APPENDIX B – THE LOCAL CONTEXT - HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND LEISURE STRATEGY, GREEN SPACE STRATEGY, PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY, LEISURE FACILITIES STRATEGY NORTH WARWICKSHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL APPENDIX B: LOCAL CONTEXT BACKGROUND B.1. The Borough is the Northernmost district in the county of Warwickshire. It has several large urban settlements on its doorstep, with the Borough lying between Birmingham, Solihull, Tamworth, Coventry, Nuneaton and Hinckley, all of which are growing areas. B.2. North Warwickshire itself is overwhelmingly rural in nature with approximately two thirds of its area designated as Green Belt. The population of the Borough is 62,124 (2011 Census), most of which is centred in the three main towns in the Borough: Atherstone, Coleshill and Polesworth. The rest of the population is dispersed throughout a number of smaller rural settlements. The dispersed nature of the Borough has particular implications for the provision of, and access to, services and facilities, particularly as public transport in limited, and not everyone has access to private transport. The population is predicted to grow from 62,700 in 2017, to 83,561 by 2031. (The projected growth in housing development of 5,280, plus 3,790 equates to 9,070 new homes by 2031. Assuming a minimum of 2.3 persons per household, this potentially equates to 20,861 new people in the Borough, who will need community facilities and services) B.3. Settlements range in size from Atherstone and Mancetter, with a population of 10,000 to small hamlets. Atherstone with Mancetter, Coleshill and Polesworth are the three market towns and are important to the health of the surrounding rural economy as they provide many services and facilities to the surrounding areas. B.4. The Borough covers over 110 square miles and has over 50 settlements. B.5. The Borough’s population is ageing. Deprivation levels are lower than the UK average, although there are two specific wards (Atherstone Central and Mancetter South and Ridge) within the Borough where deprivation is much higher. The health of communities varies across the Borough and levels of obesity are growing. 1 APPENDIX B – THE LOCAL CONTEXT - HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND LEISURE STRATEGY, GREEN SPACE STRATEGY, PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY, LEISURE FACILITIES STRATEGY NORTH WARWICKSHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL Map 1: Map of North Warwickshire Borough B.6. Those in younger age groups are most likely to participate in a wide range of sport and physical activities. Facilitating available opportunities for such participation are crucial to ensure an active lifestyle becomes part of daily routine, and continues into later life. It is however also important to ensure there are opportunities for older people to stay active as long as possible, as this will enable them to age well. B.7. The provision of high quality, accessible sports facilities and opportunities to be physical active have a role to play in addressing local health inequalities. GROWTH IN THE BOROUGH B.8. The Borough’s own objectively assessed housing need and the need to consider delivering further growth for neighbours means that growth will be much greater than ever experienced in the Borough before – housing, road, rail and other infrastructure. B.9. This growth will bring many challenges. In particular, due to the rural nature of the Borough making quality places that are integrated into the existing fabric of settlements wherever possible will be important with the provision of leisure facilities being an important factor. B.10. Growth is expected to take place in the Borough in the Local Plan period to assist with the need to provide housing for the Coventry and Warwickshire and the Greater Birmingham areas. In addition, the Council is committed to delivering 500 dwellings for Tamworth from the previous Core Strategy. There is an additional requirement in the Tamworth adopted Local Plan for a further 825 dwellings and 14 hectares of employment land to be provided in North Warwickshire and Lichfield (Birmingham Corridor). The Borough therefore has pressure for growth from all around. This is not only in terms of land being sought in this Borough but in terms of the environmental implications of such growth. For example, traffic passing through the Borough especially along the A5. B.11. Major roads of national and regional significance pass through the Borough (M6, M6 Toll, A5, M42, and A446) and they form part of the Strategic Road Network. The Borough Council is working with Warwickshire County Council, Leicestershire County Council, the Highways Agency from the 2 APPENDIX B – THE LOCAL CONTEXT - HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND LEISURE STRATEGY, GREEN SPACE STRATEGY, PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY, LEISURE FACILITIES STRATEGY NORTH WARWICKSHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL East and West Midlands, as well as other local authorities along its route, to investigate the issues of growth and how improvements to the route can take place. B.12. The Trent Valley railway line/ West Coast mainline and the Cross-Country lines pass through the Borough. The improvement of rail services and facilities are important in delivering future growth in the Borough. B.13. In addition, the first phase of HS2 (High Speed Rail) between London and the West Midlands will travel through the Borough Northwards from the NEC along the Tame Valley up to Middleton and then on to Bassett’s Pole. A route also comes out of and goes in to Birmingham to the South of Water Orton. The next phase of the route to Leeds via the East Midlands and to Manchester was published in January 2013 but is not yet safeguarded; this follows the route of the M42 from a junction near Lea Marston, which passes Polesworth and then heads towards Ashby. B.14. The full impact of the HS2 proposals will not be known for some time, but increased traffic, especially through the rural countryside close to the new railway station and monorail depot to the East of the M42 near to the NEC, is likely. Improved public transport connections will be extremely important to mitigate this impact as well as substantial landscaping and absorptive noise barriers along its route. There will ALSO be pressure for development expanding out of the new HS2 railway station at the NEC. B.15. Several current strategic polices, strategies and factors influence current and future supply and demand for sport and recreation facilities in North Warwickshire. As well as providing the context for future facility provision, e.g. health improvement, improving accessibility, increasing participation, these strategies provide opportunities to link priority areas and needs, and ensure that outcomes are aligned with identified local objectives. The relevant strategies and policies include: North Warwickshire Borough Council - Corporate Plan 2016-2017 North Warwickshire Sustainable Community Strategy: 2009-2026 North Warwickshire Draft Local Plan 2016 Warwickshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2014-2018 North Warwickshire Health and Well-Being Action Plan Children and Young Peoples’ Plan North Warwickshire Green Space Strategy 2008-2018 Population Profiles and Projections 3 APPENDIX B – THE LOCAL CONTEXT - HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND LEISURE STRATEGY, GREEN SPACE STRATEGY, PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY, LEISURE FACILITIES STRATEGY NORTH WARWICKSHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL Participation Trends and Rates Table 1: Summary of relevant Local Strategies STRATEGY SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES/PRIORITIES NORTH This Plan provides the context for the Borough. WARWICKSHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL: North Warwickshire Borough Council has a new Vision: CORPORATE PLAN: 2016-2017 “Protecting the rurality of North Warwickshire, supporting its communities and promoting the wellbeing of residents and business.” The revised Corporate Plan sets out the Council’s six priorities for achieving the Vision, in consultation and partnership with local communities and business, the County, Town and Parish Councils and other agencies. It also sets out the key actions that it aims to take during 2017-18, to deliver on those prioritie. The Borough Council’s recently adopted Corporate Plan identifies six key priorities, two of which have particular relevance to the Authority’s leisure facility provision: Responsible Financial and Resource Management Making the best use of our resources…to provide high quality services to our communities Improving Leisure and Well-being Opportunities Providing opportunities to enable local people to enjoy their leisure and recreation and to improve their health and well-being Within this priority there are implications for sports provision and programming. These include: Evaluation of Borough-wide leisure facilities Implementation of North Warwickshire Green Space Strategy Addressing health inequalities and co-ordination of the approved Health Improvement Action Plan Promotion of healthy lifestyles and raising levels of physical activity, in particular for children and young people Ensure the success of the Women’s International Cycle Race and its impact upon the community of North Warwickshire. Promoting Sustainable and Vibrant Communities 4 APPENDIX B – THE LOCAL CONTEXT - HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND LEISURE STRATEGY, GREEN SPACE STRATEGY, PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY, LEISURE FACILITIES STRATEGY NORTH WARWICKSHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL STRATEGY SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES/PRIORITIES Working with local residents and partners to make our communities sustainable and viable, both in terms of facilities and lifestyle. Each priority has potential implications for the leisure and recreation services and facilities