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A vision for the future of a vibrant community thriving in harmony with the character, landscape

and heritage of an ancient parish rooted inagriculture, industry and transport

EASTINGTON

PARISH

COUNCIL

Neighbourhood Development Plan 2015-2031Draft for Consultation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This document has been developed and produced by the Parish Council and a community group of

volunteers with wide ranging skills and backgrounds on behalf of the whole Eastington community.

Eastington is one of many communities within the Stroud District Council developing a

Neighbourhood Development Plan which gives the parish the opportunity to state its vision for the

future of Eastington and to develop policies to enable that vision to become a reality.

The team would like to thank the following in preparation of the documents:

Ian Stuart, consultant town planner (Avoca PLD)

Meg Davis-Berry for editing and design

Ricardo Rios (Stroud District Council) for guidance and support on all matters related to

neighbourhood planning

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council for guidance and administrative support

Helix Transport Consultants for preparing our Traffic Appraisal Report

The community groups in Eastington for providing support through their membership.

In particular the Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Development Plan team would like to thank

the whole community for participating in the process and for coming together to support the

Neighbourhood Development Plan at each stage in the process.

All maps are © Crown Copyright and database rights 2012. Ordnance Survey 0040086531

An on-line version of this document providing live links to larger versions of the maps and to the

evidence base is available at eastingtonndp.co.uk

Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan 2


TABLE OF CONTENTSIndex of maps and policies page 4

NDP Steering Group page 5

1:0 What is the Neighbourhood Development Plan? page 6

1:1 Your Involvement in the Neighbourhood Development Plan Process

1:2 Neighbourhood Development Plan Process page 7

1:3 How the Neighbourhood Development Plan Fits Into

the Planning System page 8

1:4 What the Neighbourhood Development Plan Covers? page 8

1:5 What Period Does The Neighbourhood Development Plan Cover? 8

2:0 Sustainability Appraisal page 10

3:0 The Vision for Eastington page 11

4:0 Introduction page 12

5:0 Overview and Objectives page 13

5:1 The Background page 13

5:2 Environment page 14

5:3 Housing page 15

5:4 Employment page 15

5:5 Infrastructure page 15

6:0 Management and Development of Growth in Eastington page 16

7:0 Environment page 18

7:1The Natural Environment page 18

7:2 Flora, Fauna and Green Spaces page 20

7:3 Flooding page 21

7:4 The Developed Environment page 23

7:5 Protection of Green Spaces and other Sensitive Areas page 26

7:6 The Stroudwater Canal page 29

8:0 Housing

8:1 Housing Needs Survey and the Parish Plan page 31

8:2 The Outcome page 32

8:3 Objectives, aims and practicalities page 33

8:4 Market Housing page 33

8:5 Affordable Housing page 34

8:6 Building Local Houses for Local People page 35

9.0 Employment page 37

9:1 The Wider Context page 37

9:2 Mass Production page 37

9:3 Labour Force Changes page 37

9:4 Historical Perspective page 37

9:5 Our Strengths: Work Live Opportunities page 39

9:6 Creating Employment page 39

9:7 What Businesses Have Told Us page 40

10.0 Infrastructure

10:1 Getting Around – More than just a Through Route page 42

10:2 Road Safety page 42

10:3 Parking page 42

10:4 Traffic Management page 42

10:5 Public Rights of Way page 44

10:6 School Provision page 46

10:7 Foul Drainage page 46

10:8 Community Renewable Energy page 47

11.0 Monitoring page 50

12.0 Appendix page 51

INDEX OF MAPS

Map 1 - Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan Area page 9

Map 2 - Environmental features of Eastington circa 1900 page 18

Map 3 - Current environmental features page 19

Map 4 - Protection zones page 24

Map 5 - Local green spaces page 27

Map 6 - Land allocated for new housing page 34

Map 7 - Commercial, industrial and farming sites in Eastington page 38

Map 8 - Infrastructure of Eastington page 43

Map 9 - Public Rights of Way page 45


INDEX OF POLICIES

Policy EP 1: General Development Management page 16

Policy EP 2: Protect and Enhance Biodiversity and the Natural Environment page 22

Policy EP 3: Preservation of Village Character page 26

Policy EP4: Protection of Green Spaces and other Sensitive Areas page 27

Policy EP 5: Siting and Design of New Development and Conservation page 28

Policy EP6: Restoration and Development of the Canal Corridor page 30

Policy EP7: Delivering and Retaining Affordable Housing page 33

Policy EP8: Land Allocated for New Housing page 36

Policy EP9: Employment page 41

Policy EP10: Working from Home page 41

Policy EP11: Traffic and Transport page 44

Policy EP12: Public Rights of Way and Wildlife Corridors page 45

Policy EP13: School Provision page 46

Policy EP14: Drainage page 46

Policy EP15: Small Scale Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Schemes page 48


NDP STEERING GROUP

Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan is dependent on local parishioners working together.

The NDP Steering Group has a mix of professional skills, local knowledge and enthusiasm to be

involved in Eastington's future. The members are:

Peter Edis-Bates: Chair of NDP Steering Group, Eastington Parish Councillor, chartered engineer,

retired director of Rolls Royce. Resident of the parish for 25 years, Neighbourhood Watch Warden

and founder member of a number of community groups including 'Don't Strangle Stroud'. An avid

restorer of classic cars and period architecture.

Muriel Bullock: Chair of Eastington Parish Council

Cllr Jennifer F Corrie: NDP 'Getting Around' theme group, Vice-chair Eastington Parish Council and

Vice-chair of NDP Steering Group, retired secondary school teacher with a masters degree in

management and administration.

Tom Low: Chair and founder of Eastington Community Orchard Group (ECO), member of Keep

Eastington Rural (KER); distribution manager of Eastington Community News. Eastington resident

for 28 years. His career as a software manager included 15 years in local government, in part

implementing planning and building control systems, has been useful background for his work with

KER and the NDP. Hobbies are country winemaking and carpentry.

Russell Warner: owner of Westend Office Suites, chartered accountant; third generation of the

Warner family to live at Westend Farm. Governor at Eastington Primary School where both children

have attended. His wife works for Eastington Playgroup and supports the school weekly as a

librarian on a voluntary basis. She is an active member of the PA.

Pauline Allen: NDP 'Getting Around' theme leader; Eastington Parish Councillor; Retired consultant

in Sexual and reproductive Health with Psychosexual Medicine for Gloucestershire. Has lived in the

parish with her husband and two children since 1972 and has been involved in a number of

successful planning disputes. A member of St Michael's Church flower arranging team, other

hobbies include botanical art, restorative upholstery and gardening.

Daniel James: retired NHS CEO, chairman of two schools, one state grammar and one prep school.

Local campaigner for sensible housing policies. His family moved to Eastington in 1963. He left in

1968 but returned in 1993. Kept very busy with a smallholding and a ridiculous collection of garden

machinery. A founder member of 'Don't Strangle Stroud'.

Mark Campbell: oil and gas consultant, chartered geologist, chair of Gloucestershire Geology Trust.

His grandfather moved to the area a century ago and the family has been involved in farming here

ever since. He farms his own smallholding and has lived in the parish since 1991. His son was a

pupil at the village school.

Andrew Niblett: Married with two sons. Eastington resident for 29 years. Former Eastington Primary

School Governor. Founder member of Keep Eastington Rural and Eastington Community News –

currently editor. A Parish Councillor for 14 years – 10 as Chairman actively promoting community

projects. A material scientist and consultant by profession advising global aerospace and automotive

businesses. Formerly teaching physics and chemistry. Interests include astronomy, European

history and architecture.

Terms of Reference

The Steering Group adopted Terms of Reference on 9th January 2014


EASTINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROCESS KEYFormal NDP adoption stages Eastington Parish Council evidence collection

NDP Steering Group process Public consultation stages

1:0 WHAT IS THE NEIGBOURHOODDEVELOPMENT PLAN?

The Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan is a new type of planning document produced in1:0:1

the Parish. It is part of the Government's new approach to planning which aims to give local people

more say about what goes on in their area. This is set out in the Localism Act that came into force in

April 2012. If passed at a local referendum, the Neighbourhood Development Plan will be adopted by

Stroud District Council (SDC) as the plan which must be used in law to determine planning

applications in the Parish; it will become part of the Development Plan alongside the District Council's

Local Plan. The Plan therefore provides the local community with a powerful tool to guide the long

term future of Eastington, including the village centre, its outlying hamlets and the surrounding

countryside for the period 2011 to 2031.

The Plan contains a vision for the future of Eastington Parish and sets out clear planning policies to1:0:2

realise this vision.

In order to develop the Neighbourhood Development Plan, Eastington Parish Council set up a1:0:3

steering group made up of four parish councillors and a number of local volunteers.

If adopted the Parish and District Council will apply all relevant policies of the Plan in considering1:0:4

proposals for development, The Plan should also be read in conjunction with the National Planning

Policy Framework, Stroud District Council's Local Plan which is being developed in parallel.

The Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan covers the whole of Eastington Parish. In1:0:5

preparing the Plan, there has been dialogue with residents and community groups of Eastington

Parish, Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire Rural Community Council and neighbouring parishes

preparing NDPs. An application for Neighbourhood Plan designation was approved by Stroud District

Council in September 2013. The NDP area is shown in Map 1 – Eastington Neighbourhood

Development Plan Area.

1:1 YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN PROCESSThe Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group has followed the necessary legal steps to1:1:1

create the Plan. Importantly, the group developed and followed a Community Engagement Action

Plan to ensure extensive engagement with the people of Eastington and others with an interest in the

area.

The process is set out on page 7, Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan Process, with the1:1:2

opportunities for local involvement highlighted. The timetable is partly dependent on the responses

received to the Plan, and the number of issues to be considered by the independent examiner, and

their reporting time.

Recent consultation events have included an online questionnaire, a paper questionnaire, two1:1:3

open events in February 2014 and October 2014 where residents were able to comment on a number

of options for the Plan. Further Pre Submission consultation was held in spring 2015. These

comments have now influenced this Submission Plan.

Details of the consultation to date have been recorded in a series of reports that are available to1:1:4

download from our website at www.eastingtonndp.co.uk.


1:3 EASTINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROCESS

Neighbourhood Planning Regulations published nationally April 2012

Eastington Parish Council’s application for Neighbourhood Plan designation approved September 2013

Eastington Parish Housing Needs Survey October 2013

Eastington Parish Survey September 2011-January 2012

Inaugural Eastington NDP public meeting held December 2013

NDP steering group agrees terms of reference January 2014

NDP consultation evening February 2014

Data collection and theme development February 2014

ACRE Rural Community Profile for Eastington published October 2013

NDP consultation drop-in event September 2014

Plan creation – bringing together evidence September 2014-January 2015

Draft Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission consultation April-May 2015

Plan amendment in line with consultation June 2015

Submission to Stroud District Council and consultation June 2015

External audit July 2015

Examination – an external inspector will test the plan September 2015

Referendum October 2015

Adoption - Plan given full weight by SDC to determineplanning applications if approved at referendum November 2015

Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan Survey September 2014


1:3 HOW THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN FITS INTO THE PLANNING SYSTEMAlthough the Government's intention is for local people to decide what goes on in their parish, all1:3:1

Neighbourhood Development Plans must be in line with higher level planning policy. Therefore, in this

instance, the Neighbourhood Development Plans must:

In order to future-proof the Plan, the Steering Group has ensured, through close dialogue with the1:3:2

District Council, that the Plan is appropriately in line with up to date evidence of any strategic needs

identified for the area and the emerging District Plan. However there remains a potential dispute

regarding a proposal in the draft Local Plan to identify an area between Nastend and Nupend

(referred to as west of Stonehouse) as suitable for major housing growth. This is considered

unacceptable and is opposed by the Parish Council. Whilst it does not appear as part of this draft

Neighbourhood Development Plan it is recognised that reconsideration might be necessary following

the outcome of the current examination of the draft Local Plan.

If passed at a local referendum, the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) will be adopted by1:3:3

Stroud District Council as the Plan which must be used in law to determine planning applications in

the Parish.

1:4 WHAT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN COVERS?Although deciding where new housing and new employment should go is an important part of the1:4:1

Plan, it is about much more than this. The Plan is for the Parish as a whole and looks at a wide range

of issues, including:

Achieving high quality development which fits well with the location.•

Protecting open space within the village as well as the surrounding countryside including the•

landscape, views and habitats.

Meeting local housing needs.•

Promoting local businesses•

Local transport, road safety issues and public rights of way (PROW)•

Supporting sympathetic renovation of the Stroudwater Canal•

Promoting the development of renewable energy projects for the financial and environmental•

benefit of the Eastington community

1:5WHAT PERIOD DOES THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN COVER?The emerging Stroud District Local Plan period is from 2011-2031 and in order to generally align with

that Plan, the Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan covers the same period.

comply with European regulations on strategic environmental assessment and habitat•

take account of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and•

generally conform to the strategic policies of the adopted Stroud District Local Plan, which•currently comprises the 2005 Local Plan. However a new Local Plan is at an advanced stage ofpreparation and, once adopted, must be taken into account.


Map 1: Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan Area is aligned

with Eastington Parish boundaries

1: THE PLAN


2:0 SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISALThe NPPF defines sustainability in terms of -

Economic•

Social •

Environmental.•

2:1 ECONOMICThe approach taken in the NDP has been to promote the development of new housing representing

a 20% growth over the planning period (policy EP9). This approach has been combined with

determining that a very significant number (more than 50%) will be affordable/social (policy EP7).

The additional population that this will bring (250) will invigorate local businesses with new

customers as well as encouraging start up businesses in the community through policy EP10. The

NDP offers substantial economic benefit to the Parish.

2:2 SOCIALA particular aim of the NDP is to enable our younger people who wish to, to live in the parish. The2:2:1

use of Community Land Trusts and Housing Associations where the community has nomination rights

will ensure we can support our younger people well into the future (policy EP7).

The ageing population is also being planned for with the extension of housing for older people2:2:2

avoiding admission, where ever possible, into nursing/residential homes (EP7).

The growth in population also strengthens essential retail businesses such as the Co-op2:2:3

supermarket, pub, hotel and other shops and garages. Father to son/daughter small businesses such

as plumbing and electricians can now depend on the next generation being able to stay and work in

the village.(EP8)

It is important to ensure that the historic hamlets are protected but also that they should not be2:2:4

allowed to decline. Thus, a limited amount of investment will be encouraged.

The plan intends over time that Eastington Primary School moves to the village centre with access2:2:5

to playing fields and parking.(EP14)

2:3 ENVIRONMENTThe Plan has been quite explicit in the protection of the environment with five key policies (EP2,2:3:1

EP3, E4, EP6, EP5). It designates green space and has planned new housing to be within easy

walking distance of the Alkerton services and shops. It promotes home working( EP11)

Protecting our historical hamlets has been a key priority as well as ensuring the network of2:3:2

footpaths and bridal ways are secured for future generations that link these individual communities

(EP13). Avoidance of hamlet coalescence has been achieved with specific policies (EP4, EP1).

Renewable energy is to be encouraged (EP15)2:3:3

2: S

UST

AIN

ABIL

ITY

3.0: THE VISION‘Every plan must have a vision of what life will be like when the plan

has been implemented in 20 years time.‘

THE VISION FOR 2031The year is 2031 in Eastington Parish. One is immediately struck by the canal that has at last3:0:1

been reopened just five years ago. Many boats travel to and from Stroud with its network of bistros,

bars and artisan shops. Each week just by Pike Lock the village holds a small arts crafts and food

market which is attended by many Eastington residents, but also by boaters travelling up from Saul

Junction to top up on locally grown food.

The village has grown in size with now an additional 130 houses and over 2000 people. This3:0:2

growth of people has supported our local businesses, but it has also achieved something that is

perhaps different from so many other places in that the Parish has really looked after its own. Fifty of

the new houses are lived in by young people who grew up in the village and we have two more

attractive developments into which our older people can downsize. This they have done and there is

now a small waiting list. What has been different too, is that three houses the village have been made

available to "carers" who are on hand to support our more frail elderly. This has all been made

possible by the Parish controlling the nomination rights to these properties.

Our 70 local businesses now provide 10 apprenticeships. Fifteen of our apprentices have now3:0:3

gone on to set up their own businesses locally, with three of them operating out of one of our three

small business parks. Five of these apprentices were helped to get on the ladder with technical and

managerial support from local residents on the small business support register run by the Parish

Council. The Co-op has expanded with now a small delicatessen selling locally made and grown

produce.

The unique character of the village has been protected and maintained by retention of the spaces3:0:4

that separate the historic hamlets and through careful attention to the design of new buildings

The centre of the village remains very busy, but traffic and parking have been addressed to the3:0:5

mutual benefit of both businesses and residents. The great new addition is the charging points for

electric cars which is powered by renewable energy from which the Parish Council directly benefits,

using this money to support small business start ups.

The nearby town of Stonehouse has also grown with more shops a wine bar and four restaurants.3:0:6

The road to Stroud is heavily congested and some say it is now quicker to go by boat! The canal path

however is heavily used by commuters heading to Stroud on bicycles.

We believe this plan reflects the vast majority of parishioner’s wishes for the future of our3:0:7

community. Now we all need to work together to make this plan a reality.


3: VISION


4.0: INTRODUCTION

We present to you the Eastington Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan. This is our4:0:1

community's response to the Government's commitment to devolve planning down to communities. In

the Parish we have a long history of being actively involved in planning and development. We have

supported the right housing development in the right places and we have opposed, sometimes

successfully sometimes not, poor planning decisions.

Under the sponsorship of our Parish Council a group of around a dozen individuals have come4:0:2

together to create the Plan. We have been very fortunate to have a considerable range of skills in

individuals who have been willing to give up so much time to produce this plan. We have been

supported throughout by a very experienced town planner who has worked both in the public and

private sector.

The journey we have taken has been spread over three years and has involved creating many4:0:3

opportunities for local residents to become involved and contribute to the plan. We have consulted

with the whole community through two open meetings and three surveys delivered to every

household, two of which were also available online.

Our parish has grown and thrived particularly over the last 20 years. We have seen an additional4:0:4

140 houses built, bringing with them more people and more investment into our community, so that

today the Parish can still support an array of shops and small businesses. If communities are to thrive

they need new development, but at a rate and type that is consistent with the community in which

they are built.

In our surveys residents have clearly identified the need for starter homes for our young people4:0:5

who wish to stay and work in the community and, in addition, they have recognised the need for our

older residents to downsize when the time is right to housing that enables them to stay within the

community close to friends and family.

To secure this type of housing for our residents in the long term, we have identified Community4:0:6

Land Trusts (CLTs) as one of the vehicles to achieve this. These are houses built on land that is

owned by the "community" with the community having the nomination rights. That way we can be a

parish that invests in its younger people and cares for those in later life when the need arises. When

our older people make the decision to downsize, their house is released back into the market for the

next generation.

Our survey identifies that over 30% of people in employment work from home, or their home is their4:0:7

business address. This is a very high proportion and reflects the changing world we live in with more

and more of the nation’s employment being in the service sector. Our plan encourages this growth of

employment which was widely supported in the survey.

The plan is clear that it wishes to protect our agricultural heritage and food production while, at the4:0:8

same time, encouraging the recreational capacity that this land affords the community with its network

of footpaths and green lanes. The canal in particular affords us great opportunities for the future as

one day it will extend all the way to Saul Junction and with that will come a huge recreational and

economic gain. Indeed the man in charge of the project lives in our parish.

Most frustrating for many residents is traffic – often travelling too fast – and using the roads as rat4:0:9

runs. There is a lack of parking in the central area around the Cross. As a community we have only so

much influence to address this problem with speed reduction initiatives. Of course, our own residents

contribute to the overall problem. With such a large parish people come to the centre from the outlying

hamlets to access the shops and services.

5.0: OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

The Neighbourhood Development Plan looks at the current development of Eastington and the most

desirable course for its future as determined by our community. There are four main themes:

Environment•

Housing•

Employment•

Infrastructure, including roads and transport, Public Rights of Way and renewable energy•

The main aims and objectives considered under each theme are introduced in this overview which

considers Eastington's past, present and future. They were identified in detailed research carried out

by the team working on each theme, aided by local knowledge, questionnaires and public

consultation events.

5:1 PAST AND PRESENTThe Severn Vale, in which the Parish of Eastington lies, looks very flat. However, the land within5:1:1

the parish, an area of some ten square kilometres, undulates from below 50 to over 100 feet above

sea level. Although mainly agricultural land, there are small pockets of a surprising variety of habitats

for wildlife from wet meadows to dryish woodland.

Eastington is a rural parish supporting both arable and livestock farming. Much of the wildlife is5:1:2

concentrated along uncultivated corridors provided by hedgerows and road verges, in small

woodlands or by the Stroudwater Canal and River Frome banks. The canal, which currently

terminates at Pyke Lock, is an important environmental, heritage and leisure asset for Eastington.

Not far from this evidence of early technology, now a treasured part of the landscape, Eastington5:1:3

has a very conspicuous renewable energy project at the OHMG community centre where an array of

solar photovoltaic panels has generated over 30,000 kwh of electricity. Its ten solar hot water panels

can heat 1000 litres of hot water so football teams shower for free. Eastington Renewable Energy

Group, set up in 2013 is actively considering renewable energy projects for the economic benefit to

the entire Parish without having significant ecological effect or irreversible impact on valued

amenities.

Our parish has provided the earliest evidence of human habitation in the Stroud district going back5:1:4

30,000 years. Eastington has an unusual and distinctive settlement pattern which is derived from its

historic rural past. It comprises a group of separate hamlets which join together to form the village. Of


4/5: INTR

OD

UCTIO

N/O

VERVIEW

these Alkerton has grown into what is today the core of the village. It is this distinctive settlement

pattern which defines the character of the village.

Nowadays, the majority of people live in relatively modern housing in Alkerton around The Cross,5:1:5

where there are local shops and services. Other parishioners live in the surrounding hamlets which

retain older cottages and farmhouses, linked by old, high-hedged lanes and interlinked by a network

of footpaths

The parish has three major through routes which pose the challenge of speed and congestion.5:1:6

These roads cut through the parish but, with smaller lanes, provide the grid that cements the

community.

Some older people have lived or farmed their whole lives in the parish. Younger families are5:1:7

attracted by modern houses in a rural village setting, between the industrial influences of Stonehouse

and the commuter influences of the M5 motorway junction. It shares the employment challenges and

opportunities of the district as a whole, which has been considered in research and consultation for

the Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Eastington has consistently provided a substantial amount of housing for people in the district5:1:8

since 1945. Growth has been at a level appropriate for keeping the community vibrant (about 70

homes per decade), but not so high to drown the community and turn us into an 'any town

development'. Perhaps this diversity and measured growth helped towards Eastington winning

Gloucestershire Vibrant Village of the Year in 2010.

This rich heritage is ours to preserve and protect for future generations and unless we are both5:1:9

diligent and careful we may easily lose this snapshot of tranquility to the bustle of housing estates and

factories.

The Neighbourhood Development Plan recognizes the need for a modest growth in jobs and5:1:10

housing to meet local needs and to retain a sense of vibrancy and purpose. However, such growth

must respect and preserve the character and appearance of the village as otherwise the ambience

and community spirit will be eroded. In other words, the primary objective is to secure a long term

viable future for the community as a whole. It is regarded as particularly important to provide enough

new homes for our young people and suitable accommodation for our elderly when they need it, to

enable them to remain within the Parish.

The following is a summary of the four main themes.5:1:11

5:2 THE ENVIRONMENTWe aim to:

preserve and enhance the distinctive heritage of the•

area.

protect the identity of Eastington and prevent any•

further coalescence of the village and the hamlets with

each other and with Stonehouse.

protect important open spaces within the Parish.•

ensure necessary development is well designed and•

reflects the heritage and distinctive character of Eastington.

protect and enhance the high quality and sensitive landscape within the Parish and the•

setting of the village and each hamlet.

maintain the distinctive views and visual connectivity with the surrounding countryside from•

public places within built-up areas

protect and enhance biodiversity.•

encourage the restoration of the canal and support sensitive developments and activities to•

complement the activities of the canal and its users

•



5:3 HOUSINGWe aim:

for a growth of about 100-120 houses in 15 years•

(about 70 per decade).

to build mainly smaller units (1, 2 and 3 bed) for•

starter homes and serve the expanding elderly

population.

to respond to the Housing Needs Survey by building•

and maintaining affordable housing for rent, through

appropriate development vehicles (currently

Community Land Trust and housing associations).

These aims are incorporated into the Neighbourhood Development Plan largely through the

allocation of land for some 130 dwellings to be phased over the Plan period.

5:4 EMPLOYMENTWe aim to:

support small scale employment initiatives that create•

opportunities for local residents.

support working from home.•

5:5 INFRASTRUCTUREGetting around

We aim to encourage all people living in the parish and those passing

through:

to recognise and respect that Eastington is our home•

to recognise that we all need to take responsibility for•

ensuring road safety is a priority in the parish

identify and agree a variety of ways to address these issues,•

The Neighbourhood Development Plan proposes:

to establish and improve cycle and walking routes suitable for children's buggies,•

wheelchairs and mobility scooters

to ensure new housing development is connected to the village by safe and sustainable•

road, cycle and pedestrian routes

to oppose development proposals that would have an adverse impact on the route,•

character, function and recreational value of Public Rights of Way (PROW)

to ensure any new development allows for at adequate car parking provision•

Renewable energy

We aim to support and encourage all forms of renewable energy

Homes in the parish

1851 3681891 3331951 3461990 4902014 6752030 775-795

Taken from census and parish data

Where we work

32% work from home 29% commute to Bristol,Cheltenham, Gloucester 8% work in Stonehouse

The Big Parish Issues

Speeding traffic 54%

Congestion at school 53%

Road condition 44%

Crossing the roads 33%

Volume of HGVs 33%

Congestion A419 32%


6.0: MANAGEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTHIN EASTINGTON

Purpose and reason for policy

The purpose is to provide a positive framework for decision making on planning applications.This is6:0:1

necessary because the Plan must comply with the legal requirement that it has been prepared

positively having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).This presents the

Government’s policy to support growth by specifically setting out a “presumption in favour of

sustainable development”.

Sustainable development as defined in the NPPF encompasses environmental, social and6:0:2

economic dimensions. Indeed the policies in paragraphs 18 to 219 of the NPPF, taken as a whole,

constitute what is meant as sustainable development for the purpose of the planning system. The

Neighbourhood Development Plan pays due regard to this advice.

A policy that clearly sets out a presumption in favour of sustainable development demonstrates a6:0:3

positive approach to the management of growth within the Parish. The primary objective is to secure

a long term viable future for the community as a whole whilst retaining the unique character and

sense of place that is Eastington. To provide clarity in this objective it is thought that a general

development management policy will help ensure that the Plan is read as a whole. This should help

avoid repetition in other more detailed policies areas.

Eastington has grown from the historic grouping of hamlets into a substantial settlement. The6:0:4

majority of growth has taken place in Alkerton where most of the facilities and services are located.

On grounds of sustainability it is considered that the majority of future growth should be contained

within easy walking distance of these facilities and that the surrounding countryside should be

protected from indiscriminate development. For this purpose a development limit has been set around

Alkerton. However the hamlets remain an essential part of the village structure and community. It is

thought important from a social and economic perspective to nurture and support the hamlets.

Without at least a modicum of investment there is a real danger of neglect and decay. Consequently,

very limited infill development will not be discouraged, although it will be strictly controlled.

POLICY EP 1: GENERAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENTPlanning permission will be granted for development at a scale and in locations that accord with

policies set out in the Neighbourhood Development Plan where it can be shown that the

development would support and maintain the continued sustainability and viability of communities

across the Parish by providing:

new homes, including affordable housing, to meet the objectively assessed local housing•

needs of the Parish;

new and expanded business premises including tourist and local retail opportunities;•

infrastructure associated with leisure, social, community, recreational and education•

activities.

No development will be permitted outside the settlement boundary of Alkerton shown on Map 4

unless:

it comprises very limited infilling within the structure of one of the hamlets and is designed in•

character, scale and appearance with the form of the hamlet and in the case of housing,

comprises no more than one dwelling;

it is an extension of an existing building and is designed in keeping with the host building;•

it is a conversion of an existing building of traditional sound construction;•

It is a replacement dwelling.•

All development shall be designed and located having regard to the principles and advice set out in

other policies of the Plan and with advice to be produced in a design guide for Eastington.

It must not significantly and adversely affect:

the amenity of nearby residents or other sensitive land uses;•

the character and appearance of the settlement or area in which it is located, having•

particular regard to issues of scale, height, mass, design and materials;

the social, built, historic, cultural and natural heritage assets of the parish.•


6: MAN

AGIN

G G

RO

WTH


7.0: ENVIRONMENT

7:1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENTThe natural environment of the Parish of Eastington mainly agricultural land, but there are small7:1:1

pockets of a surprising variety of habitats for wildlife from wet meadows to dryish woodland, including

some ancient woodland.

Two broad ridges underlain by blue-grey Lias rocks of the Lower Jurassic period run southeast to7:1:2

northwest across the parish. Evidence for the age of this underlying strata is provided by the

numerous 'devil's toenails' (the fossil Gryphaea arcuata, an ancient relative of the oyster) turned up

during ploughing on the ridges. The Stroudwater Canal and the two branches of the River Frome

follow roughly parallel courses in the valley between these ridges. The river valley is underlain by

gravelly alluvial terraces of some depth, deposited towards the end of the Ice Age when the Frome

must have been much wider and rapidly flowing. A disused gravel pit, revealing deposits of gravel

several metres thick lies at Claypits in the west of the parish. Wickster's Brook, which forms the

southern parish boundary, meanders through the level plain to the south. Clay has been a useful

economic asset for Eastington, both as a source of bricks and as puddling material for the canals

Map 2


Anyone who cycles or walks around Eastington will know that there are some steepish slopes and7:1:3

high points which afford lovely views. Looking southwest from Cress Green, one is at the highest

point between here and the Severn Estuary. In winter, when the trees are bare, the church towers of

St Cyr's Stonehouse, St Michael and All Angels Eastington, St Peter's Frocester, Slimbridge, Selsley

and Standish churches can all be seen. To the south, east and north the Cotswolds rise –

Stinchcombe Hill, Selsley Common, Frocester Hill, Haresfield Beacon and the distinctively shaped

outliers of Cam Long Down (south) and Robinswood Hill (north). Far away, over the Severn to the

northwest, lies May Hill distinguished by its topknot of conifers and, on a clear day, one can see as

far as the Malvern Hills to the north.

This is essentially a rural parish of agricultural land, both arable and pasture which supports dairy7:1:4

and beef cattle in the summer and some sheep in the winter. Several 'semi-improved' meadows have

more variety of plant life and, therefore, attract butterflies and other insects in the spring and early

summer. But much of the wildlife is concentrated along uncultivated "corridors" provided by

hedgerows and road verges, in small woodlands or by the canal and River Frome banks. A surprising

diversity can also turn up in our own back gardens.

The River Frome enters the parish, flowing under the Bristol/ Gloucester railway line in two7:1:5

Map 3

Maps 2 and 3 demonstrate the loss of ponds orchards and woodland over the 20th century

7: ENVIR

ON

MEN

T

shallow channels 100-200 metres apart. It flows rapidly north-westward over a silty or gravelly bottom

on either side of its river valley. The wide valley would have been carved out of the Lias Clay during

times of much higher flow at the end of the ice-age. At Churchend, the northern branch of the river is

further divided - a small northern branch serviced Churchend Mill (no longer there). These two

branches flow prettily onward, just south of Eastington Primary School and either side of the meadow,

Butt Leaze. The three branches of the river converge just above and just below Meadow Bridge (at

the foot of Spring Hill) and thus the river broadens and deepens until it flows out of the parish under

Frome Bridge on the A38, on towards Fromebridge Mill and eventually under the Sharpness Canal

and into the River Severn at Framilode.

In the parish, there are footpaths along the whole length of the northern branch (south bank) and7:1:6

as far as the A38 but only along part of the southern branch. The river served the needs of the

flourishing milling industries west of Stroud (cloth, corn and oil) of the 16th century and later, and

subsequently it became inextricably linked to the Stroudwater Canal which opened in 1779.

The river from Churchend to Fromebridge does not follow a natural course. In the 1770s John7:1:7

Kemmett, in an attempt to make the river more navigable cut out 19 meanders along its course.

Evidence for some of these meanders can still be seen on the ground in the extreme west of the

parish today. Conversely, many leats were cut to increase water penetration to support withy beds –

essential for basketmaking in all pre-1950s manufacturing processes

Nowadays, milling activity in the parish has long ceased but the southern branch of the river still7:1:8

serves us by carrying water used in the treatment of sewage from Stanley Downton Sewage works.

This branch of the river is much more thickly vegetated below the works, a result of eutrophication

due to the nitrogen-enriched water. Millend Mill now has a restored water wheel which is generating a

limited amount of electricity.

The most exciting news concerning the Frome in Eastington in recent years is that otters are7:1:9

known to have passed along its course in the process of their recolonising the Stroud Valleys.


7:2 FLORA, FAUNA AND GREENSPACESEastington has a remnant of ancient woodland, Mole Grove, adjacent to the M5 on the north7:21

western boundary of the parish at West End. It is made up of oak, ash and some hazel which would

have provided firewood for villagers. There is also a scattering of wild service trees in the wood which

is a home for roe deer and foxes and a hunting ground for kestrel and the little owl, among others.

Smaller native trees and shrubs have colonised the canal and river banks as well as existing and7:22

vestigial hedgerows. They include spindle, buckthorn, field maple, blackthorn, dogwood, elder,

snowberry, privet, as well as apple, plum and pear tress which are probably escapees from the many

orchards that once thrived in the parish.

A move to restore some orchards is underway with the formation of Eastington Community Orchard7:23

Group (ECO) which was started with the £500 prize for winning the Vibrant Village award. Work on

Coneygree Orchard started in spring 2011 and a second orchard is planned for 2015 behind


Consultation Event 22/2/14 Restoration and maintenance

of natural habitats

Restore to original

levels as far as poss

Leave Don’t care

Ponds, orchards and wood-

lands 33 1

Withy beds22 1

Wetlands23 1

Unimproved

grassland24 1

Fig 1


An aerial view of the Eastington flood plain taken on 23 December 2012

Browning's Close, with public money augmented by sales of ECO apple and pear juice. Perhaps the

oldest perry orchard is in Middle Street, where trees in excess of 250 years old still yield ample pears.

In the 19th century osiers were once common along the river banks and in unused corners,7:24

providing the withies (long supple canes) for basketmaking, but they have virtually died out leaving

only more common willow species.

The fields which surround the village centre and the hamlets, as well as the corridors of footpaths,7:25

bridleways and the river and canal, support a wide range of small mammals, birds and butterflies.

While the rural nature of the parish benefits wildlife, successive Parish surveys (starting in 1980) have

underlined how villagers appreciate getting out to green fields within minutes of their front door. These

open spaces are precious to our way of life.

The 2011-12 Parish Survey identified as particularly important:7:26

fields between Swallowcroft, Millend and Middle Street•

paths and bridleways around Nupend and Nastend•

lanes and waterside paths near Nastend, Cress Green and Millend•

7:3 FLOODINGA surprisingly large number of people (49*) said they had been affected by flooding in the 2011-127:3:1

Parish Survey. Much of this was highlighted in 2007 after the summer floods, most of which were

aggravated by poor maintenance of ditches and even some sewers.

Action by the Parish Council in 2007 and 2008 went a long way to improving this and two flood7:3:2

wardens were appointed. After the 2012-13 floods, a new Flood Prevention Group has been set up. It

is lobbying agencies and local councils for action as well as performing local clearances.

*Parish Plan Q C9: Have you been affected by flooding whilst living in the parish? –No =80%; Yes- stormwater=– 14%; Yes storm and foul water = 3%; No reply = 2%

Evidence

At the Neighbourhood Development Plan consultation event in February 2014, 98% of respondents

were in favour of implementing measures (as much as possible) such as marginal vegetation barriers

and temporary ponds established adjacent to watercourses to prevent river silting and flooding.

97% of respondents said they were in favour of 'preserving rural aspects and features of the•

parish'. There will be an application to confer Local Green Space designation on the area

between Millend Lane and Bath Road, adjacent to Swallowcroft.

97% wanted to restore and maintain natural habitats (ponds, orchards and woodland habi-•

tats) to the levels they were at when they were created.

97% wanted measures implemented (as much as possible) to encourage and enhance all•


key wildlife development in the parish

97% wanted measures implemented (as much as possible) to establish wildlife corridors to•

link the watercourses and woodland areas to encourage species enhancement (water vole,

otter, newts, invertebrates etc) (See fig 1)

POLICY EP 2: PROTECT AND ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY AND THENATURAL ENVIRONMENTDevelopment proposals must respect the natural environment and protect and enhance

biodiversity by:

protecting designated sites, protected species and ancient woodlands and hedgerows;•

preserving ecological corridors;•

demonstrating means of mitigating, preserving and where appropriate, recreating wildlife•

habitats and net gains in natural flora;

adopting best practice in Rural Sustainable Urban Drainage (RSUDs);•

affording protection status to all existing and historic orchards; •

preserving all existing ponds;•

Development will not be permitted:

Within 50 m of all watercourses within the Parish•


7:4 THE DEVELOPED ENVIRONMENTThe earliest evidence of human habitation in the Stroud district was found in the gravel pit near7:4:1

Claypits in the form of two flint blades, thought to be some 30,000 years old. These rare artefacts can

now be seen at Stroud's Museum in the Park.

Nowadays, the majority of people live in the concentration of largely modern housing within the7:4:2

'village envelope' around The Cross, where there is a pub, an hotel, a butchers shop, a small

supermarket and two hairdressers. Nearby is the village hall, a Methodist chapel and a garage. Half a

mile away, by the river Frome stand the parish church, the village primary school and a small

industrial estate. Other parishioners live in scattered small settlements of a few older cottages or

farmhouses. These are linked to the main highways by old, high-hedged lanes and are also

interlinked by a network of footpaths, in varying states of use and maintenance. There are three

residential homes, two being Camphill Communities, and one for the elderly. The diversity in property

type leads to a pleasing diversity of people in the community, with some older folk having lived or

farmed their whole lives in the Parish, and younger families attracted by modern houses in a rural

village setting.

The village layout is based on the original medieval layout and comprises a set of interlocking7:4:3

access routes between the A38, which has Roman origins, and the Cotswold villages. In addition

there was a important bridging point across the river Frome where some of the oldest parts of the

parish lie. The parish is made up of several distinct parts where housing is congregated. These reflect

the historically diverse phases of evolution of the village and are all essentially ribbon type

developments based around the parish's agricultural/ industrial past.

The main village eventually evolved around the hamlet of Alkerton on the higher ground above the7:4:4

River Frome flood plain. The other hamlets saw little of the Victorian and later development that

became focused on this part of the parish. In fact, the population of the parish as a whole remained

virtually static for 100 years between 1851 and 1951, although the number of inhabited homes in the

outlying hamlets declined as the village centre grew, reflecting changes in industry and employment.

In addition to the village centre (Alkerton), modern Eastington comprises the outlying hamlets of:7:4:5

Westend, Nupend, Nastend, New Town, Claypits and the areas of Chipman’s Plat, Churchend,

Millend, Bath Road, Middle Street/Cress Green. Each reflects something of its industrial and

agricultural past in its architecture, name and street pattern and each has had its day in the sun.

For example, Churchend has our oldest buildings and the 15th century church; Nastend was the7:4:6

heart of the Clutterbuck's mercer business in the middle ages; Chipman's Platt was our main wharf

and boat repair yard in the 19th century; Millend, the largest mill which grew to absorb mechanisation

in the 19th century. New Town was a bustling centre when the canal was under construction, while

Claypits provided early indigenous clay for local buildings, replaced by red Stonehouse brick in

Victorian times.


Nastend was first proposed as a Conservation Area in 1997. A small community of only 12 houses7:4:7

it has hardly changed since the 16th century when five dwellings were recorded there. The only

access is via an ancient sunken lane, aiding its senses of isolation and individuality. Despite its small

size, it has a fine heritage of vernacular buildings, seven of which are listed. They date from the 16th

to the 19th centuries. A Conservation Area Statement was prepared in 2007.

Indeed the 12 hamlets of Eastington parish represent a remarkable footprint of a pre-Georgian7:4:8

parish layout and its layout of roads, hedges, gardens and houses is almost unchanged since at least

1835. Reference to maps 10 and 11 (see appendix C) shows the remarkable similarity in these

features within the Historic Hamlets. Examples are seen in Westend with only two new houses built

in the 1800s and one in the 1900s. In Nastend the footprint in unchanged (although one property has

been rebuilt on the same site). Cress Green is virtually unchanged as this pattern persists with the

other hamlets. These hamlets thus represent a valuable and social, cultural and historic resource that

is preserved in this unique parish. As a result it is deemed necessary to offer special protection of

these hamlets to ensure they survive unblemished for future generations.

They are now getting a new lease of life as more businesses operate out of homes and micro-7:4:9

offices as reflected in the Employment section of this development plan, empowered by the digital age

and the growing tendency towards self-employment

Map 4


The character of Eastington owes much to the variety of architectural forms, styles and materials7:4:10

represented by buildings constructed and developed over hundreds of years. In the last hundred

years the look of many of the new builds has not followed the local vernacular style or architectural

patterns. This diversity in building styles contributes greatly to the character of Eastington and it is

important that this diversity is retained when any new development is planned,

The National Planning Policy Framework states that good design is a key aspect of sustainable7:4:11

development, indivisible from good planning, and should contribute positively to making places better

for people. Sustainable development involves achieving positive improvements in the quality of the

built, natural and historic environment, as well as in people's quality of life, including replacing poor

design with better design. One of the Government's core planning principles is to always seek to

secure high quality design and a good standard of amenity for all existing and future occupants of

land and buildings.

Future building should respect the distinctive height, scale, spacing, layout, orientation, design7:4:12

and materials of the area in which it is located. Innovative design should continue to reflect design

cues from the context of the building.

A fundamental aim of the Neighbourhood Development Plan must be to enhance and re-establish7:4:13

the traditional rural aspects and habitats to the Parish and ensure their future protection.

We will aim:7:4:14

to restore and preserve as much of the native and historic rural habitats to the Parish in the•

next 25 years

to promote any opportunities to create new public access open green spaces that are in•

balance with the fundamentally rural nature of the Parish.

to oppose any infringement by built developments on the rural landholdings of the Parish•

to provide new and connected high quality habitats across the Parish to encourage native•

species and the ability of parishioners to enjoy them

restore all the lost and buried ponds and wetland areas.•

restore and replant all the lost orchards•

restore/ plant at least 10 acres of mixed woodland•

look to encourage and develop a further 10 acres of species-rich high quality biodiverse•

grassland where there is public access.

create and preserve linear wildlife corridors along all the main water courses to create•

wildlife corridors and decrease run off and silting up of watercourses.

prevent the urbanisation of the parish hamlets by restricting the density and number of new•

developments on rural land.

Purpose and reason for policies


POLICY EP 3: PRESERVATION OF VILLAGE CHARACTERIn order to preserve the unique historic and dispersed character of the village and to retain the

openness between hamlets, inappropriate development will not be allowed except in very special

circumstances, within the Historic Hamlets Green Zone (HHGZ) as shown on Map 4 unless:

it lies within the structure and form of a hamlet and is development as defined in Policy•

EP1;

it is for the purpose of agriculture and forestry;•

it is for the provision of facilities for outdoor sport, outdoor recreation and for burial•

grounds, as long as it is of a scale appropriate for the benefit of the local community and

it preserves the openness of the Green Zone and does not conflict with the purposes of

including land within it;

the replacement of a building, provided the new building is in the same use and not•

materially larger than the one it replaces;

limited infilling or partial or complete redevelopment of previously developed sites which•

would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Zone;

it is for community purposes and located within a reserved site as defined on Map 4.•

Development of any kind is considered inappropriate other than:

engineering operations;•

local transport infrastructure that can demonstrate a requirement for the location;•

the re-use of buildings which are of permanent and substantial construction; •

development brought forward under a Community Right to Build Order. •

7:5 PROTECTION OF GREEN SPACES AND OTHER SENSITIVE AREASPurpose and reason for policy

Eastington is a rural parish distinguished by the dispersal of 12 hamlets, the dominant one of which7:5:1

is Alkerton. These historic hamlets form a distinctive pattern in the countryside, being separated by

areas of open space visible from the Cotswold escarpment.

The Stroud Landscape Appraisal 2000 (pp B30 et seq) defines this as part of the "Rolling Lowland7:5:2

Plain" and describes it thus: ‘The strong pattern of settlement, churches, lanes and field enclosure are

characteristic features of this landscape. Together they provide a recognisable network that is

valuable for cultural reasons as well as for local identity and sense of place, and give an impression of

a landscape long worked and inhabited ....There remain significant areas that are either unspoilt, or

only slightly degraded and which are still worthy of protection to ensure the conservation and the

retention of characteristic elements.’

The areas marked on map 5 include an area to the east of the parish (area LGS A) which allows7:5:3

separation of five of the hamlets from each other. They are: Alkerton, Millend, Cress Green, Middle

Street and Bath Road.

This area, locally known as Swallowcroft, was voted the "most important area for conservation" in7:5:4

the 2011/12 Parish Survey (71 votes) and was adopted by the Parish as worthy of Local Green

Space designation (NPPF para 70).

Two other areas (LGS B and LGS C) are also nominated for protection because of their7:5:5

contribution to the built form of Alkerton. B is the setting of an internationally important Grade II listed

Gazebo and C is the centrepiece of a critically acclaimed 1960s housing development.

The four Parish Greens are marked as PG D, PG E and PG F. and already enjoy a modicum of7:5:6

protection from their status.


POLICY EP4: PROTECTION OF GREEN SPACES ANDOTHER SENSITIVE AREAS

Development will not be permitted on:

areas of land shown on Map 5 designated as Green Space in recognition of their•

recreational and amenity value. Landowners will be encouraged to work with the Parish

Council to draw up a Management Plan;

corridors of land within which are public footpaths and bridleways of significant local•

recreational and amenity value;

historic orchards as defined on Map 3•

flood areas as shown on Map 3•

landscape protection zones as shown on Map 4.•

Map 5


POLICY EP 5: SITING AND DESIGN OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ANDCONSERVATION

New development that is in accordance with POLICY EP1 and does not conflict with POLICY EP3

will be permitted where :

it is of a high standard of design that respects and reinforces local distinctiveness and•

character through attention to matters of scale, density, massing, height, landscaping,

layout, materials and access;

it respects the natural environment and terrain and demonstrates how it might be•

enhanced through the incorporation of natural existing features such as trees, hedges

and watercourses;

it optimises the potential of the site to accommodate development whilst incorporating•

appropriate areas of green space;

it respects the privacy and amenities of neighbouring properties and conforms to a future•

Eastington Design Guide;

it respects the integrity, character and appearance of the Industrial Heritage•

Conservation Area, and when adopted, the Nastend Conservation Area.

Note: A Design Guide will be produced to help guide new development in accordance with the

intentions of this policy. This will reflect the unique character of the various hamlets that together

make up Eastington. Conservation Area status will be sought for Nastend.


7:6 THE STROUDWATER CANALPurpose and reason for policy

The canal was built in the late 18th century, linking Stroud to the Severn Estuary and bringing7:6:1

business to Chipman's Platt as a dock and Newtown as the base for the ‘navvies’.

It was abandoned in the 1950s but there has been an interest in maintaining its amenity value ever7:6:2

since. The Cotswolds Canals Trust has been involved in a very active programme of restoration since

the turn of the century, undaunted by the barriers created by the M5 and the A38 at Eastington.

In the 2011-12 Parish Survey 85% of respondents were in favour of restoring the canal through the7:6:3

parish and 69% supported its use for tourism.

At the NDP consultation event in February 2014 100% of 25 respondents said 'we should try and7:6:4

encourage developments and activities that complement the activity of the canal and its users. Ten

replied to the question that we should 'try and support proposals for canalside activities and

supporting businesses developed adjacent to the canal. Nine were in favour and one against. On the

specific point of supporting a marina development adjacent to the canal within the parish, 15 out of 17

respondents were in favour.

The Neighbourhood Development Plan favours a small marina specifically to support the function7:6:5

of the canal and its users, providing traditional rural canalside activities such as mooring, chandlery,

repair, cafe and fuelling facilities. The marina should not include any housing development, but could

provide green recreation space on the northern side of the canal/marina for local residents and

visitors as a parish and even as a regional resource.

Such development would also allow for linear planting of orchards and hardwood on the7:6:6

embankments and the replanting of withy beds in the floodplains. The area could also house a cider

and perry production unit to deal with increased production from Eastington's new orchards.


The February 2014 consultation evening also evidenced strong support for better access and7:6:7

pathways between the village /parish and the canal. (Yes= 22/23, No = 1/23).

We will aim to enable and support the re-development of the canal and its setting and adjacent7:6:8

spaces to provide a traditional rural canalside environment that allows recreations and small scale

development opportunities for those who live in and visit the parish. Partnership in Phase 1B, voted

by Eastington Parish Council in November 2014, will confirm this action

POLICY EP6: RESTORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANALCORRIDOR

The continued restoration of the canal, including the development of canal-side land for tourist and

recreational uses and activities, will be encouraged. Development of a marina and canal/waterside

related facilities will be permitted provided that:

proposals are of a scale and appearance that relates to the existing canal and•

surrounding development and is compliant with POLICY EP1 and POLICY EP2.

proposals must include provision for green recreational space and landscaping.•

proposals must provide a satisfactory and safe vehicular access and adequate car•

parking.

Note: The land marked as the Historic Canal Protection zone should only be developed for

purposes closely aligned with the opening and running of the Canal and its associated watercraft.


8.0: HOUSING – A VIBRANT COMMUNITY


Eastington has consistently provided a substantial amount of housing for people in the district8:0:1

since 1945. Growth has been at a level appropriate for keeping the community vibrant, but not so

high to drown the community and turn us into an 'any town’ development. In the last 25 years, 185

houses have been built (about 70 per decade) to give us our present total of 675.

The 2011 census showed Eastington had a population of 1,565, comprising 649 households. This8:0:2

equates to an average 2.4 persons per household – similar to Gloucestershire as a whole.

8:1 BACKGROUND - HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY AND THE PARISH PLAN 2013Building on the Parish Report of 1988/9, a full Parish Survey was undertaken in 2011/12. This8:1:1

resulted in the Parish Plan 2013, our latest statement of parishioners ideas, concerns and aspirations.

Principal amongst these was a strong expression for a steady growth in housing, along the lines of

previous growth in previous decades. To quantify the housing required, Eastington Parish Council

distributed a Housing Needs Survey questionnaire in May 2013. Questionnaires were distributed to

all residences throughout the parish.

The purpose of the survey was to investigate and establish the housing needs of people who live in8:1:2

or have close ties to Eastington. By comparing the established needs with the existing supply of

housing, we can estimate the number of dwellings, house types and tenure of new units required to

meet the Parish's needs.

Housing Needs can be defined as the need for a household to obtain housing which is suitable to8:1:3

meet their requirements in terms of:

The aim of the survey was to provide an independent report of a robust nature based upon8:1:4

evidence from reliable sources. The report was designed, in conjunction with Gloucestershire Rural

Community Council, to be used as evidence for the Community Land Trust and in support of a

planning application for affordable housing with a proportion of market housing.

The full report of the survey can be found at www.eastingtonndp/evidence-base8:1:5

house type and accessibility eg. house, bungalow, flat etc•

size and number of rooms•

location eg in relation to employment, schools, family, shops and public services etc•

affordability•

tenure, including security•

8: HO

USIN

G

8:2 THE OUTCOMEThe questionnaire asked about current and future housing needs within the Parish. It determined8:2:1

that there are 33 households with a local connection who have self identified themselves in need of

alternative housing in the parish. Of those:

Their requirement for housing was split equally between wanting to buy a house or rent from a8:2:2

local authority or housing association, with some limited interest in shared ownership or the private

rented sector. Eastington Parish has a total of 87 affordable dwellings for rent, and six for shared

ownership. According to the 2011 census 498 of the Parish's 649 homes were owner occupied. More

than half of the local need for market housing in Eastington is met by the regular supply of existing

properties coming up for sale, particularly the larger houses.

Reasons for leaving the parish were cited as:8:2:3

Additional comments made included:8:2:4

“Now in my 70s, find it difficult to assess as who knows what the future holds?

“Hope to remain in the parish, but may have to look outside for suitable housing within budget

“We may leave because of massive housing estates

“ Limited first time buyer homes in area, 2/3 bed homes rarely for sale. Would be looking to

stay in the village if appropriate housing homes become available.

“We are not leaving right now but will probably have to in the next year as there are no

affordable/appropriate homes.


Fig 2

Fig 2 shows the type of housing required by respondents to the questionnaire

21 households live in Eastington•

10 households live in Stroud District but have family or work connections with Eastington•

Parish

2 households live outside Stroud District but have parish connections•

insufficient appropriate housing (3)•

insufficient affordable housing (4)•

insufficient care facilities (1)•

other personal reasons (11)•


“We have no plans to move but it might be a consideration in the next 5 years if significant

numbers of new houses are approved.

“We have to park on the road.

“Would consider moving to another small village locally, should the right property become

available.

“.Downsizing and want to live on a hill. There is nowhere location wise in Eastington.

“I would like to work at home more to reduce travelling costs, and time and be less dependent

on the car. I have a biggish living room, but can't split it unless housing association approve

(and I can't afford to).

8:3 OBJECTIVES, AIMS AND PRACTICALITIESTo provide a sustainable growth in housing for the Parish, as measured by the Parish Survey 2011/12

and the Housing Needs Survey 2013 (HNS) and stated as conclusions in the Parish Plan 2013.

Specifically to:

aim for a growth of about 100-120 houses in 15 years (about 70 per decade)•

build mainly smaller units (1, 2 and 3 bed) for starter homes and the expanding elderly•

population

respond to the Housing Needs Survey by building mainly affordable housing for rent,•

through a

Community Land Trust and housing•

associations

8:4 MARKET HOUSINGOther than through the “west of8:4:1

Stonehouse” proposal which is yet to be

accepted, Eastington is not identified as a

strategic location within the Stroud Local Plan.

Therefore there is no need to plan for incoming

demand, beyond that identified in the Housing

Needs Survey 2013 [HNS].

The HNS showed that there is a thriving8:4:2

market for larger (3,4,5 bed) houses for sale,

averaging 12 per annum. Demand measured by

the HNS was half of that, indicating that no large houses need be built for sale, for local people's

needs. There is a lack of smaller units (1 or 2 bed) of at least six in the next five years. The

Swallowcroft appeal decision of February 2014 (ie post HNS report) will provide for all of these.

POLICY EP7: DELIVERING AND RETAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSINGPlanning permission will be granted for affordable housing that meets objectively assessed local

needs having regard to Policies EP1 and EP3.

Where planning permission is granted for affordable housing, first and future occupation of each

affordable dwelling will be controlled by planning obligation to ensure that occupation is limited in

the first instance, and in subsequent sales or lettings, to people meeting local needs and, where

appropriate, local connections criteria as set out in Appendix A.

Where this cannot be achieved a cascade arrangement for first and future sales and lettings shall

be set out in the planning obligation seeking occupation first by people in housing need in the

parish, then those from adjoining parishes, then those in need across Stroud district. This

mechanism shall have permanent effect in controlling the occupation of the dwelling as affordable

housing unless it can be demonstrated that there is no longer any local or wider need for

affordable housing.

Fig 3

Home size Number required

1 & 2 bed 8

1 & 2 bed bungalows forover 65s

5

3 bed 6

4 bed 3

Total 22

The HNS will be re-run every five years, but in the meantime there is no outstanding demand for8:4:3

market housing. It should be noted that the provision of rentable, smaller properties (see below) will

release additional market houses where elderly people choose to downsize.

8:5 AFFORDABLE HOUSINGThe consistent conclusion from all recent surveys and public consultations (eg February and8:5:1

August 2014) is that the parish needs a lot more affordable housing. At least 22 properties arise from

the HNS as being needed over the coming five years, (see fig 3)

Within the current stock of 96 affordable rented houses, most vacancies are offered to anyone in8:5:2

Stroud District whose quantified need is highest. That means very few go to Eastington applicants.

Only by aiming to build houses 'locked in' for our residents (and their children) can we expect to meet

the demand now clearly identified. Otherwise both elderly and the youngest people will be forced to

leave the Parish.


Map 6


8:6 BUILDING LOCAL HOUSES FOR LOCAL PEOPLEIt was proposed in the Parish Plan 2013 that a Community Land Trust (CLT) be created, which can8:6:1

purchase land and build houses which are for rent in perpetuity. Housing associations can also do this

in certain circumstances. In both cases it is possible to always offer vacancies to Eastington people

on the waiting list, ahead of anyone from outside (unless they have family or working connections with

the parish).

This entails building close to the edge of Alkerton, which is deemed to be accessible for people8:6:2

wanting to rent. Accessibility basically means that houses are built close to village amenities to allow

walking or use of public transport, ie close to:

Inevitably this means building around the 'core' of the parish, where all post-war development has8:6:3

been focused. This has significant implication for infrastructure, particularly the school and drainage –

more houses will put an intolerable strain on the capacity of both. In reality, further housing

development should be put on hold until both these issues are addressed.

Consideration of the capacity of the school is examined at policy EP 13 and tackling the over-8:6:4

stretched capacity of the foul drainage in Alkerton is covered at EP14.

The Neighbourhood Development Plan has considered sites within a 800m radius of two major8:6:5

hubs within the village envelope, OHMG community centre and Alkerton Cross, (see map 6). The

800m radius is in line with current sustainable access distance from local services. Landowners within

that area have been approached to ask if they would be prepared to allow development on their land.

Two sites are proposed for the erection of dwellings to meet local needs during the Plan period.8:6:6

One is immediately to the north of the built up area of Alkerton whilst the other is currently the school

playing field, subject to it becoming redundant for its present purpose. If so it is ideally situated to

provide elderly accommodation. Should it prove impossible to resolve the infrastructure and other

issues relating to these sites within a reasonable time period a further site is reserved between

Alkerton and Claypits.

village shops (Co-op and Post Office, butcher, hairdressers)•

a bus route for employment•

the school – highly commended by OFSTED, for ages 5 to 11•

playgroup, now a 20-year established parish service for pre-school•

OHMG Community Centre – £550,000 state-of-the-art, low carbon venue•

large employment sites (Smiths and Meadow Mill)•

allotments – provided in the last 5 years, well used for exercise and growing food•

play park – recently completed for children 1 to 17 to enjoy recreation•

The Old Badger – valued local informal social venue•

Kings Head House Hotel – newly refurbished hotel and restaurant•


POLICY EP8: LAND ALLOCATED FOR NEW HOUSINGSite A: Land to the north of Alkerton.

Land shown coloured red on Map 6 is allocated for new housing. It is expected that the site will be

developed in phases, but proposals for development of any part of the overall area which might

prejudice the eventual satisfactory development of the whole allocation will not be permitted. The

following criteria for achieving a satisfactory form of development are set out as follows:

capacity: approximately 60 dwellings;•

50% of the dwellings must be affordable•

Vehicular access should be provided from Claypits Road and Broadfield Road. These should be

linked by a connecting road which must be constructed to base course level before

commencement of the of the 10th dwelling.

An area of public open space must be provided as indicated on Map 6 which will act as a buffer to

protect the setting of the neighbouring Grade 2 listed gazebo.

The form, scale and layout of the site must ensure that development is well integrated with the

surrounding built form of Alkerton and structural landscaping will ensure that it is not prominent in

the surrounding countryside.

Development must be in conformity with other policies of the Plan.

Construction traffic must be routed from Claypits Road and not through Broadfield Road.

Structural landscaping will be required to lessen the visual impact of development within the

surrounding countryside and adjoining residential area.

Site B: School Playing Field

Land shown on Map 6 is allocated for the erection of 20 dwellings for elderly people and for public

open space, subject to the following criteria:

Capacity: approximately 20 dwellings for elderly people;•

Vehicular access should be formed from -Cotswold Avenue•

The remainder of the land should be set out as public open space;

Structural landscaping will be required to lessen the impact of development in the surrounding

countryside and the adjoining residential area.

Site C: Land at Claypits

Land shown on Map 6 is reserved for future residential use to serve local needs, should sites A

and B prove unavailable.


9.0: EMPLOYMENT9:1 THE WIDER CONTEXT

A parish survey completed for the village plan this year has shown that 32% of the people in the9:1:1

parish work from home. 29% commute to Bristol, Cheltenham or Gloucester and 8% work in

Stonehouse

The conclusions drawn from this are as follows:9:1:2

Discussion with local employers in that industrial9:1:3

zone confirms the degree to which employment is

based on the out-of-area population.

9:2 MASS PRODUCTIONThe migration of employment to large mass-9:2:1

producing factories overseas is seen as declining as

new technologies (3D printing, computer numerical

control machines, nano-technology, LEDs, etc) and

new materials (carbon fibre and polycarbonates

replacing steel and aluminium) are maturing. These

new technologies don't require large scale factories,

steel mills or large work-forces; indeed they better fit

live-work environments.

This creates a significant opportunity for9:2:2

employment growth, throughout Stroud District and to a lesser extent Eastington Parish

9:3 LABOUR FORCE CHANGESThe rush to transfer factory jobs to the low wage economies in developing nations is reported to be9:3:1

slowing, not just as the new technologies dramatically reduce the labour content, but also because of

the need to integrate design and manufacture. This is sometimes described as mass-customisation

(eg personalised photo calendars, products custom made). High fuel and transport costs work in our

favour here too,– encouraging products to be made where they are consumed.

This effect of the digital-manufacturing-revolution is every bit as powerful as the mechanisation of9:3:2

the textile industry that built most of Stroud. We believe that understanding this and our Parish’s role

in this change is the key to fostering local employment. Moreover, being at the start of this wave, we

have the opportunity to lead with the Parish playing its part.

9:4 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVEStroud District has a history of inventors, entrepreneurs and new-starters: people who can start9:4:1

small, with new ideas, grow, and create wealth and employment for the district. We are likely to be

most successful if we build on our history and our strengths.

Eastington Parish was for centuries a rural/agricultural parish based around rented land from a few

large estates. Sheep, cattle and some root crop farming dominated the land employment with a

supporting service industry. There were others employed in road maintenance and transport of goods

between the river and the Cotswolds. A significant mercer's trade (cloth merchants) was run by the

Clutterbucks of Nastend in the Middle Ages, superseded by Henry Hicks' mills

9: EMPLO

YMEN

Tthe live-work (working from home)•

proportion of the parish population is high

and is one favoured way of generating

employment and wealth in the parish.

the motorway-commuting proportion of•

the population is also significant in our

parish, reflecting the district dilemma

toward dormitory living.

the proportion that work in Stonehouse•

including its industrial zone is surprisingly

low at 8%.

The river was diverted and, via leats, several mills opened over the last 500 years at Millend,9:4:2

Churchend, Chipman's Plat and these provided local employment for many villagers. When the

Stroudwater Canal opened in the late 18th century a new level of employment opened around the

transport and distribution of goods. There were small wharves at Chipman's Plat for coal and other

goods. The parish developed a more diverse farming style with some dairy and orchards for local

cider etc.

The roads also provided key transport links towards the Cotswolds with a supporting service9:4:3

sector. There has been little change in these patterns in the last 100 years, apart from the closure of

the canal and the change in the nature of the industries in the mills away from those requiring water

power. The advent of the M5 motorway in 1971 brought significant employment to Oldends Lane, just

east of the parish, and made commuting to Gloucester and Bristol much more significant.

The number of farm labourers declined as mechanisation came in and a larger percentage of the9:4:4

parishioners would migrate to neighbouring towns for employment. The one area of growth with the

advent of the digital age has been the work from home sector which now makes up a significant ratio

in the parish.


Map 7: Current breakdown of commercial business, farming and industry in Eastington Parish


Purpose and reason for policies

Employment and jobs are changing very rapidly. Technology with smart phones and the rise of the9:4:5

robots are making real in roads into the type of jobs available. Zero hours contracts, apps that book

your holiday or air flight, robots that drive cars or wrap parcels are imposing huge challenges on

traditional employment. The service sector is still growing and manufacturing is returning albeit slowly

from low cost labour countries. If we are to regain competition advantage and earn good

wages/salaries then we must keep other overheads down. Our evidence suggests large factory units

employing 70% or more commuters contribute little or nothing to our local community. They do

however create a substantial carbon footprint and create congestion on our roads with ‘rat runs’

through Alkerton and along Grove Road in Westend.

The Parish has a very large proportion of our working population "working from home" and a9:4:6

significant number of people working from low cost sites, like old farm buildings or premises that they

own. This approach enables:

For these reasons the NDP wishes to support and encourage Home Working and low cost9:4:7

premises for our local entrepreneurs, larger employers like Smiths, KB Coaches, Spencers and the

Oak Frame Company and smaller businesses such as the garages in Bath Road, Chipman’s Plat or

Nupend Farm where there is also a car body repair business need to be supported and encouraged.

Keeping costs low also supports the capacity of these business to take on apprentices potentially9:4:8

employing more locals who will be the business entrepreneurs of the future. To encourage and

support this highly successful model into the future we have determined two NDP policies.

9:5 OUR STRENGTHS: WORK-LIVE OPPORTUNITIESStroud district has a number of traditional large employers, many of whom started here as small

inventors and entrepreneurs. The area has a history of small specialist entrepreneurial businesses

growing. From the cottage weavers of previous centuries to the small scale crafts, inventors,

designers and producers of today. These businesses generally start in domestic back-rooms, garages

and low-cost, low-risk environments. They point to a substantial opportunity to turn further improve the

fortunes of our district and create more jobs; more jobs for people that live and work here.

9:6 CREATING EMPLOYMENTEmployment - how, where, why and when - is key to a thriving community. Where people work is a9:6:1

major determinant of where they live. Stroud district is a net exporter of labour (about 22%)

exacerbated by the easy motorway access. This is considered to be a marker of limited community

sustainability and of course dramatically increases our district's carbon footprint. So, as we plan for

the parish's next 20 years, we need to take careful account of our local employment opportunities that

reduce commuting and ensure there is a balance between increasing employment and increasing

housing numbers for the parish.

Eastington Parish has a population of around 1500 people. It is a largely rural parish with 129:6:2

hamlets in addition to the village of Eastington. The parish has a lower percentage of older people

than the district average of 21%. Over the years it has become progressively more prosperous and

now is able to support a hugely successful pub and, very recently, a small boutique hotel with bistro

restaurant. In addition the parish has a butcher with, unusually, an abattoir, a thriving co-op, two

hairdressers and three garages.

The recent village survey identified that around 32% of the working population work from home or9:6:3

use their home as their business address. This level of home working is well above the average for

the district and as such is in the vanguard of change that is spreading across the whole of the country.

The parish also distinguishes itself by having around 50 businesses employing from one or two9:6:4

people right up to very large employers on the industrial estate next to the neighbouring town of

Stonehouse. In the centre of the village is our largest employer, Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd, a waste

recycling, plant hire and transport business.

costs to be kept down, •

lower carbon footprint and maybe •

less traffic congestion.•

and more local employment•


Transport links are good to the parish with a motorway junction and a railway station just 3 miles9:6:5

away in Stonehouse.

The local market town of Stroud is only five miles away but the increasingly congested A 419 limits9:6:6

access at peak times. This tends to encourage parishioners to go to Cheltenham, Cribbs Causeway in

Bristol or Gloucester and some of the retail parks to the south of the city.

9:7 WHAT BUSINESSES HAVE TOLD USTwo parish residents spent eight days meeting and interviewing all local employers identified in the9:7:1

parish. These ranged from one man businesses right up to multi-national employers. The researchers

were keen to see how local employment was contributing to the achievement of the vision. The

findings were extremely interesting and informative and supported by the local branch of the

Federation of Small Businesses.

Total

employees in

Eastington

parish

Where employees live

Cycling

distance

GL10 3

Eastington

GL10 2

Stonehouse

Stroud Outside

Stroud &

GL10

Total 558 173 19 27 81 258

% 100% 31% 3% 5% 15% 46%

No of companies 50 46 2 4 10 23

Analysis by company size – no of companies

less than 20 employees 45 46 2 4 9 20

20 employees or more 5 – – – 1 3

Total 50 46 2 4 10 23

Analysis by company size – no of employees

less than 20 employees 243 147 – 1 27 68

20 employees or more 315 26 19 26 54 190

Total 558 173 19 27 81 258

LOCAL JOBS: where employees lived within cycling distance

Size of company Number of jobs Ratio

less than 20 employees 147 85%

20 employees or more 26 15%

Total 173 100%

COMMUTING JOBS: where employees work in the parish but live outside the district

Size of company Number of jobs Ratio

less than 20 employees 68 26%

20 employees or more 190 74%

Total 258 100%

Figs 4 and 5


Perhaps to many people's surprise, the parish has 50 employers undertaking an extraordinary9:7:2

range of diverse activities. They include an abattoir, a software business involved in setting global

software standards whose main customers are in the US and Japan, a national award winning

wedding cake designer, a rehabilitation physiotherapy company which provides a unique service in

the South West of the UK and a US multinational corporation which runs it sales and marketing office

for Europe, Middle East and Africa from a two-man office in the parish.

The 50 businesses in the parish employed 558 people. Interestingly it was identified that the9:7:3

majority of local I jobs were provided by smaller employers. The majority of commuting jobs – jobs in

the parish where the employee lives outside the Stroud District – were accounted for by larger

employers. (See figs 4 and 5).

Of the employees identified by employers who lived within cycling distance of their premises 85%9:7:4

were employed by businesses who employed less than 20 employees.

Over two thirds of the parish jobs filled by 'locals' were provided by businesses who employed less9:7:5

than 20 employees.

Almost three quarters of commuting jobs were for firms with 20 or more employees.9:7:6

There is much talent in the parish from current and retired workers who have held senior posts in9:7:7

industry and also technical skills such as accountancy, IT, design work, HR. The parish will consider

establishing a register of such folk who would be willing to support locals wishing to set up businesses

pro bono or at 'mates rates'.

POLICY EP10: WORKING FROM HOME

Planning permission will be granted for the use of part of a dwelling for office and/or light industrial

uses, and for small scale free standing buildings within its curtilage, extensions to the dwelling or

conversion of outbuildings for those uses provided that:

other than minor ancillary support, servicing and maintenance, all work activities are•

carried out only by the occupants of the dwelling;

no significant and adverse impact arises to nearby residents or other sensitive land uses•

from noise, fumes, odour or other nuisance associated with the work activity;

any extension or free standing building shall be designed having regard to policies in this•

Plan and should not detract from the quality and character of the building to which they

are subservient by reason of height, scale, massing, location or the facing materials used

in their construction

POLICY EP9: EMPLOYMENT

Development proposals which create, expand and generally help develop business initiatives will

be permitted subject to there being no significant and adverse impact on neighbouring properties,

or the locality in general, by reason of such things as noise, fumes, odour or other nuisances and

traffic related nuisance or visual impact and otherwise subject to compliance with policies EP1 and

EP2. Acceptable proposals include:

the conversion of existing dwellings to provide space for home-working (subject to the•

criteria set out in Policy EP 10)

the conversion of disused agricultural and other rural buildings for small business use.•

the conversion of buildings for use as shops, restaurants, leisure, educational or similar•

purposes. New buildings for these purposes will only be permitted if they are of a limited

scale to meet the needs of the local community.

the loss of existing business premises, particularly those that offer a community service,•

will be resisted unless permitted under other policies in the plan.

10.0: INFRASTRUCTUREPurpose and reason for policies

10: 1 GETTING AROUND: EASTINGTON –MORE THAN JUST ATHROUGH ROUTE

Eastington is intersected and bounded by three major roads, the M5 motorway, the A38 which10:1:1

forms the western boundary of the southern half of the parish, and the A419 which intersects the

parish carrying traffic from junction 13 of the M5 motorway to Stonehouse, Stroud and beyond.

As a parish we have little or no control over these routes, but we can work to alleviate the affect10:1:2

the traffic generated by these roads has on our community. We aim to have our voice properly

considered in future developments to keep roads, footways, cycle routes and Public Rights of Way

(PROW – footpaths and bridleways) accessible and safe.

We need to ensure that Eastington is seen as a place where people live, not just a place to drive10:1:3

through – a safe community where young and old can go about their daily life free from the problems

of speeding commuter traffic using village roads as a 'rat run', HGVs on unsuitable roads and anti-

social parking in the village centre. The Neighbourhood Development Plan seeks to improve these

key issues which parishioners have identified as important. Wider aspects of 'Getting Around' the

parish include walking, cycling, horse riding, public transport and disability access, and also the

impact of new developments in the locality. Parishioners have suggested the need to ensure the safe

walking and cycling around the village and its hamlets to access services - such as shops, school,

businesses and churches.

Previous consultation surveys within the parish have highlighted the following concerns:10:1:4

10:2 ROAD SAFETYAddress the issue of speeding traffic through the parish - within the 40mph zones of Grove•

Lane (Westend), Spring Hill and Claypits and the central village 30mph zone which includes

the length of Bath Road from the Frocester End until it reaches the M5. A local traffic survey

in 2006 showed the majority of traffic on this road exceeding the speed limit (see fig 6)

Enable pedestrians to cross the roads at the Village Hall, The Old Badger pub, shops and•

the OHMG (Owen Harris Memorial Ground) Community Centre

Improve footways (pedestrian pavements) and their width throughout the parish•

Control volume/route of HGVs through the parish•

10:3 PARKINGThere is a significant problem with lack of short term parking spaces in the central village for shops

and businesses.

There are short-term difficulties with parking around Eastington Primary School in term time both at

drop-off and collection times.

10:4 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENTRoads and sustainable transport such as footways, footpaths and cycle routes are the backbone10:4:1

of a community and keep it moving forward. Clogged and unsafe routes kill it. Eastington has three

hamlets to the north of the A419 (Westend, Nupend and Nastend); Claypits isolated between the A38

and the M5 and six areas within the main village envelope: Cress Green, Millend, Newtown,


Local traffic survey, Bath Road, Eastington Nov-Dec 2006

Total vehicles % exceeding 30mph limit

Westbound Mon-Fri 10320 65%

Westbound Mon-Sun 13001 66%

Eastbound Mon-Fri 10860 70%

Eastbound Mon-Sun 13709 69% Fig 6


Churchend, Chipman's Plat and Alkerton

at the heart of the village. Some share

road issues, others have their own very

specific problems, such as the HGV route

along the Bath Road, to and from the A38

and Frocester via Alkerton Cross and

Claypits.

In November 2014 Eastington Parish10:4:2

Council commissioned a traffic consultant

(Helix Transport Consultants Ltd) to

review a range of specific and general

issues highlighted by parishioners.

The comprehensive report was10:4:3

delivered in December 2014 and provides

the potential improvement options, based

on current best practice, needed to

develop a rolling programme of improvements for the parish during the next five years.

This report is available on line at www.eastingtonndp.co.uk/evidence-base

10: INFR

ASTRU

CTUR

E

Map 8

10:5 PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY (PROW)Eastington's footpaths and bridleways criss-cross the parish linking outlying hamlets and areas10:5:1

within the village envelope. They are a major resource for informal recreational activities and create

important natural habitats. It is important to retain the sense of peace and tranquility, as well as the

enjoyment of the surrounding countryside, that these footpaths and bridleways provide.

Responsibility for monitoring and developing this network primarily lies with Gloucestershire10:5:2

County Council, but the Parish Council and Eastington Public Rights of Way Defenders (PROWD)

Group take a responsibility for preserving these important community assets. The Neighbourhood

Development Plan welcomes initiatives such as access and management agreements that aim to

open up, promote and maintain PROW networks for community use.

It supports Stroud District Council's policy to refuse permission for development proposals 'that10:5:3

would have an adverse impact on the route, character, function and recreational value of public rights

of way.' Proposals that develop and improve the PROW network will be permitted, provided that the

proposals are compatible with, and sensitive to, the local environment.

The Eastington Neighbourhood Development Plan Survey (Sept 2014) showed strong support for10:5:4

the development of paths along the canal from Saul to Stroud for cycling and walking with a link to the

centre of Eastington (127 out of 140 respondents) and 129 respondents supported the provision of

safe walking and cycling routes connecting new developments to the village centre.

The network of public footpaths and cycleways which link the various hamlets, offer a safe and10:5:5

enjoyable experience of the countryside. They are a valuable recreational resource which should be

protected for future generations. They also provide an opportunity for the development of wildlife

corridors.

Particular attention is drawn to Section 7 of DEFRA Rights of Way Circular 1/90 which advises10:5:6

that in considering potential revisions to an existing right of way to accommodate new development,

any alternative alignment should avoid the use of estate roads and preference given to paths through

landscaped or open space areas away from vehicular traffic.

The following policy seeks to ensure that footpaths and bridleway retain a sense of tranquility and10:5:7

visual enjoyment even if development should occur nearby. In such cases the opportunity should be

grasped to route them through landscaped wildlife corridors.


POLICY EP11: TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT

Development proposals that accord with the Neighbourhood Development Plan must:

encourage sustainable means of transport, including measures to provide for and where•

possible enhance, the provision of pedestrian and cycle routes;

be well located to reduce reliance on private cars and instead to provide safe and•

convenient walking and cycling routes to local services and facilities and to offer a link to

public transport services to destinations further afield;

provide a minimum of two car spaces per dwelling;•

provide facilities for cycle storage and, in the case of housing for the disabled, buggy•

storage;

ensure that traffic movement within the parish and parking facilities within the village•

centre and around the school are not harmed. Proposals that improve and enhance the

situation will be encouraged.

A Traffic Management Plan for the parish will be produced as a guide for potential investment in

improved facilities and for consideration of development proposals.


POLICY EP12: PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS

Existing footpaths and bridleways will be retained and protected. In particular:

no development will be permitted within 20 metres of any existing or realigned public•

rights of way;

where it becomes necessary that existing public footpaths or bridleways should be•

retained or realigned through new development, they should not be routed along estate

road pavements as part of the highway network, but be designed into landscaped wildlife

corridors of at least 30m in width.

Map 9


10:6 SCHOOL PROVISIONPurpose and reason for policy

The Parish is fortunate and proud to have its own primary school. A school that has been led with10:6:1

such distinction for many years and identified by OFSTED as "outstanding" year after year. It is

beholden on the NDP to consider the future of our local and immensely popular school so it continues

to offer a very high standard of education for our youngsters well into the future.

The school lacks easily accessible playing fields and has a beautiful but severely cramped site.10:6:2

Car parking for staff is minimal and non-existent for parents delivering and collecting their children.

The planned growth for housing will push the school space still further and create unsustainable10:6:3

pressure on the site. It is therefore intended within the planning period to work with parents, the

County Council Education Department and the Church of England to move the school to a reserved

site as shown on Map 6 where there will be extensive provision for sports and recreation.

The new site will have its own access and plenty of parking. The new school will also be closer to10:6:4

the major centre of population that it serves enabling children to safely walk to school reducing the

carbon footprint.

10:7 FOUL AND STORMWATER DRAINAGEFoul and stormwater drainage is of great concern in the Parish. It is considered that the existing

network is overloaded and that notwithstanding the desire for limited expansion as set out in other

policies of the Plan, no more development should take place until it is brought up to an acceptable

standard. It is hoped that Severn Trent Water Authority will address this issue without delay but until

then the following policy is considered necessary:

POLICY EP13: SCHOOL PROVISION

Land identified on Map 6 as FCU will be safeguarded for use of the community, including the

construction of a new primary school to replace the existing one when, due to present site

constraints, it becomes necessary.

While the existing school serves Eastington parish, any new housing should be phased in order to

allow the school to adjust to increasing intake numbers.

POLICY EP14: DRAINAGE

Planning permission will not be granted for development unless it is demonstrated that the means

of disposing of foul sewage and stormwater is satisfactory.

10:8 COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGYPurpose and reason for policy

The ability to supplement large power station generation of electricity with multiple local small and10:8:1

micro-scale 'renewable' units, has grown substantially over the past decade. While some motivation to

cut greenhouse gasses has been in some part due to a moral, ecological responsibility to our

descendants and lower emission targets set by governments, a substantial part of that motivation has

naturally come from the commercial financial incentives.

Not surprisingly, growth in solar and wind generation has been most rapid in countries where10:8:2

governments have given the highest incentives by subsidies to 'feed in tariffs', as will have been

witnessed by anyone travelling across mainland Europe.

Although feed in tariffs are being reduced to more realistic and sustainable levels, the UK10:8:3

Government (current at the time of writing in 2014)

is actively encouraging communities byway of

financial rewards and professional assistance in

the preparation of good business cases for rural

community renewable energy schemes. Whereas

communities in the past could only hope for a

relatively small financial contribution from private

commercial generation schemes in their area,

there now exists real opportunity for a very

substantial and prolonged flow of income directly

to a community.

Several parishes across the UK have already10:8:4

benefited from the UK Government's Rural

Community Energy Fund and there are now

successful examples of schemes set up not far

from Eastington. Such a flow of funds into a

community can greatly increase the number of

successful local projects or substantially reduce

rates payable by parishioners, and Eastington

would qualify for the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF).

The most common renewable energy schemes have been solar panels and wind turbines. It is10:8:5

therefore important that local people carefully judge any potential scheme, considering the balance

between financial benefit to the community and the visual and ecological impact on its surroundings.

It took many decades before electricity pylons, poles and wires became commonplace in our10:8:6

landscapes. There can be few people who believe these to be aesthetically attractive, however, the

substantial benefits of electricity to modern life has somewhat tempered their perceived effect on our

surroundings. As villages, towns and landscapes evolve to keep pace with modern life, by way of new

buildings and new landscape management practices, it will be ever important that local people decide

how best such changes should occur.

No Rural Community Energy scheme will go ahead without proper consultation and involvement10:8:7

of the local people that it could support.

Back in 2007 Eastington Parish Council was approached by Max Comfort and Brian Oosthuysen10:8:8

to consider benefits of a Community Wind Turbine scheme. The parish council learned that such a

scheme could generate an annual income to make very significant contributions to community

projects.

In the 2010 Eastington Parish Plan, a question was asked to gauge potential for public support for10:8:9

a community benefit scheme; this resulted in 4:1 respondents being in favour.

During the summer of last year, the parish council agreed to support a proposal to constitute a10:8:10

'Community Wind Turbine and Alternative Renewable Energy Sources Trust' to assess the feasibility

of potential projects. The Eastington Renewable Energy Group (E-REG) was formed in autumn 2013


BACKGROUND


and began research and preparation for feasibility assessment of any renewable energy project which

has potential to benefit the entire parish.

The government has allocated £15M for Rural Community Energy Projects to help communities10:8:11

to set up their own schemes. The RCEF is being delivered by DEFRA (Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs) and DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change). They are committed

to supporting rural communities such as ours in benefiting economically and socially from renewable

energy

The first stage for any project is a feasibility study and Gloucestershire Rural Community Council10:8:12

(GRCC) has already funded a pre-feasibility report. Providing a sound business plan is established,

then a further £130,000 of government unsecured loan would be available to start up a project.

There are now several examples of community schemes across the UK; in Udny10:8:13

(Aberdeenshire,) £100k pa is delivered into their local community from an 80 metre wind turbine

which cost £1.45 million to build. Nearer to home St. Briavels is getting £20,000 per year into their

community fund from their joint venture scheme. Projects at Wickwar and Kingswood are underway,

with 20 more in the pipeline.

Hydro, solar and wind are the schemes currently under investigation and potential locations for10:8:14

projects in the parish of Eastington are being considered.

At a Neighbourhood Development Plan consultation event in February 2014, the community was10:8:15

asked for their views on renewable energy scheme for the benefit of the community based on hydro,

solar or windpower. Sixteen people responded and were largely in favour of such a scheme. (See

table). They were asked for their additional views on each form of power (fig 7).

It is considered that at a suitable scale, micro-generation technology should be encouraged,10:8:16

both in the form of a community energy project as well as through the provision of domestic and

micro energy generating schemes. However, the Plan aims to resist visually and environmentally

intrusive large scale projects intended to serve a wider area than Eastington. Before the submission

of any proposal it is important that full and proper consultation should take place with the local

community. It is expected that new development will incorporate the maximum practicable

commercially available renewable energy generating technology at time of construction. Whilst it is

not possible to set a definitive policy requirement, it will be a factor in the consideration of planning

applications.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFIT RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR:

Positive Negative Uncertain No Response Total

Hydro 10 1 3 2 16

Solar 8 2 2 4 16

Wind 8 3 2 3 16Fig 7


POLICY EP15: SMALL SCALE RENEWABLE AND LOW CARBON ENERGYSCHEMESPlanning permission will be granted for energy generating infrastructure using renewable or low

carbon energy sources to serve the community in general or individual properties or groups of

properties provided that all of the following conditions are satisfied:the impact of the energy generating infrastructure either individually or cumulatively with•existing infrastructure does not conflict with the criteria in Policy EP1 and EP 2; the energy generating infrastructure is located as close as practicable and is in•proportion to the scale of the existing buildings or proposed development it is intended toserve;adjoining properties are not adversely or significantly affected by reason of noise, flicker,•vibration, odour, loss of visual amenity or electromagnetic interference.there is no significant adverse environmental impact.•

Planning permission will be refused for large scale schemes which are intended to serve a greater

proportion of the wider market area than the local community.

11.0: MONITORING

ENVIRONMENTThe ponds, wetlands and orchards targets will be monitored by both the Gloucestershire county

wildlife survey group and the Parish Environment subgroup on an annual basis. This latter group

would look to target strategic sites for further restoration of habitat and the other environmental

targets in harness with an onus on all landowning parishioners to aim to achieve the parish targets.

HOUSINGThe Housing Needs Survey will be repeated every five years to ensure the Parish is keeping up to

date with the requirements of its residents. Success will be measured by having an exception site on

stream by 2018 followed by further sites by 2023 and 2028 in tune with the results of the HNS as

above. Action: This Neighbourhood Development Plan will assess any site offered for development

against this set of criteria to establish a priority preference for groups of 10 to 15 houses to be built in

stages over the next 15 years

EMPLOYMENTThe Strategic Objectives will be reviewed by the Parish Council periodically.

New businesses will be surveyed to test whether the Parish was seen as "business friendly"

Broader action: To work with Stroud District Council to:

designate three areas for 'live-work', one in Eastington•

explore business rate relief for business set-ups employing 3-8 employees•

Offer exception planning for small business set ups•

INFRASTRUCTUREDesignated Eastington Parish Councillors, members of Eastington's Approaches to Reducing Speed

(EARS) Group and Eastington's PROWD Group will carry out monitoring for this area.

A five-year rolling programme will be established and monitored for the end of each year in

readiness for budgetry preparation for the next financial year.


11: M

ON

ITO

RIN

G

APPENDIX A

Affordable Housing – Definitions and how Housing Allocations work

Affordable Rent – usually between 65% and 80% of the local market rent for an equivalent property.

The percentage depends on who funded the building.

CLT (Community Land Trust) – local charity set up by the Parish Council to assess the housing

needs of Eastington and to plan for the provision of both Affordable housing and market housing

according to the measured need.

A Housing Needs Survey was carried out in 2013 and will be repeated every five years to

measure our requirement for houses for people with Local Connection.All CLT properties will be retained in perpetuity, to be available for affordable rent or sharedownership. There will be no Right to Buy. Management will be delegated to a HousingAssociation under a 125 year lease arrangement.

Properties will be subject to 100% Nomination Rights, operating the Geographical Cascade to

ensure that the houses provided for local people do indeed remain available to local people. All

applicants will have to be registered with the Gloucestershire Homeseeker waiting list.

Housing Association (HA) – charitable organisation providing affordable housing. There are as

many HA houses within Eastington (50) as there are council houses. Houses built for the CLT would

be managed and repaired by an HA under a 125 year lease.

Housing Need – method of deciding social reasons for awarding someone an affordable house.

Usually, a system of points given for such factors as:

Living in overcrowded accommodation

Having inadequate toilet or kitchen accommodation

Suffering social, physical or mental harm

Returning forces personnel

Requirement to be closer to work or to a dependant relative etc

see Gloucestershire Homeseeker

Geographical Cascade – important difference in deciding allocation of a vacant affordable house,

whereby priority is given to Eastington Parish. For the first seven days of a vacancy, a house will be

offered first to

A person with a Local Connection to Eastington Parish

Within our parish, the usual priority of Housing Need (Gold, then Silver, then Bronze) would

apply

If no-one from Eastington requires the vacancy after seven days, it is “cascaded” out to the

neighbouring parishes:

A person with a Local Connection to Whitminster, Frampton, Cambridge,

Coaley, Leonard Stanley or Standish Parishes

Within those parishes, again the usual priority of Housing Need (Gold, then Silver, then

Bronze) would apply.

Finally, if there was still no-one requiring the vacant house, the final “cascade” would be to allow

anyone else on the Gloucestershire Homeseeker waiting list to apply (again in Gold, then Silver,then Bronze priority sequence)

Gloucestershire Homeseeker – register of all people in the county who have some level of

Housing Need. Used buy Stroud District to decide who is the MOST eligible person fro any affordable

house which becomes vacant.

Three broad categories exist:

Gold – most needy, potentially or actually homeless. Must be housed by law, immediately.

Should ideally be zero on this list


12: APPEND

IX

Silver – significant housing need, should be re-housed as a priority. Approximately 550 in

Stroud District in 2014

Bronze – limited points for social housing need, mainly people wanting a location change

from an existing affordable house. About 2,500 in Stroud District in 2014

Local Connection – someone who has either:

Lived in the Parish for 3 years

Worked in then Parish for 3 years

A relative (parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) who lives in the Parish. Used in both

for Eastington Parish and for neighbouring parishes in the Geographical Cascade

Nomination Rights – when local connection takes some priority over Housing Need

Shared Ownership – type of tenancy whereby 50% or more of the ownership is paid for by a

mortgage (including deposit) and the balance by rental. Normally, a tenant can gradually acquire a

larger share up to 80% or 85% which is supposed to make it easier for them to step onto the market

housing ladder at some point. Note that the CLT owned house will itself never be sold but must be

made available to a new shared ownership tenant upon vacancy.


Matrix of Housing NeedEastington 2014

Summarised from the GRCC/Eastington Parish Council Housing Needs Survey 2013

Full report at http://eastingtonndp/evidence-base

Open Market Housing3, 4, 5 beds

Demand: 9 houses

Supply: 12 houses per year

BUILD REQUIREMENT

ZERO

Housing Association(mainly to rent)

3, 4, beds

Demand: 3 x 4bed & 6 x 3bed

Supply: Some turnover occurs but relets are allocated across Stroud District NOT on local connection

BUILD REQUIREMENT

9

Open Market Housing1, 2 beds

Demand: 6 houses, including 4 older person/bungalows

Supply: 1.5 houses per year

BUILD REQUIREMENT

5 or 6

Housing Association(mainly to rent)

1, 2 beds

Demand: 14 houses, including 5 bungalow/older person homes

Supply: Some turnover occurs but relets are allocated across Stroud District NOT on local connection

BUILD REQUIREMENT

14

APPENDIX B


APPENDIX C:The twelve hamlets of Eastington parish represent a remarkable footprint of a pre-Georgian parish.

The layout of roads, hedges, gardens and houses is almost unchanged since at least 1835 as these

two maps illustrate.

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