Wendron Design Codes and Guidelines Published

The design of new residential development is always a concern for local residents, so a new Design Codes and Guidelines booklet has been created to accompany the Neighbourhood Plan. You can find out more by following this link: Design Code

Community Survey Results

A detailed community survey was carried out between 17th August and 20th November 2022. A total of 51 responses were received in all.

Open spaces, transports, views of countryside, walks/trails and rights of way were the most important issues raised by local people [see graph below]

Graph showing that open spaces, transports, views of countryside, walks/trails and rights of way were the most important issues to local people.

About 30% of respondents wanted to see more housing, but 24% were against more housing.

When asked what development would you most like to see in the parish, 36% supported housing, 21% wanted road upgrades and traffic safety improvements, and 18% wanted better community facilities [see graph below]

Graph showing that when asked what they would like to see most in the Parish 36% supported housing, 21% wanted road upgrades and traffic safety improvements, and 18% wanted better community facilities.

When asked what public resources might need improvements to facilitate developments, 73% mentioned medical/dental facilities, and 41% mentioned schools [see graph below]

When asked what public resources might need improvements to facilitate developments, 73% mentioned medical/dental facilities, and 41% mentioned schools

When asked what types of housing people need currently or predict for future for immediate family within the parish, 55% said affordable housing, 51% said facilities for long term care of the elderly or disabled [see graph below].

When asked what types of housing people need currently or predict for future for immediate family within the parish, 55% said affordable housing, 51% said facilities for long term care of the elderly or disabled

Some 73% said ‘brownfield land’ should be prioritised for development over other sites, and 47% said this should be between or adjacent to existing development.

When asked if they wanted renewable energy generation in the area to contribute to the local community, 80% said yes. However, only 50% said the Neighbourhood Plan should have a policy on Turbines, and policies on drainage, utilities, broadband, solar power and geothermal power were more popular [see graph below].

50% said the Neighbourhood Plan should have a policy on Turbines, but policies on drainage, utilities, broadband, solar power and geothermal power were more popular.

Over 75% were concerned about traffic conditions.

Over 75% were concerned about traffic conditions.

76.5% of people thought that community facilities could be improved locally, whilst 5.9% were unsure, and 5.9% thought they couldn’t. Some 11.8% did not answer.

About 6% were dissatisfied with the Parish as a place to live, 26% were neutral, and 68% were fairly or very satisfied. Only 39% were optimistic about the future.

For full details of the survey results, follow this link: DETAILED SURVEY RESULTS

A further more focused survey will be carried out in April or May 2024, looking at:

  1. Housing – with questions aimed at discovering the actual needs within the Parish (ie ‘hidden households’ that aren’t picked up in the Homechoice register].
  2. Business and Jobs – looking more directly at existing and expected needs of businesses currently in the Parish, including those working from home.
  3. Design – Asking people to identify what they feel are good examples locally or further afield.
  4. Community facilities, on what existing facilities people feel should be protected and what is missing.

Grant aid for the Neighbourhood Plan

Grant aid worth over £5500 was awarded in autumn 2023 by the Locality organisation, working on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities. The grant will cover the work needed in the 2023/2024 year to bring the new Plan forward, with more grant expected in 2024/2025.

The Parish was also awarded a ‘Technical Support Package’ from Locality which will cover the creation of a professional local Design Guide to help ensure that any new housing development in the area is of a high standard.

New Community Survey coming in spring 2024

It is some time since the views of the Parish’s community were surveyed for the Neighbourhood Plan, so a new survey is due to be held very soon.

The NDP Steering Group are developing a survey form covering issues such as climate change, housing needs, business and jobs, the natural and built environments, heritage and community facilities.

When the survey is launched it will be available on-line and in print form, and all households will be invited to take part. Two ‘drop-in’ sessions, where you can find out more about the Plan and talk to a member of the Steering Group, will be held.

More news about the survey will come out soon!