EVIDENCE DOCUMENT Contents 1 ASHBOURNE’S NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN ................................................................................................... 6 2 ASHBOURNE’S IDENTITY ........................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Community Context ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Market Town in a Rural Heartland ............................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Sense of community .................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Heritage ...................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.4 Distinctive views and vistas ........................................................................................................ 10 2.1.5 Green Open Spaces ................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Policy Frameworks ......................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 With regard to Heritage ............................................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 With regard to Landscape and Distinctive Views ........................................................................ 12 2.2.3 With regard to Open Spaces ...................................................................................................... 13 3 ASHBOURNE’S ECONOMY ...................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 RETAIL AND THE VISITOR ECONOMY .............................................................................................. 14 3.1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 14 3.1.2 Vision ........................................................................................................................................ 15 3.1.3 Context ..................................................................................................................................... 16 3.1.4 The retail mix ............................................................................................................................ 16 3.1.5 Seasonality ................................................................................................................................ 16 3.1.6 Parking ...................................................................................................................................... 17 3.1.7 The Market ................................................................................................................................ 17 3.1.8 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 17 3.2 Commercial Economy and Employment Base ................................................................................. 18 3.2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 18 3.2.2 Vision ........................................................................................................................................ 18 3.2.3 Context ..................................................................................................................................... 18 3.2.4 Employment .............................................................................................................................. 18 3.2.5 Proposed Ashbourne Airfield Industrial Estate Development ...................................................... 19 4 ASHBOURNE’S ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Community context ....................................................................................................................... 20 4.2 Environmental Protection .............................................................................................................. 21 4.3 Transport - Key Issues .................................................................................................................. 22 4.3.1 Community strategic objectives ................................................................................................. 23 1 4.3.2 Heavy Goods Vehicles ................................................................................................................ 24 4.3.3 Cumulative impact of developments on traffic ........................................................................... 25 4.3.4 Impact on the Conservation Area ............................................................................................... 26 4.3.5 Critical Junctions impacted by New Developments ..................................................................... 28 4.3.6 Parking ...................................................................................................................................... 28 5 ASHBOURNE’S FACILITIES ....................................................................................................................... 30 5.1 Community Context and Strategic objectives ................................................................................. 30 5.2 Health and Leisure ......................................................................................................................... 31 5.2.1 Health ....................................................................................................................................... 31 5.3 St Oswald’s Hospital ...................................................................................................................... 31 5.4 Emergency Services. ...................................................................................................................... 32 5.5 Leisure Services ............................................................................................................................. 32 5.6 Ashbourne Leisure Centre .............................................................................................................. 32 5.7 Education ...................................................................................................................................... 33 5.7.1 QEGS ......................................................................................................................................... 34 5.7.2 Current known developments within the Neighbourhood Plan area. .......................................... 35 6 ASHBOURNE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ................................................... 36 6.1 THE JOURNEY TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN .............................................................................. 36 6.2 Process .......................................................................................................................................... 36 6.3 Initial stage .................................................................................................................................... 36 6.4 Timeline ........................................................................................................................................ 37 6.5 Consultation with the public .......................................................................................................... 38 6.6 Consultation with external bodies .................................................................................................. 39 6.7 SWOT analysis – post it notes from the public meeting .................................................................. 40 6.8 SWOT Analysis summary ................................................................................................................ 44 6.9 Stage 1 Public Consultation Results ................................................................................................ 45 6.10 Stage 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 45 6.10.1 Community Engagement Feedback ........................................................................................ 47 6.11 Stage 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 49 6.11.1 Stage 3 Leaflet ....................................................................................................................... 50 6.11.2 STAGE 3 RESULTS .................................................................................................................. 52 6.11.3 Community Feedback Summary ............................................................................................ 64 6.11.4 Community context and Community Planning Objectives ...................................................... 65 6.11.5 Community Context .............................................................................................................. 66 6.12 Stage 4 .........................................................................................................................................