- Northam False Page for Map 2 Town Study Incorporating Appledore, Northam, Orchard Hill and Westward Ho! Core Strategy Evidence September 2011 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 4 2. OVERVIEW 4 3. SIGNIFICANT PLANNING 17 APPLICATIONS 4. SIZE, LAND USE AND 18 CHARACTER 5. CONSTRAINTS 20 6. RELATIONSHIPS TO 21 OTHER CENTRES 7. COMMUNITY 22 8. VISION 24 9. KEY ISSUES 24 10. POTENTIAL FOR 28 GROWTH Northam Town Study Contents 11. GROWTH OPTIONS 35 12. SPATIAL ISSUES 35 13. CONCLUSION 36 TABLES Table 1 : Population 2001 - 2010 5 Table 2 : Average Household 6 Income (2009) Table 3 : Benefit Claimants (May 6 2009) Table 4 : Employment Sectors 7 (2007) Table 5 : Unemployment 8 Claimants (2001 - 2011) Table 6 : Average House Prices 9 2001 - 2009 Table 7 : School Capacities and 11 Roll Forecasts (2011) Table 8 : Open Space (April 2010) 12 Table 9 : Landscape Types 13 (February 2011) Table 10 : Community Facilities 14 (June 2011) Table 11 : Public Car Parking 15 Capacity (March 2011) Table 12 : Capacity of Tourist Accommodation - Bed Spaces 16 (2007) - Westward Ho! Table 13 : Summary of Issues 16 Table 14 : Significant Planning 17 Permissions (2002 - 2008) Table 15 : Summary of Applicable Shoreline Management Plan 20 Policies Table 16 : Themes and Issues in Northam, Westward Ho! and 22 Appledore Northam Town Study Contents Table 17 : North Devon and Torridge Local Strategic 23 Partnership Event - Identified Issues Northam Town Study Northam Town Study 1 Introduction 1.1 This report provides an overview of the characteristics and issues which define the form and function of Northam, Appledore and Westward Ho! and how such could impact on the delivery of sustainable growth. The report presents a profile of Northam Parish that provides information and comment on such matters 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 such matters that informed decisions will be enabled in relation to how best to accommodate the town’s future needs. 1.2 The purpose of the report is to support community focused consultation related to the North Devon and Torridge Core Strategy. The Core Strategy being 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 achieve sustainable growth that will meet the areas long term needs. 1.3 It is essential that local aspirations are reflected through the Core Strategy vision and objectives. Through undertaking additional town focused consultation it is hoped that locally relevant and supported visions can be established for the towns of northern Devon. 2 Overview 2.1 The Parish of Northam is located in the north western corner of Torridge District, within which there are the three distinctive settlements of Northam, Appledore and Westward Ho! Northam is located adjacent to the A386, approximately 3km (2miles) north of Bideford and 2.5km (1.5 miles) south of Appledore. A westerly bypass, the B3236, leads to the tourist resort of Westward Ho! approximately 1.5 km (1 mile) west of Northam. The town is located on the eastern end of a ridge of land overlooking Northam Burrows and Bideford Bay to the north. 2.2 Appledore is situated at the north end of the ridge and promontory upon which Northam stands, at the meeting point of the Taw and Torridge Estuaries, approximately 3km (2 miles) from the A39. The village is an ancient maritime settlement where ships could safely lie at anchor. It was a "strand" village, built directly onto the bank above high water mark with slips leading down onto the beach until the construction of the Quay in 1845. 2.3 Westward Ho! developed during the 1860s as a purpose built holiday resort. It lies at the south end of Northam Burrows and faces westward into Bideford Bay, opposite Braunton Burrows. The resort has been subject to considerable development over recent years, which has resulted in the loss of a number of caravan and camping sites. Although the demands of tourism are subject to continual change, the village and significantly the beach continue to attracts visitors from far afield. Population 2.4 Northam has been subject to variable growth over the last twenty years, which has occurred most significantly within Westward Ho! as a result of the redevelopment of tourist accommodation. The parish population has increased by 29% over the period 1991 to 2010, providing an annualised increase of about 148 persons per year. The population increased 4 Northam Town Study Northam Town Study from 9,600 in 1991 to 11,733 in 2001 and then to a projected level of 12,411 in 2010. The rate of population growth being significantly greater over the period 1991-2001 than 2001-2010. At 2010, the projected population for the parish is distributed on the basis of: Appledore 2,190 residents, Northam 5,803 residents, Orchard Hill 1,515 residents and Westward Ho! 2,182 residents. 2.5 From 2001 to 2010 the population of Northam increased by 678 people. The rate of population increase in the Parish of Northam, at 5.8% was significantly lower than that experienced in the other Torridge towns (Bideford, Holsworthy and Great Torrington) and across the District as a whole. The variance in population growth across the referenced geographic areas is illustrated in Table 1. Table 1 : Population 2001 - 2010 Total Population Northam Parish Other Torridge Torridge Devon Towns 2001 11,733 22,533 58,965 1,136,500 2010 12,411 25,581 65,716 1,179,354 Change 678 3,048 6,751 42,854 % Change 5.8% 13.5% 11.4% 3.7% 2010 Age Group Proportions 0 - 19 16% 24.1% 21% 21.5% 20 - 39 18.1% 23.5% 19.6% 23.9% 40 - 59 26.8% 27.2% 28.3% 27.2% 60 - 79 30.6% 19.6% 25% 21.4% 80+ 8.5% 5.6% 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) 2.6 The age distribution within the Northam Parish presents a range of variances from the characteristics of the wider geographic areas presented in Table 1. The proportion of the population within the younger age groups is lower in Northam than elsewhere in Torridge and Devon and significantly so in the 0 -19 age band. The population proportions within the 40 - 59 age band is generally comparable across the highlighted areas. The greatest degree of variance between Northam and the other areas occurs in the over 60 age bands. Nearly 40% of Northam's population is over 60, compared to a Torridge average of 31%. 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 and older. By 2033 this figure is expected to rise to more than 25%. Critically, the elderly population of Northam and the District as a percentage of the population already exceeds these levels(1). 1 Sub National Population Projections, ONS (May 2010): http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pproj0510.pdf Northam Town Study 5 Northam Town Study Income 2.8 Average household incomes in Torridge are the lowest of any Devon District. At £24,958 (2009) the Torridge average household income is £2,015 (8%) below the Devon average. The Northam average is £26,037, but as indicated in Table 2, there is a range of income levels across the parish, both above and below the district and county average. Table 2 : Average Household Income (2009) Total Household % Households % Households Households Income Average with an income of with an income of (Median) less than £15,000 less than £20,000 Torridge 29,362 £24,958 26.3% 35.1% Devon County Council 331,804 £26,973 25.7% 34.3% Northam (Ward) 2845 £24,744 15.2% 20.2% Appledore (Ward) 1529 £24,130 21.8% 29.0% Westward Ho! (Ward) 1193 £26,346 15.8% 21.1% Orchard Hill (Ward) 687 £28,929 21% 27.9% Source: Average (Median) Household Income - CACI Paycheck data (2009) / CACI (2008) 2.9 Table 2 illustrates geographic variance in average household incomes and the proportion of those households with incomes below £15,000 and £20,000. Residents of Orchard Hill had average household income levels above both the district average and county average, while average household income levels in Appledore and Northam were just below that of county levels. Benefits Table 3 : Benefit Claimants (May 2009) Percentage of: Northam Torridge Devon National Parish 16 – 59 year olds claiming income support 5.7% 4.5% 3.9% 5.6% 16 – 64 year olds claiming job seekers 3.0% 2.8% 2.0% 3.7% allowance Total population claiming disability living 3.7% 4.8% 4.2% 5.2% allowance 65 and older claiming attendance allowance 16.5% 16.0% 17.3% 18.2% 60 and older claiming pension credit 13.8% 17.0% 15.3% 20.6% Source: Department for Works and Pensions; retrieved from Northam Devon Town Profile 2010 (DCC) 2.10 Benefit claims in Northam exceed district, county and national rates both in respect of Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance. Levels for those aged 60 and older claiming Attendance Allowances are generally comparable with district and county rates but lower 6 Northam Town Study Northam Town Study than national rates.