Dear Parishioner,

Please find enclosed the Harlestone Neighbourhood Plan Survey. We are asking you to complete this survey because it it provides you with opportunity to shape and guide the future development of where you live. Please, return the survey using the stamped addressed envelope provided.

As a small incentive to complete the survey there is a prize draw. Complete your personal information on the final page, which we will separate from the survey questions, to win a meal for two at the Fox & Hounds, Lower Harlestone. All entries must be received by xxxx.

The information you provide will only be used for the purposes of the Neighbourhood Plan and destroyed once the plan is made (legally endorsed) by Daventry District Council. The individual surveys will not be shared with any third party.

Many Thanks

Harlestone’s Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

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HARLESTONE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Your parish | Your community | Your plan

Harlestone Parish Council www.harlestonepc.org

About Neighbourhood Plans…

Harlestone Neighbourhood Plans Area

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BackgroundNeighbourhood Planning was introduced under the The Localism Act 2011 and gives communities direct power to shape development in their local area.

What is it?The neighbourhood plan is a framework for guiding the future development and conservation of an area, it will cover a wide range of issues including:

- Protection of heritage assets and important buildings - Protection and creation of open spaces - Transport and access - The development of housing (location, type, tenure & quantity)

The map opposite shows the Neighbourhood Plan Area (shaded pink). All your answers should relate to this area which excludes the existing and proposed developments adjacent to Northampton (shaded brown).

How will this survey information be used?It is a deep concern that so much of the land around Northampton is being swallowed up for housing changing for ever some of the beautiful villages and swallowing up farmland. Your answers from this survey will help us develop legally recognised policies which will work to protect our village from development and the impact of development.

In a nutshellOnce the plan has been the subject of an independent examination, it can proceed to a referendum which will give all eligible voters in the Parish the opportunity to vote and decide of the Harlestone Neighbourhood Plan should form part of the development plan and to be used in the determination of planning applications in the area.

Your household

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1. Is your house (tick only one box):

Owner occupied

Rented

2. Thinking about the people that live in your house:

How many ‘working age’ adults live in your house?

How many retired or semi retired adults live in your house?

How many children live in your house (school age or under)?

3. Duration of residency…

How long have you lived in Harlestone?

Are you likely to move out of Harlestone in the next 5 years?

Are you likely to move out of Harlestone in the next 5 -10 years?

Are you likely to stay in Harlestone for the next 15 years?

Do you regard Harlestone as your ‘life time’ home?

To ensure we have representation across the parish please would you provide your postcode:

4. With regards to business and employment in Harlestone: Please circle YES or NO

Do you work from home? YES NO

Do you run a business? YES NO

If you run a business in the parish, please provide details.

The Built Environment & Heritage Assets

Harlestone Parish is made up of several distinctive clusters - Upper and Lower Harlestone which include many listed buildings, a few contemporary homes and a number of commercial buildings. Much of Upper and Lower Harlestone is with in a conservation area. Beyond the village the rural area comprises loose knit developments with a broad housing mix. Heritage assets around the parish play their part in giving Harlestone Parish a unique historic feel. This section of the survey focuses on the built environment as it is now and policies that may affect its future.

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7. How important is it to you that the following assets are preserved?

VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Stone walls?

Black & White finger posts?

Harlestone Village Institute?

5. How important is it to: VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Protect the historic character of the villages?

Protect the open spaces between the clusters?

Retain the size of the clusters?

6. Should the Neighbourhood Plan include policies which seek to: Please circle YES or NO

Prescribe the materials and design of external alternations to existing homes in the village? YES NO

Promote innovative/contemporary extension/development designs outside the conservation area?

YES NO

Focus on preserving the existing street scene? YES NO

Support home alterations or modifications that improve the facilities for a person with mobility issues?

YES NO

Preserve minimum or existing space between neighbouring houses? YES NO

Prohibit extensions and alteration that impact the natural light into neighbouring properties? YES NO

Promote the use of renewable energy solutions on individual dwellings? YES NO

Prohibit the sub-division of houses? YES NO

Prohibit the sub-division of plots of land? YES NO

8. The list is not exhaustive, please use the space below to list any assets or features you would like to see protected.

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9. In assessing future planning applications what issues do you consider important to ensure the development contributes positively to the area?

VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Specify building materials which match those of the neighbouring dwellings?

New housing development should reflect the character of the parish/village?

Promote use of contemporary design outside of the conservation area?

Dictate plot size?

Restrict size of development?

Promote energy efficiency?

Include off-road parking?

Promote use of native boundary hedging?

Promote use of stone walling for boundaries?

Housing Needs & Development

The Settlements & Countryside Local Plan restricts but does not prohibit development (new homes) in Harlestone Parish; as does the conservation area designation. However the Neighbourhood Plan takes account of the desires and concerns of local residents regarding housing.

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10. Harlestone currently has 207 homes. What number of new homes do you consider appropriate for Harlestone? Please circle YES or NO

No new homes YES NO

Single homes YES NO

Sites for 2 - 9 homes YES NO

Sites for more than 10 homes YES NO

Conversion of agricultural/commercial buildings YES NO

11. What type of housing do you envisage you will need for yourself in the parish in the next 10 years?

12. Could you modify or adapt your home to meet your future needs? Yes or No. Please give details.

13. If you have any additional comments to make about future developments in Harlestone, please use the space below.

Views, Landscape, Open Spaces and Biodiversity

Harlestone’s conservation area management plan describes how views are integral to the character and interest of Harlestone Parish. Retaining this strong visual distinction provided by the uninterrupted, rural views is crucial to maintaining the integrity and significance of the villages. The Settlements & Countryside Local Plan provides Green Wedges separating Harlestone from the urban conurbations. Nevertheless, it is important the Neighbourhood Plan includes policies which reflect local resident’s attitudes towards the landscape.

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14. How important is it to: VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Protect the views into and from the village?

Protect the existing open spaces from development?

Keep Harlestone separate from the urban area?

Protect the open spaces between the village clusters?

Protect areas for nature conservation

Increase the number of trees in the parish?

Increase the number of wildflower sites?

Maintain the current amount of street lighting?

16. Are there any open spaces or green sites in the parish where you would support development?

YES NO

15. In regard to Harlestone’s distinctive landscape, what additional features would you like to see? (Please circle Yes or No):

Keeping roadside verges tidy? YES NO

Maintenance of ‘formal’ areas of open space to a high standard (regular mowing, landscaping) YES NO

Keep footpaths clear? YES NO

Maintain benches? YES NO

Reduced mowing in some areas of the parish in favour of a ‘natural’ look? YES NO

Positive management of the local wildlife?

Local Green Space designation is a way to provide special protection against development for green areas of particular importance to local communities. This designation prevents green areas from being built on in all but exceptional circumstances. The map below shows some sites that may be appropriate for designation. If you would like to suggest other special areas which should be considered for Local Green Space designation, please use the map below.

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17.How important is it to ensure the separation of Harlestone from its immediate surroundings?

VERY IMPORTANT IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Prevent coalescence with the urban areas?

Between Harlestone’s various housing clusters?

Between Lower Harlestone and Harlestone Firs?

Between Harlestone Parish and the neighbouring parishes (including Bramptons, Bringtons and Harpole)?

Appendix 1R. Francis21/01/2020Date:

Author:"Local Green Space"

Scale: 1:9012

Harlestone CP

© Contains Ordnance Survey Data : Crown copyright and database right 2020,© Crown copyright and database right. All rights reserved (100059814) 2020

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18. How important is it to formally protect areas of local green space including (this list is not exhustive):

VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Allotments (Upper Harlestone)

Harlestone Firs

Playing Fields (Upper Harlestone)

‘Onion Spinny’ (Lower Harlestone woodland between the Golf Course and Manor Farm)

The Hills & Hollows (Lower Harlestone, area to South of Manor Farm)

Northampton Golf Course

Willow Paddock (Lower Harlestone, between Lake Lane & Golf Course)

19. Would you welcome a Neighbourhood Plan policy that seek to designate and protect areas of local green space

YES NO

20. In regard to Harlestone’s distinctive landscape, what additional features would you like to see?

Renewable Energy

The way we generate and use energy is changing fast. Efforts to address climate change mean more energy is being generated from clean renewable sources. The Neighbourhood Plan offers the opportunity to contribute in securing renewable and low carbon projects.

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21. Would you support the following renewable energy projects in the parish (Please circle Yes or NO)

Wind farm? YES NO

Solar Panel farms? YES NO

Domestic wind powered generators? YES NO

Domestic solar panel installations? YES NO

Public Vehicle Electrical Charging Points? YES NO

Air source heat pumps? YES NO

Ground source heat pumps? YES NO

Green energy alternative to oil burning boilers? YES NO

22. If you have any comments to make about renewable energy projects in the area, please use the space below.

Visitor Management

The National Planning Policy Framework dictates that planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance public rights of way, enhance existing facilities and add to the rights of way networks. However, it is Harlestone’s network of footpaths that make it an attractive destination for an increasing number of visitors. Please answer the following questions regarding the impact visitors have on the village

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24. How important is to you to introduce the following amenities:

VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Leisure facilities in Harlestone Firs? (i.e. cafe, cycle hire etc)

Introduction of cycle routes around the parish?

Improvement to the bridle path network?

23. Would you like to Harlestone Parish Council do more to encourage tourism in the parish (i.e. the village or Harlestone Firs)

YES NO

25. How important is it that the Neighbourhood Plan addresses the following parking related issues?

VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Increasing or improving the parking for visitors in the village?

Increasing or improved parking at Harlestone Firs

Signage to discouraging parking on the grass verges?

Signage directing visitors to park in the HVI car park or at the Church Lane car park?

No changes to the existing parking arrangements?

26. If you have any additional comments regarding visitors to Harlestone parish, please use the space below.

Village Amenities and Organisations

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27. How important to you are the following village facilities?

VERY IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Harlestone Primary School

Fox & Hounds Public House

Harlestone Village Store

Dobbie’s Garden Centre

Northampton Golf Club

Harlestone Village Institute (for private functions)

Harlestone Village Institute (for village functions)

Local clubs & groups (i.e. Women’s Institute, Parent & Toddle Group etc)

Playing Field (Upper Harlestone)

St Andew’s Church, Lower Harlestone

Other activity group running in the parish (Please give details)

28. If you have any additional comments regarding village amenities or organisations in Harlestone parish, please use the space below.

Traffic Management

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29. What do you consider to be the main transport issues of concern with the local area: VERY IMPORTANT IMPORTANT NOT IMPORTANT

Adequate parking

Frequency of bus service

Volume of traffic through the village

Speed of vehicle traffic

Lack of roadside footpaths

Lack of cycleways

Conserve and protect the grass roadside verges?

Promote road safety using additional signage?

Promote road safety using traffic calming measures or altering the road layout?

Provide electric car re-charging terminals?

30. If you have any additional comments regarding traffic management or transport networks in Harlestone parish, please use the space below.

and finally….

new picture

In this final section, we want to know what you enjoy most about living in Harlestone Parish

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Tick as many of these as you like and please, do add more!

The small friendly community

The rural character of the area

The access to the countryside and countryside activities, such as walking or horse riding

The historic charm and traditional look of the villages

The diverse housing mix of the outlying clusters

The peace and quiet

The sense of safety and security

The amenities in the parish; including the school, garden centre, village institute and village organisations

Proximity to Northampton

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HARLESTONE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Your parish | Your community | Your plan

Harlestone Parish Council www.harlestonepc.org

Thank you for your time Please fill in the information below for entry into the prize draw. This

page will be separated from the rest of the survey and we will draw the winner on xxx.

Name:

Address:

Email:

Telephone number:

We would like to take this opportunity to add you to Harlestone Parish Council’s email mailing list. Please tick this box if you do not want to be added.