Natural Green Green PARISH CAB Allotments Space (Private) Play Space Education Cemeteries Space Space DiltonMarshCP Westbury -0.48 -0.24 0.00 -0.11 0.46 0.42 4.33 0.00 EdingtonCP Westbury -0.18 -1.83 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.53 0.00 0.00 HeywoodCP Westbury -0.20 -2.39 0.00 -0.06 0.00 0.05 78.86 0.00

SteepleLangfordCP Westbury -0.02 1.94 0.00 -0.02 0.33 0.35 969.45 0.00

4.0 Access Analysis

4.1 Access to open space in urban areas

Allotments

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Amenity Green Space

Park and Recreation Grounds

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Play Space (Children & Youth)

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4.2 Access to open space in rural areas of Community Area Board

The following maps show access to different typologies of open space within the rural areas of the community area boards. Due to the scale of the areas, the maps are intended to be indicative. Maps have been produced for each of the parishes for each typology, and these are held in a separate database for reference for assessment of individual parishes as required.

Allotments

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Recreation Space

Play Space

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5.0 Quality

Westbury has relatively few large, multi-functional parks even when taking into account the small size of this area board. Grass Acres Park in the centre of Westbury is likely to be one of the most popular. This park was a little hidden – access via a corridor between residences and set back from the street front. However, the site is well-thought out with path between areas planted with trees, a play area (with basketball net, and outdoor fitness equipment in very good condition). The play area includes a lot of space within the fenced-in area to encourage alternative play

Dilton Marsh Playing Field southwest of Westbury was one of the largest parks in the area board, but of lower quality than the majority. Access to the park was via a muddy path between residences, a teen shelter was included on site, but it was hidden behind portable buildings in the corner – inviting anti-social behaviour or lack of use. The play area had very basic, outdated play items with moderate maintenance. The play area lack imagination, and a fence for dog exclusion.

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6.0 Priorities for the area

This section draws on the analysis of quality, quantity and access within this area profile and highlights a number of key issues and priorities, and makes recommendations, where appropriate of how these may be addressed. It is intended that this information would be used as the starting point to inform other strategies, neighbourhood plans which could be taken forward by the Council, Town/Parish Council or the local community.

Issues Recommendation Who Allotments: With approximately 1600  Westbury has no allotments within dwellings planned for this area Planning the main town and therefore has there is opportunity for providing very poor accessibility and is vastly additional facilities through new Developers under supplied. development to meet shortfalls in  Within the rural area there are a the area. Local Community few sites in the eastern side of the area board. As a result of this Consideration should also be Town and Parish accessibility is only good in this given to encouraging community Council’s small area where the rest of the growing areas and/or community community are deprived of orchards in existing open spaces. allotments. Amenity Green Space: Again, on site provision of amenity Wiltshire Council  The town of Westbury has an green space should be sought Planning under supply of amenity green through new development in space. areas of under provision. Developers  Although the town is under supplied access is generally really Town Council good with most of the town having good access. Park & Recreation Grounds: Where opportunities arise, new Wiltshire Council  Throughout the whole area board provision in parishes with an Planning/ Economic of Westbury there is a sufficient identified under supply should be Development/Open supply of Park and Recreation sought (although with limited Spaces grounds. development in these areas,  Access within the main site is good opportunities may be limited). with majority of the sites being Developers central in location. There is small gaps in the south west and north Town Council east of the town where there is no access to a local recreational facilities.  Within the rural sector there are recreational sites within all the villages making access across the area board good. Children and Youth Facilities: Where development Wiltshire Council  Westbury has a sufficient supply of opportunities arise, new on site Planning children’s play spaces with access provision for youth facilities being mainly good for those should be sought. central.

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 There is a single youth provision The priority should be for fewer, within Westbury making it under larger and higher quality play supplied and access very poor. spaces as opposed to a  Within the rural sector of the proliferation of smaller play Westbury area board there are spaces. three play spaces which are placed along the main road B3098 making access good across the area board.

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