- Great Torrington Town Study Core Strategy Evidence September 2011 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 3 2. OVERVIEW 3 3. SIGNIFICANT PLANNING 15 APPLICATIONS 4. SIZE, LAND USE AND 15 CHARACTER 5. CONSTRAINTS 16 6. RELATIONSHIPS TO 18 OTHER CENTRES 7. COMMUNITY 18 8. VISION 20 9. KEY ISSUES 21 10. POTENTIAL FOR 25 GROWTH Great Torrington Town Study Contents 11. SPATIAL ISSUES 31 12. CONCLUSION 33 TABLES Table 1 : Population 2001 - 2009 4 Table 2 : Average Household 5 Income (2009) Table 3 : Benefit Claimants (May 5 2009) Table 4 : Development 6 Opportunities Table 5 : Employment Sectors 6 (2007) Table 6 : Unemployment 7 Claimants 2001 - 2011 Table 7 : Average House Prices 8 (2001 - 2009) Table 8 : School Capacities and 10 Roll Forecasts (2011) Table 9 : Open Space (2010) 11 Table 10 : Landscape Types 12 (February 2011) Table 11 : Community Facilities 12 (June 2011) Table 12 : Public Car Parking in 13 Great Torrington (March 2011) Table 13 : Summary of findings 14 Table 14 : Significant Planning 15 Permissions (2006 - 2009) Table 15 : Summary of the Great 19 Torrington Town Plan Table 16 : North Devon and Torridge Local Strategic 20 Partnership Federation Event - Identified Issues Table 17 : Provisional Housing 22 Requirements 2006 - 2026 Table 18 : Comparative Retail 23 Floorspace and Number of Units Great Torrington Town Study Great Torrington Town Study 1 Introduction 1.1 This report provides an overview of the characteristics and issues which define the form and function of Great Torrington and how such could impact on the delivery of sustainable growth. The report presents a profile of Great Torrington, providing information and commentary on matters such as: population, housing growth and needs, economic activity, service provision and infrastructure capacity, environmental considerations and development opportunities and constraints. It is through the examination of these matters that informed decisions will be made about the towns future needs. 1.2 The purpose of the report is to support community focused consultation related to the North Devon and Torridge Joint Core Strategy. The Core Strategy is the first of the Local Development Framework development plan documents prepared by North Devon and Torridge District Councils. It is the most important document in determining how the area will evolve. Through the Core Strategy, direction will be given to guide the location, form and scale of development that is required to meet the areas long term needs. 1.3 It is essential that local aspirations are reflected through the Core Strategy’s vision and objectives. Through further town focused consultations it is hoped that locally relevant and community supported visions can be established. 2 Overview 2.1 Great Torrington is a historic market town that developed on the trading route between Barnstaple and Plymouth. It occupies an elevated site east of the river Torridge some 11 kilometres (7 miles) south of Bideford. It is an elongated settlement accessed by the A386, B3227 and B3232. 2.2 Great Torrington has a rich built and natural heritage, much of which still dictates the character, form and appearance of the settlement, part of which pre-dates the market town. Historically the town held regular markets and fairs and thrived on local agriculture and wool industries. A flourishing glove manufacturing industry in the 19th Century brought pressure for urban development along New Street towards The Commons. More recently in the 1990s the fortunes of the town suffered a setback with the loss of a number of locally significant employers, including Dairy Crest. 2.3 The town is the second largest settlement in Torridge and it contains a range of services and community facilities that reflect the towns role as an important service centre. The range of facilities include independent and national retail outlets, primary and secondary schools and a community health centre, serving the needs of both urban and rural communities. Significant tourist attractions within and close to Great Torrington include: Dartington Crystal, Torrington 1646, the Tarka Trail and RHS Rosemoor, all of which contribute to the range of available facilities and attractions of Great Torrington. Population 2.4 The town has grown steadily over the last 20 years, with development focused to the north of the town. The parish population has increased by 27% over the period 1991-2010, providing an annualised increase of about 60 persons per year. The population increased from 4,493 residents in 1991 to 5,279 in 2001 and then to a projected level of 5,716 in 2010. The highest rate of population growth occurred 1991 - 2001 (17.5%). Great Torrington Town Study 3 Great Torrington Town Study 2.5 From 2001 to 2010 the population of Great Torrington increased by 438 people (8.3%). This rate of increase was less than that experienced in other Torridge Towns (Holsworthy, Northam and Bideford) and across the District as a whole. The variance in population growth across the referenced geographic areas is illustrated in Table 1. 2.6 The age distribution within Great Torrington is generally characteristic of the wider geographic area presented in Table 1. The proportion of the Great Torrington population within the age bands: 20-39, 40-59 and 80+ is comparable to that of Torridge District and Devon. A degree of variance within the Great Torrington population does however occur through a higher than average proportion of population being within the age band 0-19 and a lower than average population proportion being within the age band 60-79. 2.7 The increasing age of the areas population is reflective of a national trend. In 2008, 19% of the population in the South West was estimated to be 65 years and older. By 2033 more than a quarter of the population of the South West is expected to be 65 and over. The population in Great Torrington, other Torridge towns and the Torridge District already exceeds these levels(1). 2.8 The population of Great Torrington is predicted to increase by 940 people between 2006 and 2021, an increase of 7.8%. Within this increasing population, it is predicted that the total number in the younger age groups (0 to 19) will decrease by 7.3%. The 20 - 44 year age band is also predicted to decrease by 9.9%. Population increases are predicated within the age band 45 – 64 by 11.9% and the older age groups (65 years and older) are due to see an increase of 44.3%. The largest change is predicted to be in the 70 - 74 age group with an increase of 55.9%. Table 1 : Population 2001 - 2009 Other Torridge Total Population Great Torrington Torridge Devon Towns 2001 5,278 28,989 58,965 1,136,500 2010 5,716 32,276 65,716 1,179,354 Change 438 3,287 6,751 42,854 % Change 8.3% 11.3% 11.4% 3.7% Age Group Proportions (2010) 0 - 19 24.3% 20.9% 21% 21.5% 20 - 39 21.4% 21.8% 19.6% 23.9% 40 - 59 27.4% 27.1% 28.3% 27.2% 60 - 79 20.7% 23.6% 25% 21.4% 80+ 6.2% 6.6% 6.1% 6.0% Source: Office for National Statistics - Census (2001), South Devon Health Informatics Service - Family Health Services Authority (FHSA) (2010). Retrieved from: Devon Facts and Figures (Devon County Council) - http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/councildemocracy/improving_our_services/facts_figures_and_statistics.htm 1 Sub National Population Projections, ONS (May 2010): http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pproj0510.pdf 4 Great Torrington Town Study Great Torrington Town Study Income 2.9 Average household incomes in Torridge are the lowest for any district in Devon. At £24,958 (2009) the Torridge average household income is £2,015 (8%) below the Devon average. The Great Torrington average household income of £23,380 is £1,578 (6%) below the District average and 13% below the Devon average. Table 2 illustrates geographic variance in average household incomes and in the proportion of households with income levels below £15,000 and £20,000. Within Great Torrington the proportion of households supported by incomes below £15,000 and £20,000 are slightly lower than District and Devon County levels. Table 2 : Average Household Income (2009) Total Household % Households % Households Household Income Average with an income of with an income of (Median) less than £15,000 less than £20,00 Torridge 29,362 £24,958 26.3% 35.1% Devon County Council 331,804 £26,973 25.7% 34.3% Torrington 2,416 £23,380 19.1% 25.5% Source: Household Income Average (Median) - CACI Paycheck data (2009) / CACI (2008). Benefits 2.10 Benefit claims in Great Torrington exceed district and county rates with respect to Job Seekers Allowance, but fall below county and national levels regarding Income Support. Levels for those aged 60 and older claiming Attendance Allowance or Pension Credit are higher than district, county and national levels, as illustrated in Table 3. Table 3 : Benefit Claimants (May 2009) Great Torridge Devon National Percent of: Torrington 16 - 59 year olds claiming income support 4.2% 4.5% 3.9% 5.6% 16 - 64 year olds claiming job seekers allowance 3.3% 2.8% 2.0% 3.7% Total population claiming disability living allowance 4.6% 4.8% 4.2% 5.2% 65 and older claiming attendance allowance 18.3% 16.0% 17.3% 18.2% 60 and older claiming pension credit 22.7% 17.0% 15.3% 20.6% Source: Department for Works and Pensions: retrieved from Great Torrington Devon Town Profile 2010 (DCC) Employment 2.11 The Hatchmoor Industrial Estate, shown on Map 1 is the main employment area in Great Torrington. The industrial estate provides the base for a range of manufacturing and serviced based industries.