Wiltshire Local Transport Plan Car Parking Strategy Review Royal Wootton Bassett Town Profile Consultation Draft October 2014 Contents Contents ............................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3 Demographic data ................................................................................................................. 4 Current population ............................................................................................................. 4 Future population .............................................................................................................. 4 Age profile ......................................................................................................................... 4 Growth data Housing growth................................................................................................ 5 Employment land growth ................................................................................................... 6 Jobs growth ....................................................................................................................... 7 Economic data ...................................................................................................................... 8 Employment profile ............................................................................................................ 8 Employment structure ........................................................................................................ 8 Employment / unemployment ............................................................................................ 9 Town centre provision and business mix ........................................................................... 9 Spend and footfall ........................................................................................................... 10 Vacancy rates .................................................................................................................. 10 Town centre leakage ....................................................................................................... 11 Transport data..................................................................................................................... 12 Average travel times to other key settlements ................................................................. 12 Car ownership levels ....................................................................................................... 13 Traffic data ...................................................................................................................... 13 Congestion data .............................................................................................................. 15 Bus service availability .................................................................................................... 16 Bus service usage ........................................................................................................... 17 Walking and cycling ......................................................................................................... 17 Parking data ........................................................................................................................ 17 Off street parking ............................................................................................................ 17 Wiltshire Council car park usage levels ........................................................................... 18 Parking charges .............................................................................................................. 19 Key competitor towns ...................................................................................................... 19 Off-street parking charges in key competitor towns ......................................................... 20 Parking income and operational costs ............................................................................. 21 Environmental data ............................................................................................................. 22 Air quality ........................................................................................................................ 22 2 | P a g e Introduction This Royal Wootton Bassett Town Profile aims to set out the relevant information that will be used alongside the factors identified in Policy PS3 of the Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) Car Parking Strategy1 to determine car parking charges and management in Royal Wootton Bassett. Royal Wootton Bassett identified in the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy as a ‘Market Town’. Royal Wootton Bassett is located in the north east of Wiltshire, close to Swindon. The community area covers 154 square kilometres and has the eighth densest community area population in Wiltshire. The larger settlements act almost as dormitory suburbs of Swindon, which is situated just six miles to the east and is a 15 minute car journey from the main settlements. Royal Wootton Bassett has no rail station but does benefit from the close proximity of the M4 which provides direct links to Bristol and London. Royal Wootton Bassett Community Area 1 http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/howthecouncilworks/plansstrategiespolicies/transportpoliciesandstr ategies/localtransportplan3.htm 3 | P a g e Demographic data Current population Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area, at mid-year 2011, had an estimated total population of 28,990 persons making it the sixth most populous community area in Wiltshire. Royal Wootton Bassett town population is estimated at mid-year census 2011 as 11,265. Over the period Census 2001 to mid-year 20111, Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area’s population growth was 3.2% (890 persons), significantly lower than the Wiltshire average of 9.6% (41,350 persons), and the fourth lowest of all Wiltshire’s community areas. This percentage change figure will have been affected by the closure of Lyneham and the associated loss of armed forces population. Population growth for the South West region 2001 to 2011 was 372,400 which equates to 7.6%. Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area cover 154 square kilometres, and has a population density of 188 persons per square kilometre, six more persons per square kilometre than in 2001. Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area has the eighth densest community area population in Wiltshire. Census 2001 and mid-year 2011 population estimates, by five-year age group and sex, Royal Wootton Bassett Community Area Source: Community Area Joint Strategic Assessment 2013 Future population Based on the 2011 Census, the total trend-based projected mid-year population for 2026 for the Royal Wootton Bassett Community Area is estimated to be 30,530. Age profile The 2011 mid-year population figures show how Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area compares to averages in England, the South West and Wiltshire, for 4 | P a g e proportions of total population being under the age of 16 years, of working age and of retirement age and over. In relation to the other 19 community areas, Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Area has the seventh lowest percentage of its total population under the age of 15 years, the fourth highest percentage of its total population being of working age, and the eighth lowest percentage of its total population being of retirement age and over. Age profile - based on 2011 Census 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 Population 1,000 500 0 0-4 5-9 100+ 60-64 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90-94 95-99 10-14 Age Group Source: http://www.intelligencenetwork.org.uk/population-and-census/ 5 | P a g e Growth data2 Housing growth During the plan period (2006 to 2026), at least 1,250 new homes will be provided of which 920 should occur at Royal Wootton Bassett; 330 homes will be provided in the rest of the community area. (Source: Schedule of Proposed Modifications (including Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment updates) April 2014; Inspector’s Proposed Modifications April 2014; and implications of National Planning Practice Guidance) Potential sub-regional housing growth to 2026 Source: Wiltshire Council 2014 Employment land growth The following Principal Employment Areas will be supported: Whitehill Industrial Estate, Interface Industrial Estate and Coped Hall Business Park. Over the plan period (2006 to 2026), 5 ha of new employment land (in addition to that delivered or committed at April 2011) will be provided, including: Land to the West of Templars Way - 3.7 ha Brickworks, Purton - 1.0 ha remaining 2 The growth data shown here will be updated in light of the outcomes of the current consultation on the Wiltshire Core Strategy (see http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planninganddevelopment/planningpolicy/ wiltshirecorestrategy/wiltshirecorestrategyexamination.htm). 6 | P a g e Potential sub-regional employment land growth to 2026 Source: Wiltshire Council 2014 Jobs growth There are approximately 195,000 jobs in Wiltshire. Most of these are located in the main settlements but a significant share is ‘pepper-potted’ in rural areas and along strategic roads. Over the period 1998-2008, employment grew by 11% in Wiltshire which,