Planning for the Role and Future of Smaller Settlements in

Bude Testing Area Report

Revised

c4g, Roger Tym & Partners, Rural Innovation

December 2009

www.c4g.me.uk www.tymconsult.com www.ruralinnovation.co.uk Contents 1 Introduction...... 1 1.1 This research...... 1 1.2 Critical Context - climate change – a new frame for everything...... 1 1.3 A structure for thinking and policy...... 3 2 The testing area...... 5 3 Current position ...... 7 3.1 Living within environmental limits...... 7 3.2 Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society...... 9 3.3 Achieving a Sustainable Economy...... 13 4 Sustainability state and potential...... 15 4.2 Current State...... 15 4.3 Potential...... 15 5 Workshop Feedback...... 17 1 Introduction

1.1 This research

1.1.1 This study is about the smaller settlements in Cornwall, and will inform the forthcoming Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework (LDF) – the replacement for the Structure Plan and the Local Plans. This, in principle, covers all of the towns other than /Pool/, Falmouth-Penryn, and . These are recognised as Strategically Significant Cities and Towns in the Regional Spatial Strategy, which leaves the rest of the Cornish towns and villages to be covered by locally-based policy. 1.1.2 It has been agreed with that this study will deal with settlements identified as of local significance. This leaves all of the remaining towns and villages with the exception of , and which have been identified as Sub-Regionally Significant Towns. So the study’s reach extends to some of the very smallest villages and hamlets in the county. This is because the majority of the County's population (64%) live outside Camborne/Pool/Redruth, Falmouth-Penryn, Truro and the other larger towns (Newquay, Penzance and St Austell, . and ). 1.1.3 This work is intended to provide this by examining a range of available data to see what we can find out about the sustainability of smaller settlements, and how new development and other measures might make then more sustainable in future. 1.1.4 Part of this work involves testing areas, of which Bude is one, where data is brought together for the settlements in the testing area, and the testing area as a whole, to provide and assessment of its current sustainability, and to help determine its future sustainability potential. We anticipate that there will not be a 'one size fits all' solution for the Cornish smaller settlements. Conditions vary across the county and policy and decisions will need to take account of this. For this reason the nine testing areas have been picked to be different from one another. 1.1.5 The testing meeting is an opportunity to: • check that the data we have collected is right / makes sense • fill in understanding that the data cannot provide but which local people might be able to • consider together the sustainability potential of the area as a whole and settlements within it • identify any particular opportunities or challenges the settlements or area have 1.1.6 Information from the meeting will be fed back into the main report, which will be finished by the end of November. The report will be taken into account as the Council works from that point forward to put together the LDF. This is a research report to inform Cornwall Council's planning work. The following reflects our analysis, for discussion. It will be for the Council to decide how the discussions and conclusions from this work will be used to develop Council policy and plans.

1.2 Critical Context - climate change – a new frame for everything

1.2.1 The Climate Change Act (2008) set the target for a 80% cut in Greenhouse Gasses (GHG) by 2050. More recently (July 2009) we have had the first national GHG budget in support of the Act, contained in the climate change White Paper, The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan, and a suite of supporting strategies (transport, economy) and evidence.

1 1.2.2 It is very clear from this raft of national policies and programmes that by 2020 the ways in which we harvest and use energy, how our homes and workplaces are supplied with energy, heated and can conserve energy, and our means and patterns of transport will be quite different from those we know today and the trends which have led to then over the preceding years. What is not yet clear is what this will specifically mean for smaller settlements in rural areas – market towns and villages and therefore much of Cornwall. 1.2.3 Part of the job of this research is to start working this out. The LDF period lasts to 2026 – six years after 2020 – which means that this LDF has to be a 'Low Carbon Transition' LDF - moving us firmly towards and era of much reduced GHG emissions, with greater reach than the national strategies. In addition, for planning, the Supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1 - Planning and Climate Change (2007) has already filled in some detail. 1.2.4 The main way in which rural areas and settlements differ from urban ones is in terms of transport use. Rural residents have more cars, use them more often and travel longer distances in them1. This is a 'chicken and egg' issue – the real cost of motoring has been in decline for decades (see graph overleaf), and continues to do so. Rural settlements have lost services, facilities and employment sites while their populations have grown2. The cheapness of the private car has brought greater mobility to rural households, and changed their behaviour. They are now travelling further to work and to access services. Rural residents have become increasingly dependent on high mobility – but does it have to be this way? The Real Cost of Motoring – Transport Trends 2008

1 National Travel Survey series, DfT 2 State of the Countryside series, CRC

2 1.2.5 However the new national strategies, The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan and Low Carbon Transport: A Greener Future both make it clear that transport emissions need to be reduced (they are currently increasing). This, then, raises stiff challenges for rural areas. Fundamentally, this means that the high levels of personal and other mobility currently characterising rural life will have to be reduced, starting soon and accelerating though the coming decades. So, is this a threat or an opportunity? Rural life has only relatively recently been characterised by high mobility and car-dependence. It is by no means a pre-condition of rural life. The basic sustainability challenge, then, is to maintain and improve the wellbeing of rural communities, and the economies which support them, under new transport conditions where household and businesses can access the things they need without over-reliance on the car and without having to travel too far. This is functional sustainability. Localisation is a term for this. 1.2.6 For this to work it means that smaller settlements, either individually or in groups, will need to contain most of the services, facilities and jobs their populations need, and the low-carbon transport links to join then up. It also means that rural housing markets will need to be more balanced – particularly containing more affordable housing – so that all sorts of people can live close to services, facilities and jobs. 1.2.7 A greater sustainability should strengthen rural communities, not weaken them.

1.3 A structure for thinking and policy

1.3.1 Part of this research project is to think harder about how to deliver greater sustainability to smaller rural settlements. The following is our suggestion for how this might be done. 1.3.2 We have expressed these core issues for planning for smaller settlements in the LDF as a vision and objectives. The vision sets the overall direction. The objectives explain how the vision should be delivered. The vision is set within that of The UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy , which has four leading components: ▪ Living Within Environmental Limits ▪ Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society ▪ Achieving a Sustainable Economy ▪ Promoting Good Governance . 1.3.3 We have used the first three as governance structures are beyond the direct scope of the LDF. Vision Cornwall's smaller settlements will, either individually or in combination, become functionally sustainable, making their full contribution in the achievement of the national GHG emissions reductions targets, and fostering sustainable communities and economies. Environmental, social and economic localisation are the critical means by which this will be achieved. The objectives are detailed below.

3 Objectives and outcomes for sustainable smaller settlements Objectives Outcomes Full contribution to a 34% cut in Transport Reduced need to travel GHG by 2020 and 80% by 2050 18% reduction in emissions by 2020 Reduced use of private cars Increased walking and cycling Increased public transport use Energy More community / individual renewable energy generation 29% reduction in domestic emissions by CHP schemes Living Within 2020 Energy efficiency / insulation Environmental Limits 14% reduction in workplace emissions by 2020 Maintenance and improvement of local environmental capacity, quality and Landscape management / improvement landscape. Water conservation Management of environmental risks (e.g. flooding) Air quality improvement Flood management Meeting the needs of and Homes Provision of balanced & affordable housing stock providing opportunity for all Meeting the housing needs of all households households – stock and tenure Ensuring a Strong, Promoting well-being Services / Facilities Ensuring local accessibility to a core set of services and Healthy and Just Fostering social cohesion and Access to a core set of services for all facilities (public and private) via low-carbon means Society inclusion households

Fostering strong and stable local Enterprise & Employment Support for land- and environment-based sectors economies to underpin wellbeing Support for enterprise & employment in Provision of broadband and further ICT for and offer opportunity to the sectors and of sizes suited to the Support for the knowledge economy community opportunities and constraints raised by Support for small / micro businesses smaller rural settlements. Provision of premises if needed Local provision of jobs to suit the needs Live-work Achieving a of local households. Sustainable Economy Economic wellbeing Fostering local economic networks to retain income locally. Households able to acquire the housing, Community enterprise. services and goods they need at a cost Support for those employed in low-waged sectors to buy they can afford and which is acceptable goods locally. in environmental and social terms. 2 The Bude testing area

2.1.1 The Bude testing area is in a relatively remote area of the County, close to the Devon border. Within Cornwall 'greater Bude' (Bude, Stratton, Poughill) is the largest settlement for some distance, However Holsworthy, over the border in Devon, is only eight miles away. 2.1.2 The testing area contains the following settlements: 2001 population Bude testing area 13324 Bude/Stratton/Poughill 8889 Marhamchurch 603 Widemouth Bay 323 768 Grimscott * Shop () * Bangors/Treskinnick Cross * * these settlements are too small to calculate populations for from Census data – however they are included in the study as they were identified in previous local plans. Other small settlements in the testing area were not and so have not been included.

2.1.3 79% of the population of the testing area live in one of the four largest settlements. The extent of the testing area has been drawn to include an area likely to be strongly connected to Bude at its core, and also with linkages across the area. It has been based on a group of Census Output Areas to allow calculations to be made for the area as a whole. It may not be the 'right' area in this respect – it is a starting point and part of our discussions will be to see if it can be improved. 2.1.4 Bude is a reasonably large market town. The questions we are looking at here include: • how large and strong is its hinterland? • is town and its hinterland might more sustainable than the town on its own? • how sustainable are the villages within the testing area on their own? • how does this change if we consider them together? • how will this change by 2026? • how can this be more sustainable by 2026? 2.1.5 These are the sorts of questions the next round of planning, the LDF, has to wrestle with. We would like your help in finding the right answers.

5 Settlements in Bude testing area 3 Current position

3.1 Living within environmental limits

3.1.1 The overriding objective here is a full contribution to the national GHG emissions cuts – 34% by 2020, and 80% by 2050. This means a cut of around 42-44% by 2026 – the end of the plan period for the LDF. The rate of anticipated reduction accelerates from 2020 and holds this trajectory for around a decade. This means that by the end of the plan period the most rapid reductions in GHG emissions should be taking place. Forecast strong growth in population will increase the challenge. 3.1.2 Transport is the headline issue here because it is where the greatest differences in emissions between smaller settlements in rural areas and larger, urban areas exist. It is also the only sector for which emissions are still growing. 3.1.3 GHG emissions targets are only available as national budgets at the moment – we have not been able to translate them into local targets. We do, though, have district-based figures from the REAP model3 and DEFRA. The REAP figures are end-user, and the DEFRA ones are source (what this means will be explained at the workshop) and we are seeking ways of reconciling the two. Using them as comparators, though, it is clear that despite the rurality of the Cornwall districts, their emissions are comparable with the whole of the South West, and the UK. Cornwall and comparator GHG emissions

2004 (REAP) 2006 (Defra) TCO2e cap-1 Co2 cap-1 Caradon 16.9 7.1 Carrick 16.7 6.8 Kerrier 16.2 6.2 17.1 10 Penwith 16.4 5.7 Restormel 16.0 9.9 Cornwall 16.5 7.3 SW 16.7 8.1 UK 16.3 8.6

3.1.4 The sectoral-breakdown figures are intriguing (Carrick and North Cornwall are used as the two ends of the Cornwall spectrum). The distribution of domestic fuels is where the greatest differences are found. Private vehicle fuel use is next.

3 Produced by the Stockholm Environmental Institute and used by the Council.

7 REAP sectoral GHG emissions – some comparators

Tco2e cap-1 REAP 2004 Exeter City Plymouth Carrick N Cornwall Electricity, gas & other fuels distribution 1.37 1.47 1.87 2.07 Direct fuel use in the home (not inc. elec.) 1.27 1.27 1.25 1.26 HOUSING TOTAL 3.53 3.64 4.03 4.24 Railway transport 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.07 Road transport 0.18 0.17 0.16 0.15 Private vehicle fuel use (direct fuel use) 1.23 1.19 1.43 1.50 TRANSPORT TOTAL 3.69 3.52 3.92 4.00 FOOD TOTAL 2.70 2.66 2.89 2.93 CONSUMABLES TOTAL 1.96 1.95 2.11 2.16 PRIVATE SERVICES 1.08 1.05 1.11 1.11 PUBLIC SERVICES 2.13 2.13 2.13 2.13 TOTAL 15.61 16.34 16.70 17.09

3.1.5 We have tried to be more locally specific on emissions by adapting the REAP model, using travel to work and car ownership data. The results are indicative rather than absolute. They show that emissions for the testing area as a whole, taking into account commuting distances and car ownership, are slightly above those for North Cornwall. However these emissions are reduced by up to 0.23 tonnes in the individual settlements, which means that, conversely, they must be higher for the 21% of people outside these settlements. Bude testing area REAP emissions

Total co2 per cap Transp. co2 per cap North Cornwall 11.50 2.50 Bude testing area 11.55 2.56 Bude/Stratton 11.41 2.41 Marhamchurch 11.44 2.45 Kilkhampton 11.55 2.56 Widemouth 11.32 2.33

3.1.6 Census travel to work data also tells us that 78% of people who live in the testing area also work there, and that 22% of these work from home, a further 22% walk or cycle to work, though less than 1% used the bus, and 52% to by car. These are high proportions of low-carbon modes of travel. The average distance to work is 18.2km – just above the Cornwall average of 17.7km. This drops to 16.6km for Bude, but rises to 22.3km for Marhamchurch, but is only 14.1km for Widemouth.

8 3.1.7 Reductions in domestic and workplace energy use are also national targets. These tend to apply across the board, but the additional costs of distribution of energy to smaller settlements in rural areas raise the obvious issue of whether more of the energy needed in future could be produced more locally, to address this. New development will also need to be of the highest environmental performance, and the performance of existing development will need to be upgraded. 3.1.8 The final dimension is the maintenance and improvement of the local environment. The Cornwall AONB extends along the coast as far as Widemouth and then beyond Poughill.

3.2 Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society

3.2.1 Our objectives are that the LDF needs to support meeting the housing needs of all households through facilitating a balanced and affordable housing stock, and also facilitating access to a core set of services and facilities for households. Meeting the needs of all households in this way gives access to opportunities and encourages communities to be as inclusive and supportive as possible.

Population

3.2.2 The 2001 Census shows the population of the Bude testing area as 13,324, of which 66.7% lived in Bude/Stratton itself. The population has grown by 7.1% between 2001 and 2008. The 2000-2001 migration data showed that nearly all people (92%) who moved house did so with the testing area. 3.2.3 The census data showed that there were more people aged 65+ than the Cornwall average (23.4% in the Bude area compared to 20.1% in Cornwall). The proportion in Bude itself is slightly higher at 24.2% but particularly high in Widemouth Bay at 42%. The working age population (20 – 64) was 55% in the Bude area compared to just 51% in Cornwall whilst the number of children and young people was lower. 3.2.4 The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) gives some indication of relative deprivation by different themes. In comparison to national averages Bude is around average for health, in the best 20% for crime, and the worst 10% for housing and service access. For employment Bude falls in the bottom 40% and in the bottom 20% for environment (covering housing quality, air quality and road traffic accidents).

Housing

3.2.5 There were 5883 house with residents in the Bude testing area (2001) together with a further 221 vacant household spaces and 349 second/holiday homes. The housing stock in the Bude testing area had more detached houses than in Cornwall in 2001 (46% compared to 38.7%) and also more flats (14.5% compared to 11.9% in Cornwall). 3.2.6 Nearly three quarters of all housing in the Bude area was owner occupied in 2001 (72.2%). Less than 1% was shared ownership whilst 4.3% was social rented. Council housing accounted for a further 6.7% with the remaining 15.9% being mainly privately rented (12.3%) or rented from elsewhere. The social rented stock is concentrated in Bude/Stratton itself. There was none in Kilkhampton in 2001, only Council and private housing for rent. There was less still, and consequently more owner occupation, in Marhamchurch and Widemouth Bay.

9 3.2.7 House price data for the Bude area (2008) shows that it has high average house prices all around Bude but lower prices in the town itself. Nonetheless local employment data suggests that wage levels are not high. The IMD housing domain highlights concerns about housing accessibility and affordability, despite lower prices in the town. 3.2.8 Current Council housing waiting list information for the Bude area suggests a total of 494 registered on the list, 86% seeking housing in Bude/Stratton/Poughill and 53% seeking 1 bedroomed housing.

Services and Facilities

3.2.9 Data on services and facilities has been sourced by Cornwall Council for 2009. Whilst this does not cover all settlements in the Bude testing area, the following table sets out what is available: Bude testing area services / facilities R P c p S ( L S s F d H P E i l o n e l e i u o h r d e u e a n i c c i n c o m b u s b a c s a i l t i e t / p c u e u l a i n a C t a p s a s t h s d r l c u i r r t e a e t

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Bude/Stratton Poughill 46 21 31 22 7 12 3 Kilkhampton 4 6 4 3 1 1 1 Widemouth Bay 7 2 2 2 1 0 0 Marhamchurch 2 4 4 1 0 0 1 Shop/ Morwenstow 0 4 3 1 1 1 1 Bangors/ Treskinnic Cross 1 5 0 1 1 0 0 Grimscott 0 1 2 1 0 0 0

3.2.10 The information on services and facilities emphasises the concentration of health services in Bude/Stratton itself. The higher number of pubs/cafes/restaurants in Widemouth Bay is likely to reflect its tourism function; and similarly in Bude/Stratton/Poughill. The information also suggests that each settlement listed is at least able to provide basic food/general store services; although access to money is not always possible.

10 3.2.11 The Accession system, used by the Council, gives journey times by a variety of means to a range of location types from individual settlements. For this work we used it to give public transport journey times to five common services: • GP or Health Centre • Primary School • Secondary School • Leisure • Supermarket. 3.2.12 The data for the Bude testing area reveals surprisingly short journey times overall. All settlements are under 20 minutes from a GP, and most under 10 minutes. Primary schools are even more accessible. The only secondary school is in Bude, and so from some villages travel times are up beyond 25 minutes. This is also the case for leisure centres and supermarkets. Broadly, those settlements further from Bude have longer journey times. 3.2.13 The data does not take account of the frequency or time of day of services, though, and these are also critical issues.

11 Bude testing area average house prices (2008) 3.3 Achieving a Sustainable Economy

3.3.1 Our objective is that the LDF should provide a policy context which will enable a strong and stable local economy. This means that within Bude / Stratton and the other villages and settlements there will be sufficient opportunities to find work that will pay a decent living wage, to set up and grow a profitable business, to attract investment and staff with appropriate skills. The local economy should also offer residents opportunities to meet their needs for goods and services at prices they can afford. 3.3.2 So how far from doing this is the local economy now? The analysis below is based on data provided by the Council. It relates to the area shown on the map earlier in the report. The commentary below relates to economic activity across the whole area including the settlements of individual Bude / Stratton, Kilkhampton, Marhamchurch and Widemouth.

Bude Economic Area

3.3.3 The local economy provides work for most of the economically active people that live in its “catchment”. The area hosts in the region of 5500 jobs (TTW 2001). The vast majority (80%) of these jobs are filled by people who live in the Bude. The remainder are taken by people who travel into the area to work from the wider surrounding area i.e. Bideford, Holsworthy, Launceston and Boscastle. This means that the area is strongly economically “self-contained” - 77% of the 5200 travel to work journeys that start in the area also finish within it. 3.3.4 Much of the local economy is reliant upon, or linked to, the visitor economy. The area has a small “services” sector made up of construction, transport and professional services businesses. There is an element of manufacturing activity which provides jobs for in the region of 350 people. 3.3.5 A large proportion of the workforce is self employed – data from 2001 showed that one in four people for working age was self-employed. Part-time working is also prevalent - the same data recorded 26% of people of working age as working part time. 3.3.6 A large part of the economy is linked to the public sector - around 1100 people are directly employed in public administration, education and health services. 3.3.7 The local economy has grown slightly in recent years - the data shows that there were around 130 more jobs available in 2007 than there were in 2003. 3.3.8 Most economic activity is focused on Bude / Stratton. About 85% of jobs and 73% or workplaces are in the main settlement. The villages are also economic centres, however, hosting a range of business activity and employment. 3.3.9 The area has around 650 recorded “workplace units” (ABI 2007); of these 440 are occupied by “micro-businesses” with between 1 and 4 employees. This equates to 69% of all workplace units, which is higher than bigger commercial centres like Truro and Camborne / Pool / Redruth where the percentage of micro businesses is down in the mid to high 50s. 3.3.10 In Bude / Stratton / Poughill) the jobs are in a range of sectors including manufacturing, wholesale and retail, hotels and restaurants and the public sector. In 2001, most residents were employed in distribution, hotels & restaurants (34.3%) and the public sector (1000 or 23.6%). Other important sectors for local employment are manufacturing and finance and business service sectors.

13 3.3.11 62% of residents are economically active. Of these, one in five (21%) are self-employed. This workforce is not particularly highly skilled; 31% have no formal qualifications and L2 is the highest qualification for another 40%. Only 14% have a higher (L4/5) qualification compared to the Cornish average of 18%. 3.3.12 The town is also a supplier of labour. 1137 of the town’s workforce travel out to work in other employment centres in Devon and Cornwall including Holsworthy, Launceston, Bodmin, Exeter and Truro. 3.3.13 Kilkhampton hosts 211 jobs. Two thirds of these jobs are filled with local people. The remainder are filled by people travelling into the village to work. Employment self containment (the number of people who live and work in the settlement) is 46%. 3.3.14 Two thirds of the population, or in the region of 490 people, is economically active. Of these, one in four (25%) are self employed. Kilkhampton’s residents are employed in a range of sectors; the public sector is the largest employer, accounting for 28% of employment. Other sectors include wholesale and retail (21%), construction (13%), hotels and restaurants (10%), manufacturing (10%), finance and business services (7%) and agriculture (6%). 3.3.15 Marhamchurch hosts a small amount of economic activity - 57% of the village’s population are recorded as being economically active in 2001. Of these 26% were self employed. 15% of residents work from home. Employment self containment is only 26%. 3.3.16 Residents in employment are spread across a number of sectors. The public sector is the major employer (31%) followed by wholesale and retail (16%), manufacturing (14%), finance and business services (13%), hotels and restaurants (8%) and agriculture (6%). 3.3.17 Widemouth has a slightly different economic functionality. Only 44% of Widemouth’s population are recorded as being economically active. This is a very low percentage compared to the Cornish average of 63%. Of the 140 or so people that are economically active, one in three (33%) are self employed and one in four (23%) work from home. Employment self containment is only 37.5%. 3.3.18 Again, service industries and the public sector a major employers, reflecting the tourism and public-sector bases to the local economy. 3.3.19 Analysis of claimant data shows that 14% of the working age population of the Bude area are claiming benefits. Them majority are claiming “social” rather than unemployment benefits however; only 2% are claiming job seekers allowance, the remainder are claiming for incapacity, lone parent and carer support. The IMD data, housing list information and house prices show us that access to affordable housing is an issue, especially in the smaller villages and rural hinterland. 3.3.20 The overall impression given by the data is of a functional, if not tremendously high value, local economy which provides access to employment and enterprise for the vast majority of economically active people in the area. Earnings are probably relatively modest however, and this clearly has implications for people trying to access the local housing market where they are competing with people whose ability to purchase is not linked to the local economy. 3.3.21 Whilst the local economy provides work for many, there are still a proportion of the economically active population that travel away to work in other commercial centres in Cornwall and Devon. Some of these might be retained within the local economy, thus improving its sustainability if more jobs could be created, or perhaps more opportunity for business start-up and development. 3.3.22 Bude makes a relatively modest economic contribution to Cornwall as a whole. It hosts in the region of 2% to 2.5% of jobs in the county and contributes about 2.2% of total economic output.

14 4 Sustainability state and potential

4.1.1 The date we have collected is reasonably exhaustive, and contains many data sets which are as up to date as its is possible to make them. As ever we also have to rely on the 2001 Census for much of the detailed data we need. It is dating, of course, and the critical question is 'what has changed since 2001?'. 4.1.2 The data does not give a full picture. Local knowledge about the area can add things that available data cannot, such as patterns of local shoping and service use, the quality of local buses, the affects of the seasonal nature of the tourism, and the nature and strength of social networks in different settlements to name a few. Part of the purpose of the workshop is to consider the data and also to add to it.

4.2 Current State

4.2.1 This is our summary of the current state of the testing area. Is it right? What can you add to it? 4.2.2 The evidence is very clear that Bude forms the focus of a relatively tight and strong functional area – its hinterland. It is the centre for services and facilities, employment, and contains the most affordable housing. Relatively few people move outside the area, or work outside it. Only 3.4% of the resting area's economically active population work in Holdsworthy, for example. 4.2.3 Against national measures of output, the local economy is small, however it provides employment for thousands of local people, and has shown modest growth recently. We know that local wages are not well matched with local house prices and that there is a deep problem of housing affordability. We do not have a good idea of how affordable the everyday things people need are – this will be discussed at the workshop. 4.2.4 Despite being in a very rural and relatively remote area car use and emissions from it are no higher than the average for the County, which is not high in regional terms either. This is because the lives of local people and businesses are based locally. In the near future, though, even this level of car use will not be sustainable. People will need to get around in more low- carbon means, and / or travel less.

4.3 Potential

4.3.1 This final section is where we lay out what we think is needed to deliver the sustainability of the testing area and the individual settlements in it through to 2026. Do you think that these are the right steps? How should they be delivered? 4.3.2 The existing degree of localisation in the Bude testing area offers the key to its low-carbon future. Localisation really helps rural sustainability and emissions reduction. This is a starting point which can be readily built upon. 4.3.3 Bude is already the strong centre of the local functional network. This is likely to continue, however there are some critical issues which need to be addressed: • travel within Bude and into it from the surrounding villages has to be become much less car-dependent • the villages themselves need to become more self-sufficient in terms of basic everyday services, more employment and affordable housing , so that the need for so many people to travel in and out of Bude is reduced • what is the right balance here?

15 • there is a significant need for more affordable housing in Bude to underpin a wide range of elements of social and economic well-being • There is a need for more jobs and possibly more workspace (as an attractor and to facilitate new enterprise) in the area. Jobs and businesses which diversify the local economy would add value. Tourism is unlikely to be replaced as the main driver of the economy, however, so opportunities to add to the product range, extend the season and build on current strengths will also be important • parts of the area are clearly attractive to people in retirement – what challenges does this raise?

16 5 Workshop Feedback

5.1.1 The broad functionality position in the profile report was agreed. The sustainability issues were well understood. The broad potential template was also accepted. Bude was felt to be a strong centre, made so partly by relative isolation. That its high street still contained mainly independent shops was felt to be a good thing. That the larger of the surrounding villages should grow, and in so doing also support close by smaller villages and hamlets, was also supported. 5.1.2 For example Morwenstow is a parish of hamlets, who share basic services and look to Kilikhampton and Bude for the rest. 5.1.3 In this context the need for positive planning for local services and employment was strongly stressed. In the 'hinterland' villages and hamlets services and employment have been dwindling. 'Trickle down' from larger settlements was not left to work. There is a need to deliberately place services and employment in smaller settlements, particularly if travel is to be reduced. Housing development on its own will not do this, but is also needed, as populations are ageing. 5.1.4 One of the services felt to be most important was health. GP access is fundamental, and the centralisation of 'higher' services to the largest centres (Plymouth, Barnstaple) brings serious problems / expense without access to a car. Outreach clinics were suggested as an alternative means of delivery. Local schools are generally full to the extent that some pupils are now bused out of the area, adding to the impression that there is no clear plan for service delivery. 5.1.5 Public transport is felt to be used only as a last resort and by the retired for whom it is free and the long journey times are less of an issue. People would like to use public transport more, but it just isn't good enough. 5.1.6 The disconnect between many local wages and high house prices was stressed. 'Better' jobs are required, but so is more affordable housing. 5.1.7 In terms of potential, participants were generally very positive. They could easily see that the existing functionality, if strengthened, offered a path to greater sustainability. They also generally accepted that growth would be a part of this. However, they were also very clear on the need for a public sector lead to achieve this transition. The measures required to enable smaller settlement residents to live and work more sustainably, and those in Bude, need to be put in place on a strategic and comprehensive basis, and they saw little that they could do individually on this. 5.1.8 Concern was raised that the services data was not accurate.

17