Design Statement Nov 2019

DESIGNSTATEMENT
2018

“NorthTawton,embracingthepast,planningthefuture”

INTRODUCTION WhoistheDesignStatementfor?

ThisdocumentistheNorthTawtonDesignStatement.Ithasbeen Group Individuals Purpose
preparedfollowingpublicconsultationinrespectoftheNorth
TawtonNeighbourhoodPlan.TheDesignStatementhas Residents Homeowners,Tenants Guidanceinalteration,maintenance
incorporatedandupdatedmuchofthepreviousVillageDesign workandnewbuild.
Statementwhichwasproducedin2004. Developers Architects,Designers,
Engineers Describesthevisualqualitiesand
ThepurposeofthisDesignStatementistodescribethedistinctive characterofthetown.Incorporate
characterofthetownandsurroundingcountrysideasitistoday, LocalGovernmentand DevonCountyCouncil,West theviewsoftheresidentsregarding
andtohighlightthequalitiesthattheresidentsvalue. StatutoryConsultees DevonBoroughCouncil, thedesignofnewdevelopment.
NorthTawtonTownCouncil
Itisfrom thesequalities,reflectingthedistinctivecharacterof Usedasguidanceinconsideringthe
NorthTawton,thatdesignprinciples,havebeendrawnupto LocalBusinesses Retailers,Employers,Services designofnewdevelopments.Can
guidefuturedevelopmentandmaintenance. CommunityGroups Charities,Recreation,Social strengthenthelocalauthority’s
positionwhennegotiatingondesign,
TheDesignStatement,togetherwiththeNorthTawton andatappealstage.
ConservationAreaCharacterAppraisal,providesguidelinesthat
willensurefuturedevelopmentofthetownisinkeepingwiththe Understandlocalneedsandfacilities.
fundamentalcharacteroftheareainwhichwelive,
andwhichwecallhome. Appreciatefacilitiesavailableand
futurerequirementsofcommunity.

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HowistheDesignStatementtobeused? History

TheDesignStatementshouldbeconsultedwhenpreparingdesignsfornewdevelopments, NorthTawtonisasmalltownlocatedattheheartofDevon,withineasyreachofDartmoor
renovations,extensionsoralterationstoexistingbuildingsintheparishofNorthTawton, NationalPark.TheRiverTaw,flowingtothewestofthetown,givesNorthTawtonitsname
regardlessofscale. andisCelticfor‘silentriver’.

TheDesignStatementisintendedtoencourageandstimulatethefollowingdesignprocess: AlthoughvariousartefactshavebeenfoundconfirmingthepresenceofStoneandBronze
Ageinhabitants,andweknowthattheRomanssetupcamphereinaboutAD50,stayingfor
1.Asurveyoftherelationshipbetweenthesiteanditssurroundings,workingwithand approximately350years,itisintheDomesdayBook—in1086—thatthefirstwrittenevidence
respectingwhatisalreadythere. ofourtownappears.

2.Theidentificationofdesignopportunitiespresentedbyexistingviews,landscaping, StPeter’sChurch,datingfrom the13thcentury,isouroldestexistingbuildingandwecanalso
builtforms,materialsanddetails. layclaim tooutlyingmanorhousesandfarmswhichdatefrom the15thcentury.In1374,North
TawtonwasgrantedamarketcharterwhichenabledtheLordoftheManortoexacttollsforall
3.Theprovisionofevidenceindesignproposalsthatananalysisofthesitedetailsand marketandfairdays.However,thischarterlapsedin1730.
widercontextualsettinghasbeencarriedout.
EarlybusinessesinNorthTawtoncentredonthewoollenindustryandagriculture,withmilling
TheNorthTawtonDesignStatementdoesnotaim toprovidedesignsolutions.Itspurposeisto andtanningalsotakingimportantroles.Today,NorthTawtonisstillidentifiedbyWestDevon
illustratethedistinctivecharacteristicsandelementsofthetownthatshouldbeconsideredby BoroughCouncilasaLocalCentreand,althougharelativelysmallcommunity,itremainshome
developerswhendesigningnewbuildingsoralteringexistingbuildings. toimportantbusinessessuchasGregoryDistribution,TawValleyCreameryandVitalPet
ProductsLtd.

ThecharacterandidentityofNorthTawtonisseenasdependingheavilyonthevisibleremains
ofitshistory.However,weneedtorememberthatweareconstantlyaddingtothestoryofNorth
Tawtonand,withthisinmind,welcomechangeanddevelopmentthatiswellplannedand
thoughtfullydesigned,blendingoldhistorywithnew,andkeepingourtownuniqueanda
specialplaceinwhichtolive.

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1:EssentialCharacteristics Apartfrom afewthatchedbuildingswithinthecontinuouslybuilt-upfrontagesandin
Essington,almostallroofsareofslateorslatesubstitutes.Thereareexamplesof
LookingdownonthetownofNorthTawtonitisevidentthatithasevolvedasajumbleof CornishslateandWelshslate.Interspersedwiththeoriginalcobandstonebuildings
differentstylesthroughouttime.Therearesmallareasofbacklanddevelopment,a arenewerhousesandsmallhousingestateswithopenplanfrontgardens,garagesand
terraceofhouseshere,acottagetuckedawaythere,adetachedpropertyinisolation, parkingspaces.Thesecompriseafairlyequalmixofbungalowsandtwostoreyhouses
allconstructedinamyriadofdesignsandcolours. which,architecturally,areacompletecontrasttotheolderbuildingsbutaddtothe
varietyofthetownscape.
TheSquareisthehubofourtownandcontainstheretailoutletsandotherlocalfacilities.
Ribbondevelopmentborderstheroadsradiatingfrom TheSquare.Theseroadsalso Therearesomeexcellentexamplesofmetalrailingsinthetown.Theseareboth
leadtothePrimarySchool,medicalcentreandotherlocalservices. decorativeandfunctional,formingaboundarybetweenpavementandpropertywhere
frontspaceisminimal.
MostofthetowniswithintheConservationAreaandthehousesherearepredominantly
terracedcottages.Mostofthesedwellingsfacethestreetandtheirfrontdoorsopen Longlengthsofstonewallinglinethestreets,particularlybytheChurch,ExeterStreet
directlyontothepavement.Theyhavenofrontgardensorgaragesandtheiroccupants Cemetery,BartonStreet,EssingtonandNorthStreet.Someofthisdrystonewallingisat
parktheircarsintheroadoutside. least200yearsold.CobbledpathsandcourtyardsaresaidtohavebeenlaidbyFrench
prisonerscapturedduringtheNapoleonicWarcirca1809.
ForeStreetandHighStreetarebothlinedbyterracedhousing,butinNorthStreetthe
frontageismoreirregular. NorthTawtonnestlesinafoldintherollingDevoncountrysidewhichhasbeenshaped
byseveralthousandyearsofcultivationbymankind.
NorthTawtonhasamixofbuildingmaterials,reflectingthelocalgeology,19thcentury
transport,andtraditionalbuildingmethodsusedovercenturies.Cobandstonearethe Traditionalmixedfarmingisstillpractisedintheareaanditslegacyofsmallfields,
dominantmaterials,withbrickscarcelyusedexceptasdressingstowindowsanddoors. borderedbyhedgerowsandmaturetrees,makesavitalcontributiontothetown’s
Manyoftheseolderdwellingshavecolourwashedrenderoverthecobandstone,with surroundinglandscape.
thetraditionalblacktarbandatthebase.

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Manyresidentsareabletoenjoyviewsofthecountrysidearoundthem,alongwiththe
splendourofDartmoorNationalParktothesouthofthetown.
Thesebuildingstyles,featuresandsettlementpatternsechothehistoryofourtown
andprovideitsuniquecharacter,whichmustbepreservedforfuturegenerations.

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Guidelines:

1.1 ModerndevelopmentshavenotalwaysintegratedwiththeTown.Planningapplications
shouldprovideananalysisofthesiteanditswidercontext,eitherintheform ofashort
writtenstatement,and/orthroughtheuseofphotographsofthesiteanditssurroundings.

1.2 WithintheConservationArea,alterationsand/orextensionstopropertiesshouldbein
keepingwiththeoriginaldesignandscale.

1.3 Existingopenspacesandgapsbetweenbuildingsshouldbepreserved.
1.4 Openspacesandimportantviews,includingimportantsightlineswithinthetown,

shouldbepreservedastheycontributetothesettingandcharacterofthesettlement.
1.5 ViewsoftheTownfrom theapproachesgenerallygiveapositivefirstimpression.Any

newbuildingshouldrespecttheseapproaches,beofsympatheticdesign,andsit
comfortablywithinitssurroundings.

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2:NewDevelopment TheOwnerorDeveloperofsiteswith5ormoredwellingswillberequiredtoestablish
aManagementCommitteeforthepurposeofmanagingandmaintaining:
InlightofCentralGovernment’sdemandforanincreaseinhousing,itisinevitablethatnew •OpenSpaceLand
developmentwilltakeplaceinNorthTawton.Thetownwishestofacethischallengewitha •SUDSchemes
positiveandco-operativeapproachwhichfocussesonthewaysinwhichsuchgrowthcan •Unadoptedroadwaysandfootpaths
benefitandenhanceboththehistorictownanditsclosecommunity.Wewouldexpect •Landscaping
developerstoachievethiswithminimaldisturbancetoexistingresidents. •Boundaries
•AdditionalParkingspaces
HousingpolicieswithintheNorthTawtonNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlanreflecttheviews •PlayAreaswhereprovided
oftheresidentsofthetowninrelationtohousingdevelopment.Thisdesignstatementaimsto
givemoredetailedguidelinesregardingthequalityanddesignofnewdevelopment.

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DesignGuidelines 2.8 AnynewdevelopmentwithintheConservationAreashouldbesympathetictotheArea.

Theseguidelinesapplytoalldevelopmentincludingcustom buildandself-build. 2.9 Newdevelopmentsshouldavoidfeaturelessandwindowlesswallsonbuildings,
2.1 Thescale,designandmaterialsofanynewdevelopmentmustbeappropriatetothe providingitdoesnotadverselyaffecttheamenityofadjoiningresidents.

areainwhichitislocated. 2.10Newdevelopmentsshouldcontainamixofdwellingtypesincludingbungalows.
Dwellingsshouldbeoneortwostoreys.
2.2 Thetreatmentofspacebetweenbuildingsisofconsiderableimportancetothetown
designandshouldbeconsideredattheinitialdesignstages. 2.11Housesofinnovative/contemporarydesigncanaddtothevisualnarrativeofthe
townandwouldbeconsidered,providingthattheyaresympathetictotheir
2.3 Wallcladdingisnotatraditionalfeatureofthetownandwillbediscouraged. surroundings.

2.4 Windowsanddoorsmadeofmodernmaterialswillbeacceptableprovidedthatthe 2.12Allnewdevelopmentswillconsiderdwellingorientationforsolargain,bothpassive
doorandwindowdesignsreflectthoseofestablishedpropertiesintheimmediate andfortheutilisationofroofspacesforsolartechnologies.Ifadevelopmentdoes
vicinity. notincludesolarpanels(eitherthermalorphotovoltaic)withinitsdesign,developers
mustshowdueconsiderationforthecorrectorientationforretrofittingofsuch
2.5 Neworreplacementgroundfloorwindowswhichprotrudeintothespaceabovea technologiesatalaterdatebyresidents.Developerswillevidencethat60%or
pavementwhenopenedshouldbeavoided. moreofthedwellingsarecorrectlyorientatedforsolargains,withtheappropriate
roofareasforadomesticscaleinstallationorunobstructedroofswithlittletono
2.6 Thedesignofnewhousesshouldbevariedbyuseoffeaturessuchasstonefacing, shadingissues.
hangingslates,thatchedroofing,brickdetail,porchesandothers.
2.13Adequatespaceshouldbeprovidedforstoringrefuseandrecyclingbins.
2.7 Variedrooflines,staggeredfrontagesandporcheswillbeencouragedtoalleviate
“boxy”designs.

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2.14Allnewdevelopments,inparticularthoseontheedgeofthetown,shouldbeencouraged 2.21Whereadeveloperhasbeenrequiredtoprovideallotments,thedeveloperistohand
toincorporatefootpathsandcyclewaysgivingaccesstoboththecountrysideandthe overallotmentspace,ingoodorder,toNorthTawtonTownCouncilwithin6monthsof
Towncentre,providedthattheyform saferoutesforpublicuse. commencingworkonthesite.ThereaftertheCouncilwillmanageandallocatethe
allotmentstoregisteredapplicants.
2.15Allproposalsfornewdevelopmentswillbeexpectedtoincludeoff-streetparkingprovision
commensuratewithlocalcarownershipratesinordertoavoidanincreaseinon-street 2.22Developersof12ormoredwellingsshouldprovideanequippedplayareaunlessNorth
parkinginthevicinityofthesite,whichwoulddetractfrom highwaysafetyandresidential TawtonTownCouncilagreestoremovethisobligation.
amenity.Garagesshouldbeextratothisprovision.
2.23Screeningi.e.treesandshrubs,shouldbeprovidedbetweenexistinghomesandnew
2.16Garages,whereprovided,shouldbeatleastlargeenoughtoaccommodateafamilycar. developments.

2.17Newdevelopmentswillbeexpectedtoprovideadditionalparkingspacesforvisitorsand 2.24Nativehedgerowsshouldbeplanted,toprovidewildlifecorridors,indevelopmentsof
commercialvehicles.PleaserefertoPol.HO6ofNorthTawtonNeighbourhoodPlan. 5ormoredwellings

2.18Employmentunitsonmixedusesitesshouldbeconstructedinsuchawaythattheyblend
inwithotherbuildingsinthevicinity,andcauselittleornointerferencetoresidentsliving
nearby.

2.19Thelargestfeasibleareaofopengreenspaceshouldbeincorporatedinnewdevelopments.
Thedesignofopenspacesshouldreflectarural,ratherthansuburban,characterandevery
opportunityshouldbetakentoenhancetheirecologicalpotential.Treeplantingistobe
included.

2.20Developersofmorethan12dwellingsshouldallowfortheprovisionofservicedallotments.

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3:Boundaries

NativespecieshedgerowsandtraditionalDevonhedgebanksareimportantlandscape 3.6 Treesshouldbeplanted,forscreening,whereadevelopmentbordersaroad.
featuresandwildlifehabitats.Theyareoftenofhistoricvalue,markingancientfieldboundaries.
Developmentshouldconserveandenhancethehedgerownetwork,retainingandenhancing
existingfeatureswhereverpossible.

3.1 Traditionalboundariessuchashedgerows,Devonbanksandstonewallsshouldbe
preserved.Newdevelopmentsshouldaim toretainexistingboundaries,andreplace
orrepairanylossordamagetothem sustainedduringconstruction.

3.2 Developersarerequiredtoproperlymaintainboundaryhedgerowsandbanksduring
constructionsothatthepublicaccessanduseofexistingpavements,roadsandpaths
isnotaffectedbytheongoingworks.

3.3 TheplantingofnativehedgingandthecreationofnewDevonBanksistobeencouraged
withinandaroundnewdevelopmentsasaform ofboundarytreatmenttoproperties
andscreening.

3.4 Wherehedgingisplanted,repairedorreplaced,itshouldbewithnativespeciesthatare
commonwithintheareaand,ifpossible,oflocalstock.

3.5 Thestyle,heightandmaterialsofnewboundariesshouldbeinkeepingwiththeproperty
itselfanditsimmediateneighbours,i.e.designedtoharmonisewithitssurroundings,
ratherthanstandoutasalandmark.

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4:Trees

Trees,hedgerowsandDevonBanksareanessentialpartoftheCentralDevonlandscape RecommendedTreesandhedgerowshrubs
surroundingNorthTawton,whichcontainssmallfieldsdividedbythesefeatures.Theyare
vitaltosupportthewonderfulvarietyofwildlifespeciesendemictothearea,andassist ThemostcommonhedgerowspeciesfoundaroundNorthTawtonareoak,ash,hazel,
greatlyinslowingdownrunofffrom heavyrainfallandpreventingflooding.Theyabsorb hawthorn,holly,brambleandhoneysuckle.Alsooccurringarefieldmaple,blackthorn,
carbondioxideandreleaseoxygen,contributingtoclimatechangemitigation. holm oak,sycamoreandwillow.

OakandAsharethepredominanttreespeciesbutthereareseveralmagnificentbeeches Thesenativespeciesarerecommended:
onthesouthernapproachtothetown.Mostmaturetrees,withinthetown,areinprivate
gardensorthechurchyard,wherethereisadoublerowoflimetreesborderingthepathway Hawthorn Elder WayfaringTree
from thelychgate. Blackthorn DogRose Gorse
Hazel Spindle Honeysuckle
Treesandhedgerowscansoftenarchitectureandcreatealinkbetweenthetownandthe Holly Dogwood TravellersJoy
surroundingcountryside.Theyprovidewildlifecorridors,encouragingcreaturestoutilise Beech GuelderRose
gardens,whichcanbeavaluableresourceforthecreaturesandapleasuretoresidents.
Standardtrees:
4.1 Existingtreesandshrubsshouldberetainedwherepossibleandintegratedintonew
developments. English/SessileOak,Ash,FieldMaple,WildCherry,CrabApple,Rowan,
Small-leavedLime,Beech,SilverBirch.
4.2 Appropriatemaintenanceofexistingtrees,shrubsandhedgeswithinthetownshould
beencouraged.

4.3 Maturetreesandhedgerowsshouldbepreservedorreplacedwithinthetown
boundaries,alongallaccessroadstoNorthTawtonandintheimmediatesurrounding
countryside.

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5:StreetFurniture

Streetfurnitureaddscharacterandillustratesthehistoryofasettlement.TheSquareis 5.9 Anylightingproposedmustbeofadesignwhichdoesnotcausevisualintrusionnor
furnishedwith blackVictorianstylelights,blacklitterbinsandablackfingerpost,allgiving causeadverseeffectsduetolightpollution.
asenseofthepastandcomplimentingtheClockToweratthecentre.Careshouldbetaken
topreserveandenhancetheruralnatureofthetown.Streetfurnitureshouldbecarefully 5.10ShouldtheVictorianstylestreetlightsinTheSquareneedreplacing,NorthTawton
located,ofgoodqualityanddesignandinkeepingwiththecharacterofNorthTawton. TownCouncilwouldwishtobeconsultedregardingoptionsforreinstatementor
replacement.
5.1 TheERletterboxes,whicharecurrentlysituatedattheStation,TheBarton,Nichols
Nymet,The CopperKey,ArundellRoadandTheSquare,andtheGRletterboxat 5.11Wheninstallingexternallightsonproperties,careshouldbetakentoensurethat
BouchersHill,addcharacterandemphasisethehistoryofthesettlementand theydonotcauseanuisancetoneighbouringproperties.
shouldberetained.
5.12Signs-ExamplesofbothtraditionalandmodernroadsignscanbeseeninNorth
5.2 Publicseatsshouldcontinuetobeprovidedwhereasuitablesitecanbeidentified. Tawton.Theuseofmodernsheetmetalroadsignagewithbroadpaintedborders
5.3 Existingrailingsonolderpropertiesshouldberetainedandnewrailingsareencouraged candetractfrom theruralcharacterofthetown.Plainblackandwhitesignage
withoutaborder,butmadewithmodernreflectivematerial,ispreferable.
wheretheywillenhanceasuitablebuildingandaddtothetownscape.
5.4 Parishboundarystonesshouldbemaintainedandprotected. 5.13Allsignageshouldbekepttoaminimum.Redundantsignsshouldberemovedand
5.5 Satellitedishesarevisuallyintrusiveandshouldbesitedasinconspicuouslyaspossible. everyeffortmadetoavoidduplicatesignage.

SpecialrulesapplytotheConservationArea. 5.14Wheretheyremainlegal,oldertraditionalsignsoughttobepreservedandshould
5.6 Theinstallationoftelecommunicationmastsandwindturbineswithinthesettlement notbereplacedwithmodernequivalents.Wherethisisnotpossible,replacementor
newsignsshouldbeoftraditionaldesignandassimilartotheoriginalaspossible.
areawouldbeopposed.
5.7 Lighting–someresidentshaveexpressedconcernaboutlightpollutionfrom street 5.15Mountingsignsonwallsorbuildingsavoidsclutteratstreetlevelandallowsforthe
safepassageofpedestrians,particularlythoseusingmobilityaidsorthosepushing
lighting.StreetlightingiscontrolledbyDevonCountyCouncilwhoseprimaryconcern prams.
isforsafety.
5.8Tominimisetheeffectsoflightpollution,softeryellowlightingispreferredwherethis 5.16Advertisingsignsshouldbeunobtrusiveandgenerallyfixedflattotheappropriate
doesnotcompromisepersonalsafety. building.

5.17Advertisingsignswhichareinternallyilluminatedandneonsignsshouldbeavoided.

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6:Publicutilities

Publicutilitycompaniesshouldbemadeawareoftheirdutytorespecttheheritageofthetown.
6.2 Whereanyworkiscarriedout,thesiteshouldbere-instatedtoitsoriginaldesign,

appearanceandfinishusingtheappropriatematerialsforthesite.
6.3 The“NewRoadsandStreetWorksAct-1991”,alongwithassociatedregulationsandcodes

ofpracticeintroducednewstandardsforthereinstatementofroadandfootwaysurfaces
withutilitycompaniesbeingfullyresponsibleforreinstatementfollowingtheirstreetworks,
whereby:

“bothinterim andpermanentreinstatementsmust
conform tothestatutoryspecification,and
undertakersexecutingroadworksmustcomplywith
prescribedmaterialspecificationsandstandardsof
workmanshipwhenreinstatingaroadorfootwayand
toguaranteetheperformanceofthereinstatement
foraminimum periodoftwoyears”

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7:PublicRightsofWay

ThereareovertenmilesofpublicfootpathsandbridlepathswithintheparishofNorthTawton,
establishedoverthecenturiesasameansofaccessfrom farm tochurch.

Thesefootpathsarenowmainlyusedforrecreation.Theycanbelinkedtogethertoprovide
pleasantwalksofvaryinglengthtosuitnearlyallabilities.However,manyareinaccessibleto
peoplewithrestrictedmobility.

7.1 Footpathsandbridlewaysshouldbekeptopen,ingoodrepairandfreefrom obstruction.

7.2 Whereverpossible,publicrightsofwayshouldberetainedalongexistingroutes.

7.3 Wherenewfootpathsandcyclewaysarecreated,provisionshouldbemadeforpeople
withrestrictedmobility.

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“NorthTawton,embracingthepast,planningthefuture”