Evidence Base

What is the evidence base?

Robust evidence should support the choices made in neighbourhood planning and guide the approach taken and the conclusions reached. Planning policies need to be based on a proper understanding of the place they relate to and the communities that they support if they are to be relevant, realistic and to address local issues effectively.

The data about a place and its analysis is referred to as the evidence base in neighbourhood planning. This can include social, economic and environmental data. Evidence has been gathered over the whole course of the development of the Wellow plan and is continuing. 

How did we create it?

The evidence base was created from a variety of sources including:

  • Local sources (Parish records, the Village Plan, the Village Design Statement, Wellow Community Wildlife Plan, local knowledge and community feedback)
  • Residents’ opinion surveys, housing need surveys, business surveys and informal consultations. The evidence base has benefitted greatly from Wellow Parishioners thoughts and comments
  • Sources within the local planning authorities (Test Valley Borough Council and the New Forest National Park)
  • Hampshire County Council for county statistics, planning for mineral and waste development, public rights of way and local habits and wildlife corridors (Hampshire Biodiversity information Centre)
  • Government agencies: Natural England for designations of areas and habitats, Historic England for listed buildings and parks and gardens, Environment Agency for flood zones, Office for National Statistics for population numbers and characteristics
  • Ordnance Survey for detailed maps and aerial imagery
  • Google and other web search mechanisms for information on local businesses and other miscellaneous information
  • Specialised surveys of potential building sites for housing development, the character of the Parish and the assessment of housing needs were done using consultants. Feedback on the character appraisal from members of the community contributed considerably to the final outcome.

Contents of the evidence base

The following lists the current the contents of the evidence base. Where these are available for viewing by the community, a link is provided to a PDF file. In some cases, where the evidence can be presented on a map, then a link to an interactive map is provided, this can be navigated and zoomed by the user.  The contents are arranged and titled as they appear in the Submission Draft of the Neighbourhood Plan. The letters refer to the appendices referenced in the Plan.

  • A. Wellow Parish Character Appraisal and Design Code
  • B. Housing Needs Assessment and Survey
  • C. Site Assessment and Addendum
  • D. Survey of local employment and businesses
  • E. Evidence for Strategic Environmental Assessment screening report
  • F. List of Heritage Assets
  • G. Local Green Space Assessment
  • H. List of Infrastructure Projects and Community Aspirations
  • I. Ecology – List of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), information from Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and Wellow Wildlife Plan
  • J.Community consultations and Survey
  • K. Important Views Assessment

Until the final Plan is published these remain draft documents, whilst the team have made every effort to ensure that these documents are factually correct as far as can be determined, they may contain errors of omission or commission. If you see any errors, we would like to hear about them. Please email admin@wellownhp.org.uk with your comments. Alternatively, drop a letter into the Parish Office.

Also included as a final item is a list of key references cited in the Neighbourhood Plan with links to the documents themselves. These include the Sustainability Matrix, Wellow Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA).

A. Wellow Parish Character Appraisal and Design Code

The Character Appraisal sets out the special interest, character and appearance of Wellow Parish to highlight its local distinctiveness and identify.

It is a factual and objective analysis to enable a better understanding of Wellow’s qualities that make the place unique such as open spaces, rural and urban landscapes, building materials and types and ages of properties. Its purpose is to identify important issues to be addressed in the Neighbourhood Plan. The character appraisal is accompanied by a design code which is described below.

Access the document by following the link: Wellow Character Appraisal; 2024

Map of Character Areas

An interactive map showing the Character Areas found in Wellow Parish can be viewed here. The map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2023.

The Wellow Design Code follows on from the character appraisal work and underpins the design based policies in the Neighbourhood Plan. It is intended to be used as a reference for any minor or major housing developments or mixed use allocations and for planning applications. A design code is a set of simple, concise, illustrated design requirements that are visual and numerical wherever possible to provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. This Wellow Design Code is based upon the National Model Design Code, 2021.

Access the document by following the link: Wellow Parish Design Code; 2023

B. Housing Needs Assessment and Survey

A summary of the detailed housing needs assessment including the key findings from of the housing needs survey conducted in 2019 is available.  The assessment forms the basis for assessing the future housing need of existing and future residents of Wellow Parish and determining the appropriate number of new homes and their size, type and tenure. 

Access the document by following the link: Housing Needs Assessment Wellow Parish – Summary; 2021

The housing needs survey can be accessed by following the link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan Housing Needs Survey; Action Hampshire; 2020

A paper that lays out the evidence and reasoning for the provision of future housing need in Wellow Parish for the period up to 2036 in support of the Wellow Neighbourhood Plan, Policy WP-H1 – Housing Need can be accessed here. It expands on the account given in the preamble to the Policy in the Plan. It needs to be read in conjunction with the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) and Housing Needs Survey (HNS) see above.

C. Site Assessment and Addendum

The report of the independent assessors on the site assessments is available. The assessment covers 20 potential development sites. Whilst considering policies in the adopted development plan for Test Valley Borough as well as national planning policy, it seeks to establish which, if any, of the sites are suitable for development. All sites identified are outside the New Forest National Park as there is no stated requirement by the National Park authority for housing in that part of the Park within the Neighbourhood Plan area.

For the background to the selection and assessment of the sites and an explanation of why an Addendum to the report was necessary, please read: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan Site Options and Assessment Final Report, AECOM, May 2021 Explanatory Note

 Access the main assessment report  by following the link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan Site Options and Assessment Final Report; AECOM; 2020.

Access the addendum to be read in conjunction with the main report by following the link: Addendum Wellow Neighbourhood Plan, Site Options and Assessment Final Report, December 2020 (edited May 2021).

Access the description of the method used in the site assessments by following this link: Site assessment and allocation for neighbourhood plans; Locality; 2018

The sites for assessment by the independent consultants were chosen initially from the SHELAA (Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment) reports by Test Valley Borough Council. Extracts from the reports for 2017-18 and 2019-20 covering Wellow Parish are available, please read the introductory text for an understanding of the status of these sites.

Access the extracts by following these links:  2017-18 and 2019-20.

Map of sites

An interactive map of the sites assessed can be viewed here. The map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2023.

The map can be navigated and zoomed. To find out the characteristics of a site click on the area and the characteristics will appear in the left-hand part of the screen under “Site assessment”.

D. Survey of local employment and businesses

In November 2020, a business and employment survey was issued to businesses that were known or could be identified within the Parish. The results of the Survey, along with results from the residents’ survey in 2018, interviews with businesses and extensive web research are presented in a summary document.

Access the document by following the link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan Wellow Parish – local economy and employment: 2021

E. Evidence for Strategic Environmental Assessment screening report

The aim of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive which has been transposed into English law following Brexit is to provide a high level of protection of the environment by integrating environmental considerations into the process of preparing plans and programmes.

A key stage in the neighbourhood planning process is determining whether a SEA is required (and, as a corrollary to this, a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)). The Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), Test Valley Borough Council and New Forest National Park Authority, had to determine whether an SEA (and HRA) was required for the Wellow Neighbourhood Plan. The process for deciding whether an SEA is necessary is referred to as ‘screening’.

In preparation for the screening, the neighbourhood plan team had to gather the necessary evidence for submission to the LPAs. The evidence was presented in the form of a report. It provides a summation, mainly in map form, of the environmental and other evidence that has been amassed by the team as part of the evidence base.

Access the screening report by following this link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan Evidence Base for Screening Report; 2022

This document includes information on:

  1. Biodiversity, fauna and flora – designated areas, statutory and non- statutory, habitats, tree preservation orders, site of importance to nature conservation, ecological networks and priority habitats
  2. Population – totals, distribution, ethnicity and religion, education and employment, deprivation, property
  3. Human health
  4. Soil – soil types and agricultural land classification
  5. Water – drainage network and river flood risk, surface water flooding
  6. Air quality
  7. Climate
  8. Material assets and landfill sites
  9. Cultural heritage – listed buildings and Hampshire Environment Record (HER)
  10. Landscape – character appraisal areas
  11. Important views

In response the National Park Authority issued a screening statement on behalf of both LPAs determining the need for a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment for the emerging Wellow Neighbourhood Plan.

The statement can be accessed by following this link: New Forest National Park Authority Screening Statement

The resulting reports on the SEA and HRA can be viewed by going to the Key References below and following the relevant links.

F. List of Heritage Assets

Wellow Parish has 47 listed buildings and structures spread throughout the Parish. In addition, there is one listed park and garden, Embley Park. A number of unlisted buildings and sites have been identified as being locally important. Collectively these are referred to as Heritage Assets

Access a list these heritage assets by following this link: Wellow Parish: Table of listed and non-designated heritage assets

Map of heritage assets

An interactive map showing the locations of heritage assets in Wellow Parish can be viewed here . This map is derived in part from mapping by Historic England.  The map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2022.

The map can be navigated and zoomed. To find out the name and details of heritage asset area click on the symbol and the name will appear in the left-hand part of the screen under “Heritage assets”.

G. Local Green Space Assessment

National policy makes provision for local communities to identify green areas of particular importance to those communities, where development will not be permitted except in very special circumstances. These Local Green Spaces can be designated through neighbourhood plans.

A Local Green Space must be demonstrably special to a local community and hold a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife. It cannot be an extensive site and it must be located close to the community that it serves. Land can be considered for designation even if there is no public access. The designation does not confer any additional rights of public access.

Designating a Local Green Space gives protection consistent with that in respect of Green Belt land but otherwise there are no new restrictions or obligations on landowners.  Management of land designated as Local Green Space remains the responsibility of its owner. If the features that make a green area special and locally significant are to be conserved, how it will be managed in the future is however likely to be an important consideration.

The Pre-submission Draft includes a number of sites that have been proposed by residents and assessed. Their actual designation as Local Green Spaces is subject to consultation and agreement with Test Valley District Council.

The list of proposed Local Green Spaces and the details of their assessment can be accessed by following this link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan: Table of proposed Local Green Spaces

Map of Local Green Spaces

An interactive map showing the proposed Local Green Spaces in the Neighbourhood Plan area can be viewed here. The map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2023.

The map can be navigated and zoomed. To find out the name of an area click on the area and the name will appear in the left-hand part of the screen under “Local Green Spaces”.

H. List of Infrastructure Projects and Community Aspirations

During the various consultations and surveys that have been conducted in the development of the Neighbourhood Plan, a number of proposals for the improvement of the environment of the Parish and its facilities have emerged. Although strictly out of scope of the Neighbourhood Plan, they are included here as proposed projects for infrastructural changes and other community aspirations.

Access the list of these projects and aspirations by following this link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan table of Aspirations and Projects

I. Ecology – List of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), information from Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and Wellow Wildlife Plan

Access the list of Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINCs) by following this link: Wellow Parish: Table of SINCs

Map of SINCs

An interactive map showing the SINCs in the Neighbourhood Plan area can be viewed here. The map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2022.

The map can be navigated and zoomed. To find out the name of an area click on the area and the name will appear in the left-hand part of the screen under “SINCs”.  This map is derived from mapping by the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC).

Map of designated and non-designated areas and zones

An interactive map showing SINCs, designated areas – Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) , Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Mottisfont Bats SAC Foraging Zone, Special Protection Areas (SPAs), SPA 400m Impact Zone, and Ramsars – and ancient woodlands can be viewed here. Shown are the northern limit of the SPA impact zone and the southern limit of the bat foraging zone. The map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2022.

The map can be navigated and zoomed. Individual layers (e.g. SINCs) can be removed by unticking the layer from the drop-down menu under “Layers”. Since many areas overlap, viewing of some layers will be made easier by unticking other layers.

Map of broad habitats

An interactive map showing broad habitats can be viewed here. This map is derived in part from mapping by the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) modified by field observation and aerial imagery.  The map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2023.

The map can be navigated and zoomed. A key to the habitat types can be viewed on the drop-down menu under “Layers”.

J. Community consultations and Survey

There has been consultation with the community both formally through surveys – principally on-line – seeking views and comments and informally through events, public meetings and interchanges with individual residents. The main formal surveys of the whole Parish were (i) the residents’ survey of 2018 eliciting views on what they thought about living in the Parish currently, their views on further housing development and how they would like to see the Parish evolve and (ii) the policy consultation in 2021 on the main policies to be included in the Neighbourhood Plan.

Access a summary of the 2018 survey by following this link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan: Summary of parish-wide survey results Autumn 2018

And access the detailed results by following this link:  Wellow Neighbourhood Plan: Results from the parish-wide survey Autumn 2018

Access the results of the 2021 policy consultation by following this link: Wellow Neighbourhood Plan: Policy Consultation Autumn 2021 – Results

A statement on the process for the 2021 consultation from the Steering Committee is avaiable here.

K. Important Views Assessment

A table of the Important Views in the Parish which have been included in the Neighbourhood Plan available here. This contains the name of each view and a description with an assessment of why the view is considered important.

An interactive map showing the approximate extent of the view and the viewpoint is available here.

Key references cited in the Neighbourhood Plan

The following are a list of the key documents cited; they can be accessed by following the links: