Land off Old Bideford Road, Barnstaple – Community Consultation

Hallam Land are pleased to present proposals for new homes, a local shop, community uses and public open space at Old Bideford Road, Barnstaple.

The purpose of this consultation is to provide an opportunity for the local community to express their views and help inform the proposals.

Figure 1: Illustrative Streetscene

Our Vision 

Our vision is to create an attractive, sustainable, landscape-led residential development that integrates with the existing community and where people aspire to live. The new homes will be set within a network of attractive green spaces throughout the development. 

The proposal includes: 

• Up to 220 new homes, which will include both market and affordable housing and a variety of house types creating a mixed and balanced community that responds to local needs;
• Homes designed to a maximum of 2.5 storeys to ensure the proposal is in keeping with the surrounding area of Roundswell;
• The opportunity to provide a local shop, community allotments and varying types of open space, including formal play areas, naturalistic play, and a network of walking and cycling routes;
• Tree lined streets and enhancements to biodiversity through the creation of designated ecological corridors supplemented by new planting and improved management, with the development resulting in an overall biodiversity net gain;
• Vehicular, cycle and pedestrian access from Old Bideford Road, with the provision of a dedicated and continuous footpath from the site into Roundswell; and
• Multi-functional attenuation basins and surface water drainage features.

The Site

Figure 2: Site Location

The site, which is approximately 11 hectares, is located at the southwestern edge of Barnstaple in close proximity to the built-up area of Roundswell and within walking distance of Roundswell Community Primary Academy and Roundswell Retail Park. Existing site access is from Old Bideford Road. 

The site is 3km west of Barnstaple Train Station which is well connected by bus services. A wide range of facilities, schools, playing fields, services and employment areas are within easy reach of the site and accessible by sustainable travel modes. Supermarkets and leisure facilities are located within one mile radius of the site. The proposed development will deliver a continuous pedestrian link from the site to the existing footway along Old Bideford Road, providing a safe walking connection into Roundswell.  

Figure 3: Surrounding Context

Our Masterplan

The future planning application will be outline in its nature (with all matters reserved except for access). As such, whilst the application will be supported by an illustrative masterplan, which will set the principles of the development, detailed design matters (including the housing layout and the appearance of the dwellings) will be subject to a future reserved matters application. 

The illustrative masterplan, set out in further detail below, is underpinned by the following three key design principles:  

• Working with nature;
• Permeability and movement; and
• Creating a community.

These principles include the retention and enhancement of the site’s existing landscape assets and the creation of a legible network of cycling and walking routes, to create a cohesive extension to the built up area of Roundswell that will promote healthy and active lifestyles.

Figure 4: Design Principles

Hallam, along with their consultant team, have undertaken technical site surveys and assessments and engaged with North Devon Council in the form of a pre-application enquiry, which has informed the proposals presented to you, for your comment. 

Creating a Sustainable and Healthy Community

Promoting health and wellbeing is a fundamental aspect of the design. We understand the importance of future residents being able to access different types of public open space, encouraging walking and cycling and promoting reconnecting with nature. 

The following design aspects have been adopted: 

• Homes will be constricted in accordance with forthcoming Future Homes Standards requirements and each property will have its own EV charging point;
• Retention and enhancement of existing landscape assets with a landscape and nature recovery led approach;
• Prioritising the promotion of walking and cycling by providing a variety of routes within the development, and linking the site with the wider community, ensuring that future residents can access existing services and facilities and public transport services without the need for a private car;
• Every home will have access to formal and informal areas of public open space, encouraging healthy lifestyles and promoting the community and nature to come together;
• The provision of a local shop within the development for the benefit of nearby existing and future residents, conveniently located to enable residents to walk to access day-to-day provisions;
• A community allotment, which will encourage community cohesion, as well as providing an opportunity for people to connect with nature;
• Hedgerows, trees and watercourses will be retained and enhanced where possible alongside the development;
• The east west green buffer along the site’s southern edge will retain the setting of Old Bideford Road;
• The lighting on site will be kept to a minimum to work with biodiversity, whilst ensuring a safe and secure environment for the community.

Figure 5: Illustrative Masterplan

The proposals include a variety of formal open spaces, including a Locally Equipped Area for Play (LEAP), a central pocket green with Local Area for Play (LAP), as well as more informal naturalistic play equipment along key walking routes and the periphery of the site. 

The development will also provide a multi-functional northern green space with attenuation basins, biodiversity habitats and additional native planting for biodiversity enhancement.

Site Access and Connectivity

Hallam have worked with Devon County Council to agree a suitable vehicular access point and the provision of a dedicated footpath from the site connecting to the existing footpath on Old Bideford Road into Roundswell. 

The proposals also include the provision of new crossing points along Old Bideford Road (including a formal signal-controlled pedestrian crossing to the west of Old Bideford Road), which will enhance pedestrian connectivity for existing and future residents.  

The following off-site highway improvements are proposed: 

• Proposed improvements to accessing Public Footpath No. 17; 
• Priority narrowing sections along Old Bideford Road to provide traffic calming; 
• A single lane section to the west of the Old Bideford Road / Tews Lane / Glenwood Drive roundabout junction to act as a further traffic calming measure; 
• Provision of formal signal-controlled pedestrian crossing to the west of the Old Bideford Road / Tews Lane / Glenwood Drive roundabout junction. 

The highway improvements are illustrated on the plan below.  

Figure 6: Proposed Highway Improvements

Consultation

We welcome your views on the proposals which will be taken into account as the scheme develops.  If you would like to make comments, please access the consultation questionnaire through the following link:

https://forms.office.com/e/ZZK1SEuiiv 

Alternatively, comments can be submitted by email to OldBidefordRoad@boyerplanning.co.uk or by post to: Boyer Planning, Third Floor, Park House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, CF10 3AF.

Please submit your comments by Tuesday 27th August 2024. 

Commenting on the emerging proposals at this stage does not prejudice your ability to make further comments via the statutory consultation period undertaken by North Devon Council when a planning application has been received.

About Hallam Land

Hallam Land are one of the UK’s largest land promotors with over 35 years experience securing planning for places people want to live, work and enjoy across the country, and including a large number of sites within the South West.

Hallam Land are committed to working with key stakeholders throughout the entire planning process, to create and deliver positive and measurable benefits to both local communities and the environment.