TDLP PART 2 CHAPTER 6 - HALWILL JUNCTION LOCAL CENTRE

Introduction

6.1 Halwill Junction is located 12 km (7.7 miles) south east of Holsworthy astride the A3079.

6.2 Halwill Junction is a linear village, having developed along the line of the old railway and the A3079. It has been subject to significant recent housing development, the majority on two substantial sites to the north and west of the village. During the period 1995 – 2001, 16 houses were built in the Parish. This growth is reflected in the increase in the population of the parish from 434 in 1981 to 619 in 1999. The housing commitment at April 2001, including sites with planning permission and under construction, amounted to 9 houses.

Future Development

6.3 Halwill Junction provides a significant range of services, all key services, and other basic services. It is identified as a Local Centre within the local settlement hierarchy. Policy DVT1 applies to development proposals within the development boundary and Policy HSC6 to any additional housing proposals outside the boundary.

Infrastructure

6.4 There are no identified sewerage infrastructure or sewage capacity problems at Halwill Junction. Additional development of a scale appropriate to the settlement is not likely to overload existing treatment facilities.

Social and Community Services

6.5 Halwill Junction has a range of services and community facilities to cater for the needs of the village and of adjacent parishes. Services within the village include a post office, general store, butcher's, hairdresser's, garage providing fuel and a repair service, and pub. Other community facilities include a village and a community hall and pre-school facilities. The primary school and parish church are located at Halwill, 2 km from Halwill Junction.

6.6 Formal recreation provision in Halwill Junction is provided by the recreation ground to the south of the Junction Inn, which supports 2 playing fields. The new village hall can also accommodate a full range of activities, including some indoor sports. Further afield, at Halwill, there is a privately owned cricket pitch.

6.7 There is a deficiency in recreation provision in Halwill parish. The District Recreation Strategy identified a need for additional recreation provision, including a playing field, a recreation ground and a play area.

6.8 A site of approximately 3.3 hectares to the north east of the village is allocated for recreation use. The site, as defined on the Proposals Map, is well related to the village centre and to the Sports Ground. Access to the site should be achieved from Station Road, at an appropriate point close to the village centre. Given the limitations of the narrow village road, along which significant additional traffic generation is not encouraged, it is considered less desirable to access the site from a point on its southern boundary.

6.9 Where there is a community need, the LPA seeks to negotiate appropriate contributions from new development.

Proposal HAJ1: East of Station Road

A site to the east of Station Road as defined on the Proposals Map is allocated for recreational uses subject to the provision of:

(a) access from Station Road; and

(b) safe pedestrian and cycle access to the village centre.

Winsford Hospital

6.10 Located to the east of the recreation ground, Winsford Cottage Hospital is significant in both architectural and heritage terms. Built in 1901 by CAF Voysey, it is of national importance, as reflected in its Grade II* listing. It ceased to operate as a local health authority hospital in September 1998. Proposals for the building's future use must safeguard its historical and architectural integrity. Appropriate institutional uses that continue to bring benefit to the village will be considered.

Proposal HAJ2: The former Winsford Hospital

The re-use of the former Winsford hospital buildings and site as defined on the Proposals Map for appropriate institutional uses will be supported if it provides for:

(a) the protection of the architectural and historic interest; and

(b) community use; and

(c) safe pedestrian and cycle access to the village centre.

Employment

6.11 Employment locally is provided in agriculture, in the services provided within the village and in some small-scale manufacturing activity. Small workshop units and a serviced site of 0.45 hectare are provided to the south of the village. The site defined on the Proposals Map is designated a General Employment Area within which development proposals will be subject to Policy ECD2.

Housing

6.12 Halwill Junction is considered suitable to accommodate some additional housing growth on the basis of its status within the local settlement hierarchy, the relative lack of environmental constraints, and the current limitations on development opportunities within the village.

6.13 The development boundary has been drawn to include an undeveloped area of land to the east of Chapel Farm that is considered suitable for housing development. Elsewhere, the boundary has been drawn tightly around the existing built up area to protect the surrounding countryside.

6.14 To the east of Chapel Farm, a site of approximately 0.65 hectares has been allocated for housing development. The development of this frontage site will require access from the A3079 and additional traffic calming measures will be required on the western approach into the village. Necessary play and open space provision must be provided on site. Part of this allocation may be suitable for affordable housing, which the District Council will pursue through negotiation if a need is identified in accordance with Policy HSC2.

Proposal HAJ3: East of Chapel Farm

A site to the east of Chapel Farm as defined on the Proposals Map is allocated for housing development subject to the provision of reinforced traffic calming at the Halwill Junction gateway on the A3079 from Holsworthy.

6.15 It has been estimated that Halwill Junction's contribution to the strategic housing requirement (1995 – 2011) will amount to approximately 36 houses. This level is considered appropriate to address the housing need in support of the village's Local Centre designation.

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