Open Space &
Play Area Strategy
2014 – 2033
Area Profile: Culmstock
Report produced on behalf of Mid Devon District Council by Ethos Environmental Planning
Culmstock Area Profile
CULMSTOCK AREA PROFILE
1.0
Introduction
1.1
Culmstock
Culmstock is a village 5 miles from Tiverton and approximately 7 miles north-east of
Cullompton. Culmstock is laid out on both sides of the River Culm and the population of the
parish is 877 inhabitants. The village is joined by a single old narrow stone bridge across the
river. The English Indices of Multiple Deprivation (2010) show that Culmstock does not
suffer from significant or widespread social deprivation.
1.2
Natural Environment and Green Space Provision
For the purposes of the Green Infrastructure Assessment (GIA, 2013), land around
Culmstock encompasses parts of catchment areas for Hemyock, Ashill and Uffculme.. There
are two Strategic Nature Areas within the catchment, designated as lowland heath within
the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The general level of accessibility to
strategic open space across the catchment area is particularly good. In addition to this,
public right of way density is among the highest in the district, at 1.47km per square
kilometre. The GIA’s area of search surrounding Culmstock includes the second highest SSSI
land coverage compared to other catchments. The condition of these sites varies but none
are in decline. Small scale open space provision is average compared to the rest of the
district, although there is under-supply in certain categories and Culmstock has received
only a minimal amount of money from public open space funds, considerably less than
many other catchments. The catchment’s population is very low and the level of need for
open space improvements may be considered less significant than in greater populated
areas.
1.3
Housing and Development
National Policy advocates market housing in rural locations where it will facilitate the
provision of affordable housing if required. Mid Devon District Council is therefore
considering market development in rural locations where a proportion of affordable housing
will be required. Rural exception sites will also be considered in line with development
management policies and an existing Supplementary Planning Document on ‘Meeting
Housing Needs’. The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA, 2013)
identified sites in Culmstock allowing for the addition of 45 dwellings. This number is not
indicative of the amount of development that will definitely take place in Culmstock over
the Local Plan period up to 2033, but gives some idea of the available land for new
development in the area if suitable and if necessary.
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Culmstock Area Profile
2.0
Map of Parish and Open Space Provision
Figure 1: Provision of open space across the parish
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Culmstock Area Profile
3.0
Quantity Analysis
Table 1 shows the quantity analysis of open space for the area. The figures for ‘Park and
Recreation Ground (combined)’ comprise the sum of the following typologies:




Park and Recreation Ground;
Outdoor Sports Space (Pitches);
Outdoor Sports Space (Other);
Outdoor Sports Space (Private).
It is the ‘combined’ figure that is used for the purpose of analysing quantity, as such it is only
this figure where required provision and supply is relevant. Figures have been provided for
the individual typologies which make up the combined figure for information only, however,
there is no supply assessment for these, hence an ‘NA’ (Not Applicable) is provided.
Existing quantity figures are also provided for a number of typologies where there are no
standards, as such these also do not show figures for required provision (a figure of 0.00 is
provided) and supply is ‘NA’, these typologies are:



School Playing Fields;
School Playing Fields MUGA;
Churchyard and Cemetery.
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Culmstock Area Profile
Table 1: Quantity analysis of open space in the Parish
Typology
Number
of sites
Existing
provision
(hectares)
Allotments
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.22
0.25
-0.22
-0.25
2.00
1.45
1.65
0.88
1.00
0.57
0.65
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.32
1.50
-1.32
-1.50
UNDER
SUPPLY
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.32
1.50
-1.32
-1.50
N/A
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
N/A
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
N/A
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
N/A
1.00
0.03
0.03
0.05
0.06
-0.02
-0.03
UNDER
SUPPLY
1.00
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.02
-0.01
-0.01
UNDER
SUPPLY
1.00
0.73
0.83
0.00
0.00
0.73
0.83
N/A
1.00
0.02
0.02
0.00
0.00
0.02
0.02
N/A
1.00
0.34
0.39
0.00
0.00
0.34
0.39
N/A
Amenity
Green
Space
Park and
Recreation
Ground
(combined)
Park and
Recreation
Ground
Outdoor
Sports
Space
(Pitches)
Outdoor
Sports
Space
(Other)
Outdoor
Sports
Space
(Private)
Children’s
Play Area
Teenage
Facility
School
Playing
Fields
School
Playing
Fields
MUGA
Churchyard
and
Cemetery
Existing
provision
(ha/1000)
Required
provision
(ha)
Required
provision
(ha/1000)
Supply
(ha)
Supply
(Ha/1000)
Supply
UNDER
SUPPLY
SUFFICIENT
SUPPLY
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Culmstock Area Profile
4.0
Access Analysis
Figure 2: Access to parks and recreation grounds across the parish – no provision
Figure 3: Access to parks and recreation grounds across main settlement area – no provision
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Culmstock Area Profile
Figure 4: Access to Children’s Play Areas across the parish (300m buffer)
Figure 5: Access to Children’s Play Areas across the settlement area (300m buffer)
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Culmstock Area Profile
Figure 6: Access to teenage facilities across the parish (600m buffer)
Figure 7: Access to teenage facilities across the settlement area (600m buffer)
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Culmstock Area Profile
Figure 8: Access to amenity green space across the parish (300m buffer)
Figure 9: Access to amenity green space across the settlement area (300m buffer)
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Culmstock Area Profile
Figure 10: Access to allotments across the parish – no provision
Figure 11: Access to allotments across the settlement area – no provision
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Culmstock Area Profile
5.0
Quality Analysis
The Parish Council has a good mix of play equipment and a recently installed good quality
skate ramp in its playing field; the District Council have no play areas in Culmstock. The
remaining open spaces are adequate.
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Culmstock Area Profile
6.0
Summary and Priorities
The priorities for Culmstock are to support the Culmstock Community Gardens group who
are working on a project to put a meeting hall and barbecue areas within the park.
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