Designing our Future

Issue 1 - March 2002

Why Should we Build on
Tradition in the Countryside?
Chris Wade, Director of the Rockingham Forest Trust


If you ask people living in attractive villages in this part of Northamptonshire if more new houses should be built in their parish, many will say "No!".

Ask the same people what they most like about their village and they will say "the lovely buildings".

So what has happened? Do these    people    just   want    no

When new houses are needed in villages, I would like to see local people saying where and how they want those houses to be built. I believe that new housing should "build on tradition" combining the best features of traditional architecture with modern technology and a knowledge of what is needed. This way new houses will be improving our villages for the future.

change or do they think that nobody builds attractive houses any more?

Working for the Rockingham Forest Trust, a charity dedicated to conserving the local area; I recognise that there is often a need for new housing to keep our villages alive. Affordable housing for young families and old people is particularly important.


To help achieve this, we are keen to work with the communities like Warmington to involve people in planning the design of the places in which they live. I think that the work of people in Warmington in developing a Village Design Statement could have great benefits for the village in the future.

What is a Village Design Statement?

Going back to basics, let's look at what the Countryside Agency says about Village Design statements (VDS). It defines  the purpose of the statement as helping manage change, not to prevent it. So this is our chance to have our say in how development takes place, before it takes place.

The statement should describe Warmington at three key levels:

  • the landscape setting

  • the shape of the village

  • the buildings themselves

From these elements we can draw up design principles for future developments so that they complement the existing village and help maintain its distinctive character. These principles should respect the existing local planning authority policy for the area (which is currently under review      itself)      so      that      the      local     authority

can use them without risk of conflict between the two.

The ultimate aim is for the local planning authority to adopt our VDS as supplementary guidance to be used in future development decisions.

Events in April 2002

4th Warmington since 650 AD
- a talk by local historian Robert Bosworth
7.30pm at the Village Hall
15th VDS Steering Group Meeting
- 7.30pm at the Village Hall
27th Village Workshop
 - an all day event at the Village Hall, you can drop in any time to get involved, give your views and take photos of your favourite part of the village.

Come along or help out!



Who's who
in the VDS team

Steering Group
Jane & Bobert Brant (Treasurer)
David Constant
Andy & Peter Crouch
Bob Davey
Willian Du Croz (Chairman)
Lindsey Reed
Annette Solt (Secretary)
Judy Stroud (Secretary)
Graham Yeatman


280202
280570
280130
280682
280281
280168
280684
280837
280198

Project Board
Amy Boud
Sian Bowdler
Mike Dixon
Colin Ray
Rockingham Forest Trust
A.C.R.E.
Warmington Parish Council
East Northants Council

Why I Think a VDS is Important

Mary Hodges

I was asked to write this as a born and bred villager remembering the village with many more fields and much less traffic. As a village we have grown big enough, in my opinion, to support our very good facilities - a shop, post office, butcher's, school, pub, club, active village hall and church. The walks and tow pocket parks provide plants, bird life and a place to be quiet. The trees and bulbs that have been planted will soon give lots of colour and hope of spring. These areas must be kept for future generations to enjoy, as many of us have in years gone by.

In the future I would like to see cheaper housing and something for the 9 -16 year olds as there was in the 80s. So come and join in the Village Design statement workshops, talks and walks they are there for all to enjoy - we are never to old to learn something new about our surroundings.

Funding the project

We will need about £4,000 to cover all the costs of preparing the VDS. Grant applications have been made, but all donations from residents and local business will be gratefully received.

Village Character Workshop

To put your mind at rest this is not an amateur dramatics event, nor is it about that bloke in the shorts.

The purpose of the workshop is to let as many people as possible identify and record the character of the village. We hope to set up lots of interesting and fun ways for everyone to say what you like and dislike about Warmington, whether you pop in for 10 minutes or can stay all day.

The morning will focus on mapping different areas and landmarks of the village: by describing what each area is like we can start to record its character. Another important element will involve getting out and about with cameras to build a pictorial record of the village, everything from the small details of buildings, to the open spaces  and  greenery  of  the  village.


So if you are good with your camera please bring it along.

After some quick photo developing we hope to match up the maps, descriptions and pictures so that by the end we will have a first assessment of the character of Warmington

Come along and have your say, whether you are 3 or 103, everyone's views are important.


Key VDS stages

Decide to go for it
Establish a team
Village character workshop
Design meetings
Village consultation
Draft VDS
Consult
Final draft

done
done
April
May
June
Sept
Oct
Nov

Planning authority adopts

There are many ways
you can help -
from fund raising to delivering leaflets.

Your village needs you!