Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan · 2017. 4. 3. · SODC’s infrastructure delivery plan including a...

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan // 1

Wallingford Neighbourhood PlanBaseline Reportv2.0 May 2016

2 // Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan


Contents1. Purpose of this document 042. Planning Policy Context 063. Introduction to Wallingford 084. People and population 105. Housing 126. Working and Shopping 147. Accessibility and Movement 188. Leisure and Wellbeing 209. Environment, Sustainability and Design Quality 2210. Past Consultation 2611. Summary of Key Issues 27

Annex 1. References 29Annex 2. Past Consultations 30


1. Purpose of this document

The Baseline Report brings together and summarises information from a range of background reports and evidence base studies. These primarily comprise those that have been produced as part of the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) planning policy evidence base. A full list of data sources is set out in Annex 1.

This Baseline Report identifies the key social, environmental and economic characteristics of Wallingford, providing a shared resource and reference point for all parties contributing to the Neighbourhood Planning process.

A Neighbourhood Plan is a relatively new type of planning document that was introduced by the Localism Act, which came into force in April 2012. Neighbourhood Plans are intended to give local people a greater say in the future of their communities. However, Neighbourhood Plans must conform to the overarching strategic policy framework, which in this case includes:

• the National Planning Policy Framework (2012)• the adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011)• the adopted SODC Core Strategy (2012)• the emerging strategic policies of the new SODC Local Plan

2031

As the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan (WNP) develops, a key challenge will be the need to respond to and reflect emerging strategic policies, including the new SODC Local Plan and any future housing requirements for the settlement. More detail on the current policy context is set out in Section 2 of this report.

Neighbourhood Plans cannot be used to resist appropriate development that is required. In this way, the WNP will need to consider how development needs are met; it could be used to influence the type of development that takes place in a neighbourhood area, where it takes place, what it looks like and the mix of uses proposed that are included. The WNP will set out a vision for the future of the area over the next 15 years, providing a strategy to manage improvements to the town and a land use framework for development.

On 1st May 2015 SODC formally agreed the WNP area boundary, which reflects the Town boundary. Wallingford

Town Council has been designated by SODC as the lead body in the production of the WNP (see Figure 1.1: Neighbourhood Plan Boundary).

In September 2015, Nexus Planning was appointed by Wallingford Town Council to assist with the preparation of the WNP.

The process of producing a Submission Version of the WNP is anticipated to take at least 12 months. SODC will then review the Neighbourhood Plan, before it is independently examined and finally, undergoes a referendum (or public vote).

The remainder of the Baseline Report is set out as follows:

Section 2: Planning Policy ContextSection 3: Introduction to WallingfordSection 4: People and PopulationSection 5: HousingSection 6: Working and ShoppingSection 7: Accessibility and MovementSection 8: Leisure and Well-beingSection 9: Environment, Sustainability and Design QualitySection 10: Past Consultation SummarySection 11: Summary of Key IssuesAnnex 1: References and FiguresAnnex 2: Past Consultation

This section introduces the intention of the baseline report and the context of the Neighbourhood Planning process in Wallingford.


BRIGHTWELL- CUM -

SOTWELL

CHOLSEY

CROWMARSH GIFFORD

Figure 1.1: Neighbourhood Plan Boundary (May 2015)


2. Planning Policy Context

Status of Development Plan Document

As Neighbourhood Plans must conform to strategic policies, the status of the Local Plan for the Wallingford area is of significance to the process. Wallingford is located within South Oxfordshire’s Plan area. Whilst the Core Strategy issues are not necessarily those that need to be covered by the Neighbourhood Plan, the Plan does need to take account of and accord with the Core Strategy Policies.

South Oxfordshire Development Plan consists of:

• the adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011) (Ref: 1)

• the adopted SODC Core Strategy (2012) (Ref: 2)

• Adopted Neighbourhood Plans

The District Council is currently developing a new Local Plan to guide development up until 2031. The current timeline for the adoption of the emerging Plan is April 2017.

In April 2014, the local authorities across Oxfordshire published a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)(Ref: 3). This identified that South Oxfordshire needs to find additional housing beyond that originally planned for in the Core Strategy. In addition to the number identified in the SHMA, Oxford City Council has identified a difficulty in meeting housing need within the city boundary due to land supply and greenbelt constraints and therefore it has been suggested that other District Councils, including SODC, may need to accommodate some of the unmet need and consultation has taken place on this issue.

In order to take into consideration the increased housing number, SODC is currently reviewing the existing plan to consider additional growth. For this reason, while Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan will need to also comply with the adopted Core Strategy, it will in the future need to be brought forward in accordance with any changes to the new Local Plan.

‘Saved Policies from the SODC Local Plan (2011)’

Saved policies of relevance to the production of the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan include:

• Policy D1 seeks the principles of good design and the protection and reinforcement of local distinctiveness should be taken into account.

A number of policies relating to Wallingford have since been superseded by the Core Strategy and/or the development to which the policy relates has been completed.

‘Adopted Core Strategy (2012)’

• Policy CSH3 ‘Affordable Housing’ outlines that 40% affordable housing will be sought where there is a net gain of three or more dwellings subject to the viability of provision on each site.

• Policy CSWAL1 ‘The Strategy for Wallingford’ advises that proposals for development in Wallingford should be consistent with the strategy which is to:

i. Strengthen the town centre including supporting schemes which allow for the re-use or redevelopment of the former Waitrose Site provided that the retail element and car parking is retained;

ii. Support housing and employment uses above shops;

iii. Support the market place as a focal hub;

iv. Support measures which improve the attraction of Wallingford for visitors with particular emphasis on the River Thames;

v. Improve accessibility, car parking, pedestrian and cycle links and local air quality;

vi. Support schemes which enhance the town’s environment;

This section of the report outlines the planning policy background that provides the context for the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan.

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 1) adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011)

(Ref: 2) SODC adopted Core Strategy (2012)

(Ref: 3) Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2014)


vii. Identify land for about 2ha for employment growth;

viii. Support schemes which improve the stock of existing commercial buildings and the environment of existing employment areas;

ix. Identify land for 555 new homes (Policy CSWAL2); and

x. Allow housing on suitable infill and redevelopment sites.

• Policy CSWAL2 ‘Greenfield neighbourhood west of Wallingford1’ states permission will be granted for a new greenfield neighbourhood of 555 homes to the west of Wallingford provided that:

i. The area is planned comprehensively and the development takes place in accordance with an agreed design brief as required by Policy CSQ4;

ii. The form and characteristics of the development meet identified housing needs of Wallingford;

iii. Access is from the western bypass, with no vehicular access provided through Queen’s Avenue;

iv. A through route is provided for public transport;

v. Measures are put in place to mitigate any impacts on the Wallingford Air Quality Management Area;

vi. Safe pedestrian and cycle linkages are provided from the development to the town centre and to Hithercroft;

vii. The western and southern boundaries are reinforced with significant landscape buffers, with no built development along the western boundary adjacent to the bypass;

viii. The existing footpath through the site is developed into a green corridor linking the town to the wider countryside; and

ix. Provision is made, or contributions are provided, towards the supporting infrastructure set out in SODC’s infrastructure delivery plan including a new primary school.

1 Land to the West of Wallingford (Site B) was submitted to SODC on the 4th September 2014 and is currently under consideration. (P14/S2860/O).

Summary of Key Issues

• The Neighbourhood Plan must conform with a number of National and District Policies including the adopted Core Strategy and saved Local Plan

• The relevant policies include requirements for the allocated housing site, design quality requirements and local distinctiveness as well as an outline role for Wallingford in the South Oxfordshire context.

• Policy CSWAL2 within the adopted Core Strategy outlines specific requirements for site currently under consideration in West Wallingford.


3. Introduction to Wallingford

Location and role of the town

Wallingford is situated to the north west of Reading and to the south east of Oxford. The town is located on the eastern bank of the River Thames and is closely linked to Crowmarsh on the western bank. Wallingford is the smallest market town of South Oxfordshire and hosts a long history as a critical defensive and trade settlement present since the bronze ages, which is reflected within its built environment. The picturesque market town is designated within the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy as a town centre serving a local catchment area.

The town has good links to Oxford, Reading, Didcot, Newbury, Maidenhead, Henley and Abingdon. The road networks allow access to the M40 and M4 via routes through the likes of Reading, Didcot and Oxford.

Historically located in Berkshire, the market town was transferred to Oxfordshire in 1974. The town has many historical assets including Wallingford Bridge which dates back to 1141 and the remains of Wallingford Castle, which was destroyed at the end of the Civil War.

The closest mainline railway station to Wallingford is Cholsey, 3 miles away. However Didcot, Goring, Reading and Oxford can all be reached by bus transfer from Wallingford.

Wallingford town centre offers a concentration of shops, services, leisure and community facilities. The town has one secondary, and three primary schools.

The Neighbourhood Plan area includes Winterbrook area in the south of the town. The town and surrounding area is shown in the Location Plan for Wallingford in Figure 3.1.

This section describes the strategic location of the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan area.

1

4

2

3

6

TOWARDS READING

7

8

WALLINGFORD

BRIGHTWELL- CUM -

SOTWELL

CHOLSEY

CROWMARSH GIFFORD

TOWARDS OXFORD

Figure 3.1: Wallingford Context Plan

5

9

9


4. People and population

The population of Wallingford is approximately 8,000 people. The 2011 Census (Ref: 4) established that there are 11,600 residents in Cholsey and Wallingford area (using the ward boundaries of ‘North Wallingford’ and ‘Cholsey and Wallingford South’). This was an increase from the 2001 Census (Ref: 5) which recorded 10,425 residents within the same defined boundary, an increase of 9% (1,175 people) in the 10 year period.

Demographics

The age profile of Wallingford, based on the 2011 Census, shows that the largest proportion of residents are aged 25 to 44 (28%) which is in line with England and higher than the South Oxfordshire District (26%). Wallingford has comparable populations to the District in the 5-24 year old age groups (22%), a slightly greater aging population (65+) and a smaller population (3%) of those aged between 45-64.

There is a slightly higher proportion of women in Wallingford (52%) compared to men (48%) and the population is almost entirely British at 96%, with only 4% of other ethnicities as represented in the 2011 Census. Wallingford’s British population (96%) is 5% greater than the South East Region (91%) and 11% greater than England (85%).

The Census 2011 also indicates that the majority of Wallingford residents are classified as in good or very good health (51% and 33% respectively). This is the same as the South Oxfordshire District and higher than England and the South East. Wallingford residents in bad or very bad health are comparable with the District, Region and England at 4% of their respective populations. Suggesting that health is not a key issue in the town despite it’s proportionately older population.

Population Projections

Future population projections (Ref: 6) have been undertaken by SODC at County and District level. They indicate that between 2011 and 2026 the total population of

South Oxfordshire will increase by 12.9% (12,666 residents). The Forecasts also outline a significant increase in the number of over 65s across all Districts in the County and as a result the average household size in South Oxfordshire is expected to decrease from 2.37 to 2.18. However, the projections also indicate an increase in the working age population in South Oxfordshire of around 14%.

Deprivation

In terms of deprivation, the three of the five Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA) that make up Wallingford are all amongst the 50% least deprived neighbourhoods in the country (Ref: 7) and all ranked between 18-19,500 (out of 32,844) LSOA (1 being the most deprived). This is contrasted by the other two areas , which are amongst the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in the Country, with both ranked at around 32,400 (1 being the most deprived). This suggests that deprivation within Wallingford is contained to certain areas, in particularly central areas of the Town.

Social Tenure

The location of specific tenure types at output area level indicates potential pockets of deprivation in Wallingford beyond the deprivation indices. The average level of social rented properties across the town is 19% across all tenure types. Certain areas such as the vicinity of Borough Avenue (E00146046) with levels of social renting at 47%. With other areas such as the Brookmead Drive (E00173189), which has less than 2% of properties classified as social rented.

Employment

The Census 2011 identifies some 6,000 employed residents across Wallingford. Of these 13% are employed in the Wholesale/Retail trade and a further 13% in Professional, Scientific and Technical activities. Employment is explored in more detail in chapter 6.

This section considers some key characteristics of the population of the Plan area including current trends.

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 4) ONS Statistics, National Census (2011)

(Ref: 5) ONS Statistics, National Census (2001)

(Ref: 6) South Oxfordshire Population Projections 2026 (2011)

(Ref: 7) Indices of Multiple Deprivation (2015)


Skills

Based on the 2011 Census, residents in Wallingford have slightly lower levels of skill in terms of qualifications, than the South Oxfordshire District and England.

This includes a higher rate of individuals with no qualifications (20% compared to 16% in the District). Wallingford also has lower levels of level 4 and above qualifications than the District (37% in district compared to 36%) but again higher than the South East region (27%).

Benefit Claimants

As of November 2015 there was a total of 25 benefit claimants across the Wallingford Town (based only on those claiming Job Seekers Allowance and those out-of-work claiming Universal Credit). Data from November 2014 indicates that a higher concentration of benefits claimants can be found in specific areas of the Town, including the area North of Wallingford School and properties either side of Station Road (LOSA reference 012D and o12E).

Social Issues

15% of Wallingford Residents have long term health problems of a disability; this is higher than the District (14%) but slightly lower than the South East region and England (16%).

Crime is generally a low issue across much of Wallingford, during September 2015 in the Wallingford, Berinsfield and Cholsey area 93 crimes were reported (Ref: 8). However, the ‘Crime domain’ element of the indices of deprivation highlights that Crime is more concentrated around the town centre, with the LSOA rated as 8,053 most deprived area in terms of crime (out of 32,844 LSOA).

In the South Oxfordshire District, Crime is not a critical issue, with a crime rate of 35.15 (Police recorded crimes per 1,000 population) as of June 2015 (ONS) compared to 53.57 in South Buckinghamshire for example.


• Wallingford’s population increased by 9% between 2001 and 2011 with similar age profiles to the District, Region and England.

• The population of South Oxfordshire is estimated to increase by 12.6% by 2026.

• Wallingford has low levels of deprivation, with parts of the Town among the 10% least deprived areas in the UK.

• In 2011 there were some 6,000 employed residents in Wallingford, with the majority working in Professional/Technical Services and Retail sectors.

• Wallingford residents have generally lower levels of higher qualifications and more residents with no qualifications than the District.

• Wallingford residents are in general good health and South Oxfordshire is considered a safe area in terms of crime levels when compared to neighbouring Districts.

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 8) Neighbourhood crime statistics, https://www.police.uk/thames-valley/N381/(citied November 2015)


5. Housing

Housing growth

As outlined within Section 2, SODC is currently preparing their Local Plan, which will set out new housing requirements for the District area as a whole, including Wallingford. It is likely that as a result of this exercise additional housing will be required within the Town Boundary that defines the Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan area.

The latest Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) that will inform the Local Plan was produced in April 2014. This outlined the housing need for the whole of Oxfordshire County. The SHMA has outlined that an additional 5,100 dwellings will be required across the District, which has the potential to add additional housing above and beyond the current 555 dwellings required to be completed within the adopted Core Strategy period.

The SHMA outlines that between 2006/7 and 2010/11 South Oxfordshire completed 1,337 homes, well below the required target of 2,735. The assessment also outlined, based on the 2011 Census, that housing need is in some cases, causing overcrowding (2.5%) but also that there is an under occupation issue, with 77.5% of properties under occupied, a potential symptom of an aging population.

The SODC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2011 (updated in July 2013) (Ref: 9) assessed potential sites in Wallingford, with some of these being allocated by the currently adopted Core Strategy. The sites allocated are outlined in Figure 5.1.

The housing allocations within the adopted Core Strategy are likely to be updated as part of the emerging Local Plan process, which is currently discussing refined options (Ref: 10). Within the latest publication, public consensus was that major urban extensions and housing located in existing settlements such as Oxford, Reading and potentially Wallingford was not favoured; with potential new settlements to the east of the region a more agreeable solution.

Housing stock

Housing ownership from the Census 2011 indicates that home ownership in Wallingford (70%) is slightly lower than the District (74%) but higher than South East (69%) and England (64%). Wallingford offers a higher number of social rented properties (17%) than the South Oxfordshire District (11%) and the South East (14%). As a result Wallingford has less private rented housing (13%) than the South Oxfordshire District (15%), South East (18%) and England (18%) respectively.

This section sets out the current housing circumstances in the Neighbourhood Plan area in relation to housing growth and housing needs.

Figure 5.1: Site Allocations plan for Wallingford

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 9) SODC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) (July 2013)

(Ref: 10) SODC Local Plan 2031 Refined options (2015)

Allocated site in the SODC Core Strategy (2012)

Previously consulted options from the SODC Core Strategy 2012

Neighbourhoood Plan Boundary


The housing stock in Wallingford includes more semi-detached housing (36%) than the South Oxfordshire District (32%), South East Region (28%) and England (22%). This coincides with Wallingford having significantly less detached housing (22%) than the District. Wallingford also supports a larger number of flats (19%) and terraced housing (23%) than the South Oxfordshire District (13% and 19% respectively). The quality of housing stock can be linked to characteristics such as the provision of central heating. In Wallingford, 98% of homes have central heating.

Affordable housing

Affordable housing can be considered to include Social rented housing, Affordable rented housing; and Intermediate housing (including shared ownership and shared equity homes).

The adopted Core Strategy includes policies that specifically address Affordable Housing within the District. Policy CSH3 outlines that ‘40% affordable housing will be sought on all sites where there is a net gain of three or more dwellings subject to the viability of provision on each site’.

The SHMA outlines a recommended housing mix appropriate to meet housing needs across the South Oxfordshire District area as follows:

Recommended affordable housing mix by size1 Bed 25-30%2 Bed 30-35%3 Bed 30-35%4+ Bed 5-10%

Figure 5.2: Recommended affordable housing mix by size

In terms of affordable housing need, the Oxfordshire SHMA identifies a requirement for 386 affordable housing units per annum for South Oxfordshire District as a whole, or 331 when taking into account the current planned development pipeline. This is split roughly as 70% smaller properties and 30% larger (3bed+). This need is a key driver for the Core Strategy 40% requirement of affordable homes on new development. Sub District analysis is not applied

and further research would be required to determine any Wallingford specific need.

In terms of the market housing the SHMA recommends the following mix:

Recommended market housing mix by size1 Bed 5%2 Bed 25%3 Bed 45%4+ Bed 25%

Figure 5.3: Recommended market housing mix by size


• Additional housing may be required in Wallingford within the District’s emerging Local Plan.

• The latest Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), outlines the need for an additional 5,100 dwellings across the District.

• The adopted Core Strategy has one site allocated in Wallingford to meet the full 555 housing allocation for the town - ‘Site B’ to the north of the Sports Park, for which a planning application has been submitted.

• Home ownership in Wallingford is less than District levels, with more residents living in social rented housing.

• A significant amount of Wallingford’s Housing Stock is semi-detached (36%) with a larger proportion of flats (19%) than the District (13%).

• There is a requirement at the District level to deliver 40% affordable housing on new housing sites to meet existing and newly arising housing need, totalling 386 units per annum across South Oxfordshire.

Figure 5.1: Site Allocations plan for Wallingford


6. Working and Shopping

Employment

The 2011 Census provides data on the type of industries in which residents of Wallingford are employed, with a total of 6,002 working residents recorded overall (irrespective of where they work). The largest employment sectors are Wholesale/Retail trade and Professional, Scientific and Technical (both 13%) followed by Social Work (12%), Education (11%), and Construction (8%). When compared to the South Oxfordshire District as a whole, the major industries remain the same, with Wholesale/Retail trade featuring slightly higher in the District (15%) and slightly less in other fields including human health (10%). The South Oxfordshire District and Wallingford both support more residents employed in Professional, Scientific and Technical activities (13%) than the South East and England (both 7%).

Employers

The Business Register and Employment Survey (Ref: 11) provide data on the types of industries located within the Wallingford North and Cholsey and Wallingford South Wards. Data from 2014 illustrates that businesses in Wallingford employ approximately 6,212 people (equivalent to the number of workers).

A number of key employment industries can be identified in Wallingford. These include: Professional, Scientific & Technical (15%) which makes up a significant percentage of employment and strongly compares to District trends (21%). Others included Construction (10%), which is double the rate of the District and Region (5%); Retail (10%) and Health (10%) are also well represented employment sectors.

Key employers in the town including Gladstone, Lesters, Thames Travel, Fugro Geoconsulting and Royal Mail on the Hithercroft Estate. Although not within the Town Boundary, a number of key employment locations surrounding Wallingford play a key role in the local economy, offering employment for Wallingford residents and attracting people to the Town, these include Howbery Park Business Park in Crowmarsh Gifford and CAB International.

Travel to Work

The 2011 Census provides the latest available information on methods of travelling to work. This indicates that in Wallingford and the South Oxfordshire District over half of the residents travel by car (59%), slightly higher than the South East (57%) and England (54%). At the District level, the split of travel to work methods for South Oxfordshire is:

• Work mainly at or from home – 15%• Train, underground, metro, light rail, tram, bus, minibus or

coach – 8%• Driving a car or van – 59%• Passenger in a car or van -4%• Bicycle – 4%• On foot – 9%• All other methods of travel to work – 1%

In terms of where residents are working, the majority of Wallingford residents are commuting to Reading, Oxford, Henley-on-thames with the majority travelling to work at RAF Benson and Harwell Innovation Centre.

There are also a number of local employers within walking distance including those based on the Hithercroft Estate and Howbery Park Business Park in Crowmarsh Gifford.

Those commuting to Wallingford are typically travelling from Didcot, Cholsey, Berinsfield, Berrick Salome and Benson primarily, with a number coming from Abingdon, Reading and Oxford.

Employment Land

The 2007 Employment Land Review reports (Ref: 11) on the employment land context and outlines employment land availability and needs within the South Oxfordshire District Area.

The review outlines Wallingford’s role as one of the main four towns in the District containing significant business floor space, with the Hithercroft Estate alone providing 85,722sq.m of total floor space. The Review also

The first part of this section looks at the employment offer as well as the types of jobs undertaken by local residents. The second part considers the retail performance of Wallingford Town Centre, including current issues and potential future requirements.

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 11) Business Register and Employment Survey (2011)

(Ref: 12) SODC South Oxfordshire Employment Land Review (2007)


identifies Wallingford as part of an area with a particular environmental sciences focus, with a number of key local and national research firms operating in the area.

A follow up Review was undertaken in 2008 (Ref: 13) to update a number of projects and estimates using more recent data to determine current and future needs for South Oxfordshire. This additional review indicated no specific requirements for Wallingford but based on ONS population growth forecasts concluded that an additional 16.8ha of employment land needs to be provided within South Oxfordshire up until 2026.


• There are some 6,000 employed residents and businesses in Wallingford employ approximately 6,212 people, with the majority working and operating in professional/technical services, construction, health and retail sectors.

• In Wallingford over half of the residents travel to work by car (59%) with only 8% using public transport services.

• The majority of Wallingford residents work in Oxford and Reading with people coming from local towns primarily to work in the Town.

• In terms of employment land, Wallingford is one of the main four towns in the District containing significant business floor space.

Shopping

The adopted Core Strategy outlines that Wallingford is classified as a town centre serving a local catchment. Policy CSWAL1 details a range of objectives such as improving accessibility, enhancing the town centre environment, supporting employment growth and encouraging employment uses above shops.

Retail Performance

The SODC Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment (Ref: 14), which was produced in 2009 and updated in 2010 was developed as part of the evidence base for the adopted Core Strategy.

This Report noted that the centre contains 21,870 sqm gross of class A1-A5 floor space which is the lowest of the four town centres in the District. Of this, the main food store anchoring the centre is the 2,394 sqm net Waitrose at St. Martins Street. The former Waitrose store is the only significant vacant site in the town centre. Wallingford is characterised by its high proportion of independent retailers, which represent 87% of the comparison units.

In terms of spending, only 51% of the convenience expenditure is retained in Wallingford, with 35% lost to neighbouring centres such as Didcot, Oxford and Reading.

In relation to the future retail floor space required for Wallingford town centre in quantitative terms the identified floor space is shown in Figure 6.1.

The South Oxfordshire Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment 2015 (Ref: 15) is currently being developed as part of the evidence base for the emerging Local Plan. Thus far, the assessment has outlined key headline findings for each of the key local and district retail centres in the area, including Wallingford.

The Assessment Report’s headlines comprise the following:

• Wallingford exhibits generally positive signs of vitality and viability;

• The convenience goods function of the centre is particularly important to the overall ‘health’ of the centre;

• Comparison goods retail offer is a mixture of day-to-day goods and services, interspersed with a more specialist retail offer, largely provided by the independent retail sector;

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 13) SODC Revised South Oxfordshire Employment Land Projections (2008)

(Ref: 14) SODC Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment Update (2010)


• The retail offer of the centre is more functional rather than higher-end side;

• The vacancy rate in the town centre is below the UK average but higher than other centres in the District;

• There may be scope for an improved range of evening economy uses, particularly restaurants, within the centre; and

• Environmental quality of the centre, in common with the other smaller centres in the District, makes a positive contribution to the overall vitality and viability of the town.

•

The Wallingford Town Centre the Future (Ref: 16) document outlined a number of challenges and issues that impacted the town centre during the economic downturn, including many relating to the retail offer of the town.

In particular, a general economic slowdown had been indicated and that the south side of the town had been badly affected by Waitrose. This would seem to be less of an issue now with vacancies in and around the town centre not being an issue.


• Wallingford town centre contains some 21,870 sqm gross of class A1-A5 floor space which is the lowest of the four town centres in the District.

• Wallingford’s retail offer provides a viable and vital offer with a mix of day-to-day goods and services, interspersed with a more specialist retail offer, largely provided by the independent retail sector.

Type of space 2007-2016 2007-2027Shops - A1 comparison net 1,000 3,000Shops - A1 convenience net 300 700Financial and services A1 ser-vice/A2 net

100 300

Total net for A1/A2 uses 1,400 4,000Total gross for A1/A2 uses 2,000 5,700Restaurants, cafes and bars A3, A4 and A5 gross

500 1,200

Total gross for A1 – A5 uses 2,500 6,900

Figure 6.1: Quantitative Retail Need for Wallingford

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 15) SODC South Oxfordshire Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment (2015)

(Ref: 16) Wallingford Town Centre for the Future - Vision Strategy and Action Plan (2006)


Figure 6.2: Town Centre Plan


7. Accessibility and Movement

Wallingford is located to the south west of South Oxfordshire with good road links to Henley, Didcot and Thame also located within the District. The road network from Wallingford allows for access to London via the M40 which is located approximately 10 miles to the east of the town.

Roads

The Wallingford Bypass to the south and west of the town was completed in 1993.

The main road networks are illustrated in Figures 3.1 and 6.2. The High Street and Station Road run through Wallingford and provides access over the River Thames and out of the town. The principle “A” Roads are summarised below and allow access to various areas across the District and further afield:

• A4074: Reading - Wallingford - Oxford• A4130: Henley on Thames - Wallingford - Didcot• A415: Berinsfield - Abingdon - Witney

According to the SODC Evaluation of Transport Assessment (Ref: 17) the junctions in Wallingford are over capacity which results in a pattern of peak hour delays.

The majority of traffic movements within Wallingford town centre originate from the local area. There is a recognised need for local residents to use more sustainable transport particularly for trips into the town centre.

One of the main problems associated with the traffic in Wallingford is the challenge of air quality. In 2006 South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) declared the town an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

When compared to other towns in the County with declared AQMA’s, traffic levels through the town are not particularly high. However, congestion and air quality issues within the town centre arise from the historical layout causing pinch points in the network. For example, queuing traffic can be seen throughout the day particularly along sections of the High Street, Castle Street and St Martins

Street due to pinch points at Wallingford Bridge and the Lamb Crossroads.

In certain areas, narrow carriageways only allow one direction of traffic movement at any one time. This causes queuing traffic and vehicles to take an alternative route through the residential area north of Wallingford. This exacerbates traffic issues from local schools within the area.

Parking

Wallingford has a number of key parking locations, including St Alban’s (190 spaces), Cattlemarket (151 spaces) and Goldsmith’s Lane (138 spaces) car parks.

Parking provision is important in the town due to the tight carriageways and limited on-street parking which results from its historic urban grain. The town has a particular shortage of long term parking for those commuting to work in the town.

Walking/cycling

Wallingford is a compact and relatively flat town which lends itself to walking. The town has easy access to the surrounding countryside with a number of walks beginning in the town and providing routes to Benson and Ewelme.

Wallingford is located on the popular Thames Valley cycling route which starts at Putney Bridge in London and goes on to Oxford taking in Maidenhead, Reading, Abingdon and Wallingford.

The Thames path is also an attractive route for both walkers and cyclists alike.

Local groups such as Sustainable Wallingford are committed to making Wallingford more environmentally sustainable by improving walking and cycling routes.

This section highlights the issues surrounding transport in Wallingford in regards to walking, cycling, buses and road networks.

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 17) SODC Evaluation of the transport impacts associated

with development options in South Oxfordshire (2009)


Public Transport

The town is well served by local bus routes. The current bus routes as taken by Thames Travel are shown in Figure 7.1 below.

Route Serving X1/X2 Oxford- Abingdon- Milton Park- Didcot-

Wallingford X39/X40 Oxford- Wallingford- Reading 97/114 Wallingford-Berinsfield-Abingdon-Didcot135 Wallingford - Moulsford - Stratley - Goring136C Wallingford- Cholsey- Wallingford139 Wallingford- Benson- RAF Benson-

Huntercombe- Nettlebed- Henley

Figure 7.1: Bus time table for Wallingford

There is no mainline station in Wallingford however the neighbouring town of Cholsey, approximately 3 miles to the south west and Didcot Parkway provide a regular service to Oxford, London Paddington and Banbury respectively. Services from further afield are available from Didcot Parkway to the West Country and Wales.

Cholsey and Wallingford Railway is a 2.5 mile route connecting Wallingford to Cholsey via a former branch of the Great Western Railway. The route has been maintained primarily for heritage purposes.


• Wallingford’s central location in the District is supported by good road links to main District towns as well as Oxford, Reading and London further afield.

• Traffic and Air Quality are known issues in the town with the District Council declaring the Town an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

• Wallingford is a compact and relatively flat town which lends itself to walking.

• The town is well served by local bus routes with the nearest local train station situated in Cholsey (3 miles away).


8. Leisure and Wellbeing

Leisure

Wallingford has a number of leisure facilities which add to the sense of place currently portrayed across the town. The Thames Path which links Wallingford to Benson Lock provides a picturesque setting. The Castle Gardens and Meadows covers approximately 16 hectares on the banks of the River Thames and contains the site of Wallingford Castle.

Community and Leisure Facilities

Wallingford has a number of community and leisure facilities including:

• The Corn Exchange Theatre• Wallingford Library• Wallingford Volunteer Centre• Wallingford Museum• Wallingford Day Centre• Wallingford Childrens Centre• Allotments

Wallingford plays host to four local Markets, including Local Producers, Farmers, Country and Charter Market, which is the oldest market in Wallingford and has had a charter since the 12th Century, but is likely much older.

A number of events take place in Wallingford each year including food festivals, a classic car rally parade, music festivals and a carnival day.

Agatha Christie lived for much of her life on the outskirts of Wallingford and is buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s in nearby Cholsey. Wallingford Museum, family friendly local history museum situated in the heart of the town, has in the past exhibited Agatha Christie along with Wallingford’s Royal Castle Revealed and the Magna Carta and All That.

The popular TV series ‘Midsomer Murders’ has also been filmed in Wallingford and is known on screen as ‘Causton’, home to the main character of the series. The TV series can be experienced first hand with trails and driving tours around Wallingford.

As mentioned previously, the Chosley and Wallingford Railway (CWR) is a 2.5 mile heritage railway that links Cholsey with Wallingford. Although passenger services ceased in 1959, the CWR Preservation Society secured the line in 1981 and aim to enhance the facilities that the railway offers and to improve the Wallingford station site. The railway aims to offer steam hauled trains where possible, but also operates an interesting fleet of 08 class diesel locomotives with services running on selected weekends and bank holidays. A Museum and souvenir shop are also located here.

There are a number of churches within Wallingford including St Peter’s Church, Wallingford Baptist Church, St John the Evangelist, Saint Mary-Le-More, Wallingford Methodist Church, St Leonard’s Church and the Quaker Meeting House.

The town also supports a single hotel, ‘The George’ a 16th century coaching inn located on the High Street and has 39 rooms.

Educational Facilities

Wallingford has three primary schools, Fir Tree Junior School, St Johns Primary School and St Nicolas Church of England Infants School plus Wallingford School, a secondary school with sixth form.

Wallingford School educates circa 1,200 pupils and in the last Ofsted Report (November 2012) was rated as ‘Good’ standard. Wallingford School also offers a range of sports facilities to the local community including an all-weather 3G football/hockey pitch, multi-purpose sports hall, dance studio, indoor and outdoor netball courts and tennis court. Priority usage is given to the school between 8:30 and 16:00 with the availability for hire to the community at other times.

Pre schools within Wallingford include Paddocks Pre School and Rainbow Pre School.

Sports Facilities

There are several recreational facilities and sports clubs in Wallingford many of which are linked to Wallingford Sports Park which hosts:

This section describes the facilities present in Wallingford for leisure activities and wellbeing in regards to education and healthcare.


Outdoor Facilities

• 3 full size football pitches• 5 full size rugby pitches• All weather astro turf pitch suitable for many sports

including hockey and 5/6/11 a side football• 5 all-weather tennis courts• Petanque• Fitness Trail• An outdoor swimming pool

Indoor Facilities

• 3 squash courts• Skittles alley• Large hall • Small hall• Meeting rooms

Local Sports Clubs include: Wallingford Athletics Club, Wallingford Rugby Club, Wallingford Rowing Club, Wallingford Hockey Club, Wallingford Football Club, Wallingford Dance Club, Wallingford Bridge Club, Hithercroft Squash Club, Portcullis Tennis Club and Petanque Wallingford

The Bull Croft includes a strong sports offer including football pitches, tennis and basketball courts.

SODC produced a Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy (Ref: 18) which stated that additional health and fitness suites in the District are needed in Wallingford more than any other location.

The strategy also outlines scoping options for new facilities in Wallingford, such as a Swimming Pool, Sports Halls and the aforementioned Health and Fitness suites. The document specifically states that:

‘Wallingford has the highest shortfall of health and fitness stations (109) and a new facility should be considered which provides a health and fitness suite’

Wellbeing

Healthcare

Wallingford Medical Practice is a purpose built building located next to the Community Hospital which currently has over 16,000 patients. The Medical Practice covers patients in Wallingford, Cholsey and the surrounding villages. Patients living more than a mile from the practice are able to collect medications from dispensing units. The practice runs a Saturday service. There are 10 general practitioners currently working at the Medical Centre.

As mentioned above, Wallingford Community Hospital is situated next to Wallingford Medical Practice. The Hospital has both intermediate care and maternity services.

There are four Dentists located in Wallingford. While the majority offer private services, Lawrence and Pinkerton Dentist Care offers only private services with the rest also offering NHS services.


• Wallingford has a number of community facilities including the Corn Exchange and the historic Wallingford Castle

• In terms of educational facilities, Wallingford School is the main facility in the Town.

• Sports facilities include a number of football and rugby pitches, rowing club, tennis and squash courts.

• The Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy outlines that additional health and fitness suites are needed in Wallingford more than any other location in the County.

• Healthcare facilities include Wallingford Medical Practice, Wallingford Community Hospital along with a number of GPs and Dentists.

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 18) SODC Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy (2011)


9. Environment, Sustainability and Design QualityThe quality of the historic landscape and attractive environment is one of the key defining features of Wallingford. Maintaining and managing the environment, promoting sustainability and establishing design standards are potential areas of significance for the Neighbourhood Plan area.

Design Quality

Within the Town Boundary of Wallingford there are two Conservation Areas; Wallingford and Winterbrook. (Figure 9.1) These cover a significant part of Wallingford and demonstrate the historical quality of the local built environment. The town also contains a number of listed buildings including the Corn Exchange and the Town Hall along with over 100 Listed buildings and monuments in the town centre alone.

Wallingford Conservation Area was first designated in 1969 and encompasses the town’s historic core, including a significant number of Listed Buildings. These include the Grade I Listed Town Hall and the Grade II* Listed Church of St. Mary-le-More. The other Conservation Area is the recently designated Winterbrook Conservation Area, located to the south of the town centre along Winterbrook Road. There are a number of Grade II listed buildings including Winterbrook Lodge.

A Conservation Area Appraisal for Wallingford is currently being undertaken by the District Council. Currently there is no date set for the publication of this document.

Within the Wallingford Conservation Area are three Scheduled Ancient Monuments, The Saxon part of the town which defines the historic core of the town centre, Wallingford Castle to the north and Wallingford Bridge. These have been highlighted in Figure 9.2.

History

Wallingford is an ancient town which only emerged as a fully-fledged town in Anglo-Saxon times.

The location of the town was a critical factor in both periods, as it is a key river crossing point, playing an important role in trade and also defence. (Ref: 19)

Wallingford was the largest of the ‘new towns’ known as ‘Burghs’ constructed in the 9th Century by Alfred the Great, it played a key role in defending the Kingdom of Wessex from the Danes. The town was enclosed on three sides (the river formed the fourth defence) and was surrounded by a wet moat. For a time Wallingford was the location of a Royal Mint. Following the Battle of Hastings

Figure 9.1: Wallingford Town Conservation Areas

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 19) Wallingford Town Council, http://www.wallingford.co.uk/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=8651 (cited November 2015)

(Ref: 20) Wallingford Town Council, http://www.wallingford.co.uk/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=8651 (Cited November 2015)

(Ref 21) SODC Draft Wallingford Conservation Are Appraisal (2012)

Neighbourhoood Plan Boundary

Conservation Area Boundary


in 1066, Wallingford Castle was constructed, reinforcing Wallingford’s role as the main settlement in the region until the 15th Century.

With its long history, Wallingford has an interesting archaeology with evidence of early settlers from the bronze ages to the more significant Wallingford Castle and the previous fortification of the town. This has drawn in interest from university research and local archaeological groups including the University of Leicester which undertook an extensive assessment of the town between 2008-11 (Ref: 20).

Architecture and Urban Form

The historic core of Wallingford has a tight urban grain, with the Market Place, St Martin’s and St Mary’s Street offering a contrast from the tight streets and passages surround the town centre. The towns form is also informed by its Saxon heritage, which can still be seen today in a number of burgage plots between st Mary’s Street and Wood Street. The width and depth of these plots has produced the fine grained townscape which can still be seen in Wallingford in the 21st century (ref. 21)

The majority of individual buildings within the Conservation Area, whether grand or modest, contribute to the character and appearance of the streetscape.

Figure 9.2: Wallingford Key Historic Sites and Assets


The Market Place and the town centre as a whole include a fine array of traditional buildings and shop fronts from the Victorian and Georgian periods as well as a number of earlier periods, reflecting the long history of the town. Many of the buildings around Market Place are Georgian or older, some with Victorian style shop frontages added at a later date. The Grade I listed Town Hall, defines Market Place. It was constructed in the 1670’s, and the building which has been well maintained with its distinctive colonnade, a grand balcony overhanging the Square and white paint finish provide a distinctive feature in the heart of the town.

Wallingford Bridge, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is a medieval road bridge, which has been present in various forms going back to the 12th Century. The Bridge, along with the ruins of Wallingford Castle engage the western bank of the river and the surrounding landscape, offering an attractive and picturesque setting.

Wallingford has over a hundred listed buildings and monuments in the town centre alone. Figure 9.2 illustrates the location of the Grade II* listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the town.

To the east and south of the historic core of the town there is a more residential suburban setting, with tree lined suburban estates hosting a variety of two storey properties from the Victorian Period to more modern developments.

Typical building heights within Wallingford are two and three storeys with four storey buildings along the High Street, in particular around Market Place.

Design Guidance

SODC have produced the South Oxfordshire Design Guide 2008 (Ref: 22). This comprises a manual of design principles and practical advice for new development within the District.

The District Council have also produced traditional shop front guidance (Ref: 23) to protect the character of the District’s retail centres, including Wallingford.

This document provides guidance on design detailing, including materials and colour; ensuring they are in-keeping with the building and character of the area.

Environment and Landscape Quality

The majority of the Town Boundary Area of Wallingford is urban, but with a number arable location’s on the edge of the town within the ring road that bounds the town and Neighbourhood Plan area. Within the town there are three significant green spaces in Bull Croft Park, Castle Gardens and Kinecroft.

There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the Neighbourhood Plan area. However, the Goring Conservation Target Area, a wildlife designation, falls within the Neighbourhood Plan boundary. Also, just south of the area is a nitrate vulnerable zone in respect of ground water.

The South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment (Ref: 24) helps to define the landscape character and geological settings across the District. Wallingford is included as part of the ‘River Thames Corridor’ character area. In terms of landform and land cover, the area is exceptionally flat, with little perceptible variation in relief.

The surrounding area retains a predominantly rural character with some particularly attractive areas of landscape which have retained a strong structure of hedgerows and trees with a particularly rich, diverse and well-managed character and a high scenic quality. These mainly comprise the pastoral floodplain pasture landscapes and the small areas of remnant parkland immediately next to the Thames.

In geological terms, Wallingford is located upon Portland Beds which make up the River Thames region of South Oxfordshire.

In terms of activities that could impact the environment in and around Wallingford, a key activity to consider is the sand and gravel extraction on a site to the north and south of the town, with a further two sites are subject of scoping

___________________________________________________

(Ref: 22) SODC South Oxfordshire Design Guide (2008)

(Ref: 23) SODC Traditional Shopfront Design Guide (1995)

(Ref: 24) South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment SPG (2003)

(Ref: 25) Oxfordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (2015)

(Ref: 26) SODC Core Strategy Climate Change and Sustainable Design Background Paper (2011)

(Ref: 27) Oxfordshire Air Quality (citied November 2015)


requests . The sites are referenced in the Oxfordshire Mineral and Waste Local Plan (Ref: 25) and will be impacted by the outlined increase in gravel extraction in South Oxfordshire from 0.715 to 1.015 million tonnes a year, until 2031 if the plan is adopted.

Sustainability

Climate change

The adopted Core Strategy outlines the importance of tackling climate change. The Core Strategy Climate Change and Sustainable Design Background Paper (Ref: 26) indicate a clear focus on reducing CO2 Emissions, in the context of South Oxfordshire as a whole. The document goes on to say that South Oxfordshire emits more emissions per capita than any District in the County, generating less sustainable energy and using more domestic energy per household.

Policy CSQ2 within the adopted Core Strategy outlines that ‘All new developments incorporate measures that address issues of adaptation to climate change taking account of best practice and that new buildings should meet recognised sustainable design standards such as BREEAM’.

Air quality

Air quality is an area of concern in the town. This has been caused by increased through traffic and congestion as a result of road network changes in previous years. Although no definitive study has been published to quantify the air pollution and noise levels generated, annual and daily information on air quality is available online at Oxfordshire Air Quality (Ref: 27). The adopted Core Strategy acknowledges this challenge with Policy CSWAL1 outlining that local air quality improvements should be factored in to any proposals for new development.

Flooding

The Environment Agency (EA) Flood Risk Maps (Ref: 28) and the South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment Study of Wallingford indicate that the majority of the area is not within an area of particular flood risk.

Flood risk zones 2 and 3 are presented on Figure 9.3 (see environmental agency website for flood risk zone definitions). This plans account for flooding from local rivers, in this case the River Thames. However, Wallingford does suffer from additional flooding threats from surface water drainage issues linked to its historic drainage system.


• There are two Conservation Areas in Wallingford; Wallingford and Winterbrook which cover a significant part of the town.

• Wallingford as a settlement has a long history, with the town playing a key role as a defence and trade hub.

• Wallingford has strong architectural characteristics, reflected in the number of listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments situated within the town.

• The District has produced two design guides, one on general design principles and the other relating to shop front design.

• The majority of the area is urban with the surrounding land being predominantly flat and arable. There are two significant green spaces in Bull Croft Park and Kinecroft Park.

Figure 9.3: Environment Agency Flood Map___________________________________________________

(Ref: 28) Environment Agency Flood Risk Map- Available at: http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk (Wallingford)


10. Past Consultation

South Oxfordshire District Council Local Plan 2031 Issues & Scope Consultation (2015)

The Consultation took place from the 11th June to 23rd July 2014 based on the “Local Plan 2031 – Issues and Scope” consultation document. This was seen as the first step toward creating a new Local Plan for the District and sets out a number of issues which the new Plan would need to address.

Foremost among these was the need for the District to plan for a higher level of housing than in the existing Core Strategy which had been adopted in December 2012. Other matters including planning for jobs, improving town centres and better transport in the District were also under consideration.

South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Development Site Options for Wallingford (2010)

As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options exercise, it was deemed necessary to undertake additional and specific consultation in relation to development sites being explored by the SODC. In total, 545 responses were gathered in addition the preferred options consultation.

The consultation exercise generated a range of issues similar to those generated as part of the Preferred Options Consultation and directly related to the site allocations (referred to in the site allocations plan in Figure 5.1).

South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation Wallingford (2009)

As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation, the proposed development of a number of sites, including Slade Farm (Site B) and Winterbrook (Site E) underwent consideration. The responses, in terms of objectives and assessments are outlined in Figure 10.1 below.

Figure 10.1: Consultation Response

The supporting comments were from an array of local residents and statutory consultees. They citied issues and opportunities associated with the discussed options.

Wallingford Town Centre - The Future – Vision Strategy and Action Plan (2006)

A Centre Vision report prepared for Wallingford Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council by the Civic Trust. This was in association with DTZ Pieda and with the support of Waitrose plc. The exercise engaged with stakeholders, individuals and town centre businesses (25 in total) and identified an array of key issues.

This section offers a short summary of a number of relevant consultations undertaken relating to Wallingford. A full summary of each consultation can be found in Annex II.


11. Summary of Key Issues

Planning Policy Context

• The Neighbourhood Plan must conform with a National and District Policies including the adopted Core Strategy and saved Local Plan policies.

• The relevant policies include requirements for the allocated housing site, design quality requirements and local distinctiveness as well as an outline role for Wallingford in the South Oxfordshire context.

• Policy CSWAL2 within the adopted Core Strategy outlines specific requirements for site currently under consideration in West Wallingford.

People and Population

• Wallingford’s population increased by 9% between 2001 and 2011 and had similar age profiles to the District, Region and England.

• The population of South Oxfordshire is estimated to increase by 12.6% by 2026.

• Wallingford has low levels of deprivation, with parts of the town among the 10% least deprived areas in the UK.

• Wallingford residents have generally lower levels of higher qualifications and more residents with no qualifications than the District.

• Wallingford residents are in general good health and South Oxfordshire is considered a safe area in terms of crime levels when compared to neighbouring Districts.

Housing

• Additional housing may be required in Wallingford within the District’s emerging Local Plan.

• The latest Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA), outlines the need for an additional 5,100 across the District.

• The adopted Core Strategy has one site allocated in Wallingford to meet the full 555 housing allocation for the town - ‘Site B’ to the north of the Sports Park, for which a planning application has been submitted.

• Home ownership in Wallingford is less than District levels, with more residents living in social rented housing.

• A significant amount of Wallingford’s Housing Stock is semi-detached (36%) with a larger proportion of flats (19%) than the District (13%) overall.

Working and Shopping

• There are some 6,000 employed residents and businesses in Wallingford employ approximately 6,212 people, with the majority working and operating in professional/technical services, construction, health and retail sectors.

• In Wallingford over half of the residents travel by car (59%) with only 8% using public transport services.

• The majority of Wallingford residents work in Oxford and Reading with people coming from local towns primarily to work in the town.

• In terms of employment land, Wallingford is one of the main four towns in the District containing significant business floor space.

• Wallingford town centre contains 21,870 sqm gross of class A1-A5 floor space which is the lowest of the four town centres in the District.

• Wallingford’s retail offer is considered viable with positive vitality; offering a mix of day to day goods and services, interspersed with a more specialist retail offer, largely provided by the independent retail sector.

Accessibility and Movement

• Wallingford’s central location in the District is supported by good road links to main District towns as well as Oxford, Reading and London further afield.

• Traffic and Air Quality are known issues in the town with the District Council declaring the town an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

• Wallingford is a compact and relatively flat town which lends itself to walking.

• The town is well served by local bus routes with the local train station situated in Cholsey (3 miles away)


Leisure and Wellbeing

• Wallingford has a number of community facilities including the Corn Exchange and the historic Wallingford Castle

• In terms of educational facilities, Wallingford School is the main facility in the town.

• Sports facilities include a number of football and rugby pitches, rowing club, tennis and squash courts.

• The Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy outlines that additional health and fitness suites are needed in Wallingford more than any other location in the County.

• Healthcare facilities include Wallingford Medical Practice, Wallingford Community Hospital along with a number of GP’s and Dentists.

Environment, Sustainability and Design Quality

• There are two Conservation Areas in Wallingford; Wallingford and Winterbrook which together cover a significant part of Wallingford.

• Wallingford as a settlement has a long history, with the town playing a key role as a defence and trade hub.

• Wallingford has strong architectural characteristics, reflected in the number of listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments within the town.

• The District has produced two design guides, one on general design principles and the other relating to shop front design.

• The majority of the area is urban, with the surrounding landscape predominantly flat and arable. There are two significant green spaces in Bull Croft and Kinecroft Parks.


Annex 1. References

References

1. The adopted saved policies from SODC Local Plan (2011)2. SODC Core Strategy (2012)3. SODC Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2014)4. ONS Statistics, National Census (2011) 5. ONS Statistics, National Census (2001) 6. South Oxfordshire Population Projections 2026 (2011)7. Indices of Multiple Deprivation (2015)8. Neighbourhood crime statistics (citied Nov 2015)9. SODC Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

(July 2013)10. SODC Local Plan 2031 Refined options (2015)11. Business Register and Employment Survey (2011)12. SODC South Oxfordshire Employment Land Review

(2007)13. SODC Revised South Oxfordshire Employment Land

Projections (2008)14. SODC Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment Update

(2010)15. SODC South Oxfordshire Retail and Leisure Needs

Assessment (2015)16. Wallingford Town Centre for the Future - Vision

Strategy and Action Plan (2006)17. SODC Evaluation of the transport impacts associated

with development options in South Oxfordshire (2009)18. SODC Leisure and Sports Facilities Strategy (2011)19. Wallingford Museum (citied Nov 2015)20. Wallingford Town Council (Cited Nov 2015)21. SODC Draft Wallingford Consultation Appraisal (2012) 22. SODC South Oxfordshire Design Guide (2008)23. SODC Traditional Shopfront Design Guide (1995)24. South Oxfordshire Landscape Assessment SPG (2003)25. Oxfordshire Mineral and Waste Local Plan (2015)26. SODC Core Strategy Climate Change and Sustainable

Design Background Paper (2011)27. Oxfordshire Air Quality (citied Nov 2015)28. Environment Agency Flood Risk Map (citied Nov 2015)

Figures

1.1: Neighbourhood Plan Boundary3.1: Wallingford Context Plan5.1: Site Allocations Plan for Wallingford5.2: Recommended affordable housing mix by size5.3: Recommended market housing mix by size6.1: Quantitative Retail Need for Wallingford6.2: Town Centre Plan7.1: Bus Time Table for routes in Wallingford9.1: Wallingford Town Conservation Areas9.2: Wallingford Key Historic Sites and Assets9.3: Environment Agency Flood Map10.1: Consultation Response


Annex 2. Past Consultations

South Oxfordshire District Council Local Plan 2031 Issues & Scope Consultation (2015)

The consultation took place from 11 June to 23 July 2014 based on the “Local Plan 2031 – Issues and Scope” consultation document. This is was a first step in creating a new Local Plan for the District, and it set out a number of issues which the new Plan would need to address.

Foremost among these was the need for the District to plan for a higher level of housing than in the existing Core Strategy, which had been adopted in December 2012.Other matters including planning for jobs, improving town centres and better transport in the District were also identified.

In total, 3944 comments from 771 contributing consultees were recorded. The top ten issues in order of responses were:

• Impact on countryside and/or Green Belt• Housing should be located close to employment sites/

areas• Challenge/object to SHMA and housing numbers• Impact on transport• Infrastructure can’t cope• [Small-scale] development to meet local [affordable]

housing need• Maximum use of brownfield sites• Market saturation and pressure on local services.

District Vision

The Report asked questions such as, ‘Do you support the existing Core Strategy vision for the District’ to which 52% agreed. Many commented that the Vision was sensible and that there was no reason why it should be changed. Others said it contained too many themes and was merely an optimistic wish list. Among specific suggestions made as to how the Vision could be changed, the most common was that greater prominence to the protection and enhancement of the District’s countryside and natural environment should be given, while there was also some support for us seeking to ensure that housing growth and

employment growth were linked and located close to each other.

Housing Growth

Regarding Housing, the Report asked ‘Which level of growth do you think we should plan for, and why?’

The document set out a range of possible housing growth numbers drawn from the SHMA. The “planned economic growth plus affordable housing uplift” number of homes (825 houses per year) was most favourably discussed with54 positive responses, while the option with the fewest positive comments (21) was meeting our full affordable housing need (965 houses per year). Affordable housing was raised by many; the most frequent comments were that affordable housing is greatly needed but currently in short supply, and that an increase in housing figures may help in the delivery of affordable housing – on the whole the view was that affordable housing is necessary and should be provided.

Many respondents suggested that new housing should be located close to areas where economic development is proposed, so that the need to commute is reduced.

Another housing related question asked ‘Do you have information or views about why we can or cannot accommodate the highest level of housing need?’ 260 respondents answered this question, creating more than 500 specific comments. The largest area of concern, prompting over 80 comments, was the level of infrastructure available to support any further growth. Comments included references to transport issues – road and car parking capacity in particular – school and doctors’ surgery capacity, and utilities’ ability to cope with the demands of additional housing, especially for water supply and sewerage. Ten comments simply suggested that the numbers presented were too high.

A number of comments made reference to the impact on the natural environment. Flood risk (21 respondents), ecological constraints (14 respondents), the landscape and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (13 respondents) and air quality (8 respondents) were all mentioned as


important factors to consider. The potential impact on the general character of the District (17 respondents) received a number of comments and specifically the Green Belt and Grenoble Road (20 respondents) were of concern. Twelve comments highlighted the appropriateness of a Green Belt review as part of the process for understanding the capacity for development in the District. There were calls to consider Brownfield land as a priority for growth locations (5 respondents) and that agricultural land should be protected (6 respondents). The general affordability of housing was also a concern for some (6 respondents). There was a broad view, included in fourteen responses, which was put forward to suggest a balanced and sustainable approach should be taken to planning for any required growth.

Housing locations

Along with the volume and general considerations of housing growth in the District, the consultation also looked at a range of sites.

Option A suggested that the Core Strategy distribution strategy should continue to be used. This drew 100 supportive comments and 50 negative comments, some of which referred to the concerns that the market towns were taking the main share of housing numbers, including Wallingford.

Option B suggested that Science Vale and “sustainable settlements” could take additional housing growth, which prompted 70 supportive and 25 negative comments. Outlining similar issues to Option A, Option C considered all housing located in the Science Vale. Option D outlined the potential for new settlements. There were over 50 positive comments on this option, although many included provisos that a new settlement would need significant investment in transport and infrastructure connections, and even then might not be well integrated with the rest of South Oxfordshire.

Option E, the idea of Dispersal across all of the District received a high negative vote although there were over 70 positive comments on this approach; reasons for

supporting this option included that it would “ensure each community had a fair share of growth”, that as long as sufficient attention was paid to quality of design and planning “new housing will be more easily absorbed by existing communities”.

Development of extensions next to neighbouring urban areas (Option F) was also suggested and this prompted a largely negative response. This mostly focusing on Oxford and protecting Green Belt land, loss of open space and agricultural land.

Other options looked at increasing density (Option G) and Infrastructure funding (Option H) which both prompted fewer responses but generally positive, as did providing appropriate housing for older people and locally-needed affordable starter homes.

South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Development Site Options for Wallingford (2010)

As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options it was deemed necessary to undertake additional and specific consultation in relation to development sites being explored by the SODC. In total, 545 responses were gathered in addition to the Preferred Options Consultation.

The exhibition identified a range of issues similar to those generated as part of the Preferred Options Consultation and directly related to the site allocations (referred to in the Site Allocations Plan included within the document) with residents being asked specifically about sites A, B and E.

The most common advantages given for Site A centred around the closeness of the site to facilities such as the secondary school and town centre facilities. Comments also suggested that the site provides an excellent location for a new primary school. The most voiced disadvantages were issues to do with traffic and access.

Site B did not generate as many comments as Site A or Site E. Nevertheless, the most popular advantage given was the


close proximity to town centre facilities. This was closely followed by the issue of safety in accessing the secondary school. The disadvantages of Site B were around increased traffic on local roads such as Wantage Road and increased car usage due to distance to town centre facilities.

There were a large number of general comments, which were not site specific.

The most common advantage given for development at Site E was the ability for vehicles to access the bypass without going through the town. This was closely followed by the fact that the site is closest to the town centre and associated facilities. Site E identified disadvantages were around the unsuitability of the access for pedestrians.

The comments clearly identified that there was a large response against the allocation of 750 houses to Wallingford.

Other consultation was undertaken along with discussions generating similar concerns to those at the exhibition.

South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation Wallingford (2009)

As part of the Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation, options for the proposed development of a number of sites, including Slade Farm (Site B) and Winterbrook (Site E). The responses to these, in terms of objectives and those in favour are outlined in over page.

The supporting comments were from an array of local residents and statutory consultees. They citied issues and opportunities associated with the discussed options.

Wallingford Town Centre - The Future – Vision Strategy and Action Plan (2006)

A Centre Vision report prepared for Wallingford Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council by the Civic Trust, in association with DTZ Pieda and with the support of Waitrose plc.

The report engaged with stakeholders, individuals and town centre businesses (25 in total) and identified a number of key issues, including:

• There is an economic slowdown generally

• Many businesses have been hit by construction work and by the move of Waitrose

• Some retails have ‘bounced back’ (from Waitrose)

• The south side of the town has been badly affected

• The new food store is attracting more people to Wallingford but not enough are visiting the rest of the centre

• Car parking is not working well for many of the traders

• Many traders are on the edge

• Customers are local and loyal

• The town could appeal more to tourists but the shops are

Figure A1: Consultation Response Figures


closed on Sundays and moorings on the river are limited

• The town centre is basically very attractive but is let down by aspects of the street environment

• There is a strong tradition of community endeavour, but cohesion is lacking and the business spin-off from this has yet to be achieved

They also undertook a Community Workshop: to identify Issues, Opportunities and Action of which the key findings were:

• There is a severe slowdown in the growth of High Street sales nationally. People are spending less and times are harder. Wallingford faces increasing competition from Oxford, Reading and Henley and, more recently, Didcot. The role of Wallingford has changed

• The new Waitrose store is attracting more shoppers to the town from further afield, but the new location has disturbed the traditional pattern of shopping activity in the centre. The centre of gravity has shifted northwards

• Car parking is a “bone of contention” for traders in particular: its location and pricing rather than capacity. Overall there is a need to persuade people to stay longer and spend more. Good car parking can help

• Surveys have shown that local people are concerned about the width and condition of footpaths and the density of traffic in the narrow streets – despite the bypass

• Many feel that Wallingford could do better from tourism if the heritage and waterfront appeal of the town were marketed better, the shops were open when tourists are around and if there were more places to eat and drink

• No one doubts the affection local people have for their lovely town. A consensus is needed for the future so individual efforts are not dissipated and so all can work together productively in partnership.

Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan · 2017. 4. 3. · SODC’s infrastructure delivery plan including a...

Documents

Transcript of Wallingford Neighbourhood Plan · 2017. 4. 3. · SODC’s infrastructure delivery plan including a...