20-Minute Neighbourhoods and Whitchurch

Whitchurch is under immense pressure from developers keen to build houses, houses, houses. The town has a Neighbourhood Plan Group that is actively and rightly challenging the government’s numbers but there is one issue that also needs progression – the physical design and layouts of developments and how they cater for and affect local areas and their residents. That becomes a national planning subject.

Developers lining up
In Whitchurch developers are lining up for building at Mill Springs, Bere Hill, Hillside/The Gables and north of the Railway. And that is before the estates at Evingar Road and Owlsa Park/Watership Place are anywhere near completion. Developers have one aim of making money which too often means local needs are pushed down their priorities and they build what they say is popular, rather than what is best for a local community.

Catalogues for profits
Thus developments are to formulaic catalogue style layouts that fail to address the biggest issues over infrastructure, local services, travel needs and liveability. Profits for developers, landowners and shareholders come first above whether Adie can reach a chemist or Jim can get to school.

Come in the 20minute Neighbourhood – PEOPLE FIRST

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) describes them as:

“…a model of urban development that creates neighbourhoods where daily services can be accessed within a 20 minute walk. The aim of such neighbourhoods is to regenerate urban centres, enhance social cohesion, improving health outcomes and support the move towards carbon net-zero targets through reducing unsustainable travel.”

Complying with such planning principles should be part of all developments. Sustrans, the national sustainable travel charity makes an excellent assessment of the 20-minute Neighbourhood stating that the minimum features should revolve around three main areas:


Destination and services

• Food retailers and supermarkets
• Education, including early years, primary school and nearby secondary schools
• Health services, such as a pharmacy, GP and dentist
• Financial services, such as post office or bank
• Employment and jobs either within the neighbourhood or nearby
• Public open space, such as parks and recreation grounds
• Entertainment, such as leisure, culture and entertainment facilities.

Transport provision

• Public transport, including access to a regular bus, tram or train service
• Walking and cycling infrastructure
• Walkable access to a local centre
• Designed for low speeds, reduced traffic, and limited car parking.

Inclusivity

• A mix of diverse housing types to suit different life-stages
• Genuinely affordable and social housing present.

PLANNERS SHOULD ADOPT SUCH PRINCIPLES FOR WHITCHURCH
Not to do so could lead to the rural town being an anonymous characterless suburbia, dominated by traffic and a lack of local services.
PEOPLE SHOULD COME FIRST

Sustrans:
SUSTRANS – 20-minute Neighbourhoods