Hellidon Village Design Statement Adopted October 2016 Page 1 of 39 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................. 3 2. Planning context ........................................................................... 5 3. Village location ............................................................................. 7 Features ....................................................................................... 7 Village environment ....................................................................... 8 4. History and development ............................................................... 9 5. Countryside and ecology .............................................................. 11 General Development Guidelines ................................................... 12 Countryside and Ecology Guidelines ............................................... 12 6. The Built Environment ................................................................. 14 Description ................................................................................. 14 Infrastructure .............................................................................. 15 Public buildings and facilities ......................................................... 15 Industrial and Commercial ............................................................ 15 Open spaces ............................................................................... 16 Wildlife sites ................................................................................ 17 New residential property ............................................................... 18 Renewable energy developments ................................................... 18 Built environment guidelines ......................................................... 19 7. Roads, the street-scene and traffic ................................................ 20 Features ..................................................................................... 20 Roads and Street Scene Guidelines: ............................................... 21 8. Public buildings and amenities ...................................................... 22 The church .................................................................................. 22 The public house ......................................................................... 23 The village hall ............................................................................ 24 The post office ............................................................................. 25 Shepherd’s Spinneyood ................................................................ 26 9. Key views and open spaces .......................................................... 27 Appendix 1: Conservation area......................................................... 35 Appendix 2: Residents views ............................................................ 36 Appendix 3: Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas .......................... 37 Appendix 4: Acknowledgements ....................................................... 39 Page 2 of 39 1. Introduction This is a Village Design Statement (VDS) covering the Village and Parish of Hellidon. The Village Design Statement has been prepared by the Hellidon Parish Meeting who have coordinated the input from organisations and residents within the village. The result of circulating the VDS to the parish resulted in over 70% responding of which 100% were in agreement with the content. The Parish meeting believes that this VDS, which includes historical and social background to the village, will be a useful guide for residents and professional developers and their agents in producing any proposals for development within the Parish of Hellidon. It highlights the positive features of this attractive Northamptonshire village and the local countryside that surrounds it. It includes a set of planning guidelines which, if followed, will help to preserve and strengthen the much loved village community which is Hellidon. Following the response of the villagers regarding the VDS, it is clear that the people of Hellidon have shown that it is their wish to retain the present distinctive character and overall setting of the village. To this end, the VDS, which incorporates these design guidelines, is put forward as Supplementary Planning Guidance and should be read in conjunction with the Development Plan for Daventry. These design guidelines are intended to highlight the distinctive, local qualities of Hellidon. The distinctive character and overall setting of the village is described in the VDS. In particular, the community wishes to retain the views and open spaces within the village, the Village Greens, the verges and footpaths, its trees and its buildings. The purpose of the VDS is to: • set out a vision of what is important, • determine how any potential new development can best be fitted in, • establish and set out the design and quality standards it should meet, • agree on how to preserve valued local features, and • map out the facilities which the community needs to safeguard the future. Page 3 of 39 The VDS is therefore a blueprint for the future of the Parish according to the needs and views of the community. What is a Village Design Statement? The purpose of this VDS is to identify the physical aspects of where we live – the characteristics of the setting of the communities, buildings, roads and street-scene that are considered to be distinctive, significant and important by local residents. These features are generally those that we like and are some of the reasons we choose to live here. The aim is to ensure that any future development and change will contribute positively to the future of the local area and protect and enhance its special value. The VDS will be used to assist with determining planning applications within Hellidon. The VDS will also be used by the Parish Meeting to help it assess the impact of developments on the Parish and by developers and householders to help them plan developments that are sympathetic to the wishes ofthe community. Timeline • October 2013 Plan Initiated • October 2014 Agreed by Parish meeting planning sub committee • March 2015 Draft circulated to the whole village for consultation • May 2015 Tabled at the AGM with unanimous acceptance • May 2015 to August 2015 Additional period for receipt of comments • September 2015 submitted to DDC for discussion • December 2015 Reviewed at a village meeting • January 2016 Final draft circulated to the village prior to public consultation. • April 2016 Submitted to DDC for adoption • October 2016 Adopted by Daventry District Council Page 4 of 39 2. Planning context This VDS considers matters that relate to and can be affected by the statutory planning process used by Daventry District Council (DDC). One purpose of this plan is therefore to inform the planning authority (DDC) of these characteristic features and link them with relevant planning policies, so that the VDS is incorporated into the DDC Planning Documents and can influence future changes in the area. Daventry District Council has a number of policies and strategies to help deliver housing in both planning policy and housing strategy terms. The most important of these are: • The Saved Policies from the Daventry District Local Plan • The West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy (adopted December 2014) The VDS is intended to set out clear statements for good practice that will be used by developers and others wishing to change or modify the physical characteristics of our communities. Change is brought about not only by large developments, but also by the smaller day-to-day adjustments to homes and gardens, open spaces, paths and hedges, which alter the look and feel of the whole parish. Within the Daventry District plans, Hellidon has not been earmarked for major development, mainly due to its conservation area status. However, there is increasing government pressure for more house building and this will affect the way developers view land use. Local people value their environment and landscape and are greatly concerned to retain the rural character of the villages and the open countryside. By setting out the aspirations of the local community this VDS will be of use to: • Statutory bodies and public authorities • Planners, developers, builders, architects, designers and engineers. • Local community groups. • Householders and businesses We consider ourselves to be part of a single friendly supportive community which has an efficient Parish Meeting and a planning subcommittee which meets on a regular basis. Page 5 of 39 How does this VDS fit into the planning process? This is a public document available for any interested party to read, either via the DDC website, DDC Planning Policy department or from the Hellidon Parish Meeting. This document will be a material consideration for Daventry District Council when assessing future planning applications made in Hellidon. More informally, it is hoped that the document will become a useful guide for all residents in the village or interested parties who are considering future changes to property within the village, regardless of whether or not planning permission might be required. Page 6 of 39 3. Village location Features Map of Hellidon parish This Village Design Statement covers the area of Hellidon Parish and the conservation area within which Hellidon sits. It consists of the village of Hellidon and surrounding farmlands. The