There are a number of facilities within the parish which are vital to maintaining the sustainability of our community:
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There have been particular concerns regarding the long term viability of both the public house and the shop, and there is strong feeling in the community that it is essential that these should not be allowed to disappear. The retention of such facilities may in some cases be through their relocation to a suitable alternative site.
Policy C1: Existing Community Facilities
Community facilities (as listed below and shown on the Policy Maps) should be retained where possible, and every effort should be made to work with the local community to investigate potential solutions to avoid any unnecessary loss of these valued facilities and services. Proposals that would allow such facilities to modernise and adapt for future needs are encouraged.
Policy C2: New Community Facilities
Proposals for new facilities which would be of benefit to the community, e.g. education, training, recreation, social or health services will be supported in locations that are accessible to their main catchment population and other complementary facilities that would support their long-term viability.
A number of responses to the 2012 public consultation put forward a suggestion that a community tennis court / all weather pitch for 5-a-side football, hockey, etc would provide a real benefit to local residents. Land adjoining the parish field in Buckland Newton has been identified where the land owner is willing to sell for this purpose, and it is therefore proposed as an allocation in this neighbourhood plan. Although it may limit hours of operation, no permanent floodlighting is proposed as the dark skies in this area are considered to be an important aspect of the rural character of the parish.
The Parish Council will liaise with the County Council Highways to deliver adequate parking that will serve the combined area of this site, the playing field and parish room.
It is considered important that the hedge between this site and the parish field should be retained. Additionally, a suitable landscaping scheme should be considered in conjunction with the housing development at Brookfield (Site 6).
Area allocated for new recreational space adjoining the parish field
© Crown copyright and database right (2015). Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100051694
Policy C3: New recreational space adjoining the parish field
A site adjoining the parish field is reserved for the provision of a new outdoor all weather pitch suitable for tennis, 5-a-side football, hockey etc. No permanent flood lighting should be allowed. The hedge between this site and the Parish Field should be retained. A comprehensive planning approach should be taken to the provision of this facility, including landscaping, access and car parking, with the proposed residential development to the south side of this site (as proposed in Policy RES3).
A number of green spaces have been identified that are of local significance and which should be protected beyond the plan period. These sites, and the reason for their local interest, are listed in the following table and shown on the policy maps:
Site |
Local importance |
Parish Field |
Used as a recreational facility for the parish, including walking, cricket and football. It is also used as the playing field for the school. The field borders onto River Lydden with wildlife interest, including otters and voles. |
The Village Pound |
A triangular green of historical interest. Contains a mature tree of environmental value. |
River Lydden corridor* |
The River Lydden and its immediate corridor forms an important wildlife habitat, with varied flora and fauna, which is also of landscape value. |
Policy C4: Protection of local green spaces
Local green spaces are considered to be of particular local importance, either for their local landscape quality, history or wildlife value, to the extent that no development will be permitted within them that would harm their green character and reason for designation.
The Conservation Area appraisal highlights the wider natural environment as a particular attribute. It describes the rural quality of the area, created by the backdrop of the ridge and woodland, the undeveloped meadows (with examples south of the parish church and along the course of the River Lydden), the groups of mature trees within the built form, and the important hedgerows throughout the area defining road lines and providing a sense of enclosure.
The protection of our natural and built environment goes beyond the local green spaces and matters confined to the Conservation Area and Listed Buildings. The landscape is of national importance and much valued by local residents. The original public consultation in 2012 demonstrated the parishioners’ strong feelings about our environment, some of the top “good things” about living in our rural community being:
When considering new development, the design should not be considered in isolation, but be derived from how it sits within the local landscape and the wildlife corridors that run through it, and how this can integrate with the development proposals. Surface water flood risk is a local issue and should also be adequately considered in the location, layout and design of new development
Policy E1: The Wider Environment
Whenever possible and appropriate, development should include planting schemes of native hedgerows and trees to preserve and enhance the special characteristics of Buckland Newton Parish. Any landscaping should be in sympathy with the existing natural landscape, including the preservation and strengthening of existing wildlife corridors. Appropriate consideration should be given to surface water management and the inclusion of sustainable urban drainage. A Biodiversity Mitigation Plan should be submitted for all development proposals on greenfield sites larger than 0.1 hectare in size, to secure biodiversity protection and enhancement.
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