Respondents were asked specifically about their views on the East-West link road. Agreement that this is cri cal to Stam
VERSION 1 OCTOBER 19, 2016
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN HOUSEHOLD SURVEY RESULTS, 2016
PRODUCED BY: JULIET MUMFORD INTELLIGENT INSIGHT LIMITED 9 SUDBOROUGH RD, BRIGSTOCK, NORTHANTS, NN14 3HP
Confiden'al
CONTENTS 1.
Background .......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 2
2.
Key Findings ......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Demographic Informa3on .................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 About Stamford ................................................................................................................................. 5 Where Should StamfordFirst Focus Its A5en7on? ............................................................................... 5 2.3
Housing ........................................................................................................................................ 6
The Areas of Stamford that are the Most/ Least Appropriate for Development ................................. 7 Future Housing Needs ......................................................................................................................... 7
3.
2.4
Educa&on ..................................................................................................................................... 7
2.5
Heritage and the Environment ..................................................................................................... 8
2.6
The Local Economy ...................................................................................................................... 9
2.7
Sports, Arts and Leisure ............................................................................................................... 9
2.8
Highways, Transport and Parking ............................................................................................... 10
Summary of Key Findings ................................................................................................................... 12
4. Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 13 4.1 Ques)onnaire .................................................................................................................................. 13 4.2 Open Ended Responses ................................................................................................................... 14
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1. BACKGROUND Intelligent Insight Ltd was commissioned by StamfordFirst to conduct research amongst residents of Stamford to help inform and shape the Stamford Neighbourhood Plan. This report details the findings from the research.
1.1 METHODOLOGY The ques%onnaire was developed in conjunc%on with StamfordFirst, and was made available to anyone with a connec+on to Stamford both online and in hard copy. 8,000 paper copies of the survey were distributed in total (4,000 via Stamford Living magazine and 4,000 via a door drop). Further paper copies were available from the Town Hall and Stamford Arts Centre. In all instances, a response paid envelope was provided. The online survey was promoted heavily via social media and local media. Key Facts § Fieldwork took place between 19/8/16 – 7/10/16. § In total 180 online responses and 1,520 paper responses were received, making a grand total of 1,700 responses. § Respondents were given the chance to win one of five £100 vouchers to spend in a Stamford restaurant as an incentive.
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2. KEY FINDINGS The questionnaire covered eight areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Demographic informa/on General ques+ons about Stamford Housing Educa&on Heritage and the environment Local economy Sports, art and leisure Highways, transport and parking
A copy of the ques%onnaire can be found in the appendix.
2.1 DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION In order to make sense and best use of the data received, a number of demographic ques8ons were posed. Using the 2011 Census data for Stamford it was possible to establish how propor2onally representa(ve of the local popula(on the respondents to this survey were across the age bands.
AGE PROFILE The chart below compares the age of the respondents to the survey with the age of the local popula&on as determined by Census data. It shows that propor$onally a greater number of responses were received from those aged 55+, and propor$onally fewer responses from those aged 34 and under.
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CONNECTION TO STAMFORD 98% of respondents said they live in Stamford. Other connec3ons with Stamford include: ‘work in Stamford’ (16%), ‘own a business that operates in Stamford’ (5%), and ‘own land in Stamford’ (5%). 83% of respondents provided their home postcode. When split out, 58% reside in PE9 2, 35% in PE9 1, 5% in PE9 4 and 2% in PE9 3. The corresponding areas to these postcodes are displayed below.
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2.2 ABOUT STAMFORD Respondents were asked what three things they like most about Stamford and what three things they like least. The most common responses are listed below. The open ended responses are listed in the appendices.
When asked what they would change or improve about Stamford the most frequently men/oned was to improve the current parking (whether this be free parking, the amount of parking or the loca7on), to have be'er traffic management, and to increase the variety of shops (some respondents wanted more independent shops, others wanted more affordable shops). Once again, a full list of the open ended responses can be found in the appendices.
WHERE SHOULD STAMFORDFIRST FOCUS ITS ATTENTION? Respondents were asked to read through the objec4ves set out by StamfordFirst, and select up to five of the objec&ves that they deemed to be most important. By far the most important objec5ve, according to 81% of respondents is: “To protect the town’s unique character and heritage and retain its strong local iden.ty and dis.nc.veness.” The other objec+ves deemed to be of the greatest importance are: § § §
To maintain and enhance the town centre and its vibrant retail economy (58%) To affirm which existing areas of green space should be retained, including the open aspects of all approaches to the town (53%) To ensure that the design and appearance of new developments is appropriate to the town’s sense of place (51%)
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2.3 HOUSING During the 10 year period 2005 to 2015 some 674 new homes were built in Stamford, equa@ng to 67 houses per year on average. Based on what has happened in the past, respondents were asked what would be an appropriate number of new homes to build over the next 20 years. On average respondents deemed up to 52 houses per year to be an appropriate number to be built, equa$ng to 1,040 new homes over the next 20 years. Those who stated a higher number of homes on average: § § § § §
Own a business that operates in Stamford (60 houses) Are self-employed (58 houses) Live in postcode PE9 4 (58 houses) Are aged 65+ (54 houses) Have dependent children (54 houses)
Respondents were asked how much they agreed/ disagreed with a ba3ery of housing-related statements. In keeping with other findings, the highest level of agreement was with development being supported by appropriate investment in highways, infrastructure and local services, and that any development must incorporate an appropriate alloca1on of parking. Only 34% of respondents agreed that they ‘don’t wish to see any further development in Stamford’.
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THE AREAS OF STAMFORD THAT ARE THE MOST/ LEAST APPROPRIATE FOR DEVELOPMENT Respondents were shown the map to the le0 and asked which areas would be the most and least appropriate for future development. Areas C and B were deemed the most appropriate, whereas areas D and E were deemed the least appropriate. Whilst the responses received were largely similar regardless of where the respondent lived themselves, fewer people living in PE9 1 considered Area B most appropriate for development.
FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS To give an indica*on of the future housing needs of Stamford, the survey asked respondents what type of property they would want to move into next. As would be an-cipated, the age and life stage of respondents had a clear influence on their needs: §
Older people are looking for bungalows, re#rement housing and smaller proper#es
§
Those with dependent children are looking for larger proper4es
When asked what type of housing would be needed by others the results changed drama%cally. Whilst the responses were based on percep,on, rather than a measure of actual need, respondents clearly believed there to be a need for: § § §
Low cost housing Smaller houses (1, 2, and 3 bedroom homes) Community housing
2.4 EDUCATION 22% of respondents said they have children in their household in educa&on. Amongst those that have children, 63% said they were sa3sfied with the choice of skills they have for their children. The strongest level of agreement, however, was with the statement ‘I would like to see a new educa0on campus incorpora,ng all of Stamford and Casterton's state sixth-form provision.’ (65%).
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2.5 HERITAGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT Respondents were asked to rate the importance of various elements, many of which were rated either ‘very important’ or ‘important’ by the large majority of respondents. ‘Enhancing protec'on of the landscape’ was deemed to have the highest importance (93% rated it very important or important).
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2.6 THE LOCAL ECONOMY Keeping a high propor,on of independent retailers on Stamford High Street is of the utmost importance to 93% of respondents. 70% agree that the Neighbourhood Plan should also incorporate the needs of local businesses – par$cularly those that need room to grow. Loyalty is high amongst Stamford residents as well, with only 17% agreeing they prefer to shop at out of town retail parks instead of the town centre.
2.7 SPORTS, ARTS AND LEISURE Respondents were asked which leisure ac3vi3es are important to them, and how readily available they are. Open green spaces, cinema, theatre and play areas for young children were deemed to be the most important. However, when asked which are readily available, cinemas and open spaces for young children appeared much further down the list. It will therefore come as no surprise that when asked what should be done to improve the provision of sports, arts and leisure facili1es, one of the top answers was to build a be3er cinema. However, a be#er swimming pool was the top answer, cited by 29% of respondents.
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2.8 HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND PARKING Whilst most respondents rely on their car for travel to their place of work or study, 57% said they prefer to walk when taking part in leisure ac3vi3es or shopping. Not only this, but 70% agreed that more should be done to encourage residents to walk or cycle around the town.
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Confiden'al A ‘hopper’ style shu/le bus for residents and visitors was of interest to 69% of respondents, and 49% thought a ‘Park and Ride’ system would be of use. Restric(ng parking to discourage the use of cars was a very unpopular idea, however, with 68% disagreeing with this statement. Respondents were asked specifically about their views on the East-West link road. Agreement that this is cri&cal to Stamford’s future development was high, with 72% of respondents agreeing and only 13% disagreeing. Agreement that the development of more houses would be an acceptable compromise if the relief road were to be built was more divisive, with 50% agreeing and 30% disagreeing.
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3. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS Maintaining the heritage and character of Stamford and keeping the town centre vibrant are of the highest importance to residents. Key problems iden/fied within the town centre include: parking (cost and limited availability); conges'on; cleanliness; and having a wide variety of shops available. Outside of the town centre the availability of affordable housing is an issue, as are easier access to be#er schools, and greater access to sports and leisure facili5es. On the whole there is a general acceptance that development is required for both residen%al and business, but the right infrastructure needs to be put in place at the same 5me.
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4. APPENDICES 4.1 QUESTIONNAIRE
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4.2 OPEN ENDED RESPONSES
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