Settlement Hierarchy for the Forest of Dean - Forest of Dean District ...

Forest of Dean District Council | Settlement Hierarchy for the Forest of Dean 

Contents 

1 Background 2 

2 Introduction 4 

3 What is a Settlement Hierarchy 5 

4 What is the role of the planning system 6 

5 The Current Situation 7 

6 National Policy 8 

7 Regional Policy 9 

8 Methodology 11 

9 Market Towns 14 

10 Lydney 15 

11 Cinderford 17 

12 Coleford 18 

13 Newent 20 

14 Other Settlements 21 

15 Conclusion 26 

16 Relevant Strategic Policies 27 

17 Comparative Matrix of Services & Facilities in the Forest of Dean 

Settlements 41


1 . Background 

1 Background 

1.1 The Forest of Dean District is situated between the River Severn and the River 

Wye and is largely rural in character. The District has four main towns: Cinderford, 

Coleford, Lydney and Newent. 

1.2 Cinderford is located in the heart of the Forest of Dean and is closely related 

to the settlement of Ruspidge, with a combined population of around 10,000. Heavy 

industry has had a significant influence on the development of the area and this 

legacy is particularly strong in Cinderford and Ruspidge. Most of the existing town 

dates back to the late eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and the town 

still has a strong manufacturing base. The area has a number of problems to solve 

but equally has opportunities to exploit and the town and surrounding area is at an 

important stage in its development. 

1.3 Coleford is an attractive historic market town at the western edge of the Forest 

of Dean, approximately 16km north of Chepstow. Whilst the town is relatively small 

(having a population of approximately 6,000), it is closely related to a group of 

settlements, including Milkwall, Mile End and Coalway, which effectively doubles its 

population. The town is large enough to support a wide range of services and 

shopping facilities and it is the second largest shopping centre in the District. Heavy 

industry has had a significant influence on the development of the area and the area 

has been generally fortunate to escape the legacy of dereliction, which affects many 

other post-industrial locations. Coleford has an attractive and historic core and lies 

in a bowl surrounded by open countryside, which has meant that there have been 

few opportunities for expansion without losing this valuable asset. Coleford lies close 

to the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the town benefits from 

visiting tourist activity. Heavy industrial activity has almost ceased, leaving Coleford 

and its surrounding area to develop, expand and adapt its role as a market town 

providing shopping and other services to its hinterland. 

1.4 Lydney is the most southerly of the four main Forest towns. It is accessible 

by train, situated on a route between South Wales and the Midlands, and the A48 

trunk road connects the town to Chepstow and Gloucester. The town has an attractive 

settling between the Forest and the Severn Valley. Historically, the town was a port 

for the Forest of Dean area, especially for exporting raw materials such as stone, 

coal, and iron and timber until the demise of those industries. It also acted as an 

agricultural market town including a river-based economy and developed 

manufacturing skills to serve the surrounding countryside. The manufacturing tradition 

was stimulated by the mining and docking industries and the railway led to the 

manufacturing base broadening further. However, Lydney has followed the national 

trend of the decline in the mining and manufacturing sectors, and infrastructural 

changes to agriculture and retail. The town currently has a population of around 

8,000. 

2


1 . Background 

1.5 Newent is a small traditional market town in the north of the Forest of Dean 

District and is located approximately 15km from Gloucester. Newent is smaller than 

the other three main Forest towns with a population of around 4,500. Newent has 

an ancient history and is thought to have Roman origins. The medieval street pattern 

and the central market place are two of the town’s most attractive features. The 

countryside surrounding the town provides high quality agricultural land with 

medium-sized farms specialising in dairying, fruit growing, and horticulture, together 

with forestry. The landscape is characterised by gently rolling land with small villages 

and scattered settlements within it. Newent has a high quality built environment, 

which was designated as a conservation area in 1979. Today, the town remains an 

important service centre for the surrounding settlements providing a wide range of 

leisure, entertainment, welfare, education and retail facilities, as well as acting as a 

focus for tourism within the northern part of the Forest of Dean. 

1.6 Outside of the four main towns, individual settlements vary considerably from 

one part of the District to another. Most of the smaller settlements have strong 

interconnections with other small settlements, with one of the four main towns and/or 

one of the larger settlements outside of the District (e.g. Gloucester or Chepstow). 

1.7 The individual settlements display their own development layout characteristics 

and form. Generally in the north they are compact and have clear physical boundaries 

with areas of ribbon development adjoining some. In the south many of the villages 

outside the Forest Ring have developed from small hamlets and are relatively 

concentrated built up areas within agricultural landscapes. The Forest Ring comprises 

an almost continuous form of built development encircling the core woodlands of the 

Forest of Dean and the minerals outcrop (coal, metal ores, and stone) that generally 

coincides with the perimeter of the Forest. A large number of these Forest Ring 

villages are dominated by a distinctive settlement pattern in the form of loosely 

aggregated communities with the presence of open areas in the form of forest waste 

and paddocks. This pattern is very different from the more traditional forms of villages 

found in other parts of the District. 

3


2 . Introduction 

2 Introduction 

2.1 The Local Development Framework (LDF) must carefully consider the options 

for a settlement hierarchy. The LDF Core Strategy document is expected to have 

considered and finalised the options available to the district, having regard to national 

and regional policy guidance and local factors. 

2.2 The role of this paper is therefore to; 

Explain the role of national and regional policies in the hierarchy 

Provide background evidence for a settlement hierarchy 

2.3 The settlement hierarchy is important as the Local Development Framework 

(LDF) must set out a clear order of preference for the location of development. This 

needs to be robust, not just for the short term in the context of limited or no housing 

supply, but in the longer term when development requirements change. 

2.4 Whilst the hierarchy will indicate the most sustainable locations for development, 

it does not follow that levels of development will be equal amongst settlements at 

each level within the hierarchy. Levels of development will be dependant on strategic 

policy direction, suitable sites being available and other development constraints 

such as flooding. 

4


3 . What is a Settlement Hierarchy 

3 What is a Settlement Hierarchy 

3.1 Settlements are not only a collection of dwellings. They can provide services, 

facilities and infrastructure for the inhabitants of the settlement and the wider area. 

The bigger the settlement the more services it tends to have, although this is not 

always the case. Over time a settlement hierarchy has been established in the 

District with the larger towns providing many of the services and facilities for the 

whole District. As car ownership has increased, local village services have tended 

to decline, and even some of the largest villages in the District in terms of population 

lack many basic facilities like a post office or general store. 

5


4 . What is the role of the planning system 

4 What is the role of the planning system 

4.1 The UK town planning system shapes the places where people live and work 

and the country we live in. It makes a positive difference to people’s lives and helps 

to deliver homes, jobs, and better opportunities for all, whilst protecting and enhancing 

the natural and historic environment, and conserving the countryside and open spaces 

that are vital resources for everyone. Planning operates in the wider public interest 

through a system of plan preparation and control over the development and use of 

land. 

4.2 One of the key aims of the planning system is to create sustainable communities 

by bringing housing, jobs and services closer together in an attempt to reduce the 

need for travel. This will be an important ambition of any future LDF for the Forest 

of Dean and the establishment of a settlement hierarchy is a key component of this. 

The settlement hierarchy helps to achieve this by concentrating housing growth in 

those settlements that have a range of services and employment opportunities, and 

restricting it in those that do not. 

4.3 Whilst to an extent this has been incorporated in the existing policy framework, 

there have been a number of changes in national and regional policy that must be 

taken into account when considering a settlement hierarchy. It is therefore important 

that the existing settlement hierarchy is reviewed and updated so that it is fit for 

purpose and based on sound and up to date evidence. 

4.4 The LDF will consider options for growth in the future and the establishment 

of a settlement hierarchy will inform choices of where new development should be 

focused in order to support the objective to create sustainable communities. 

6


5 . The Current Situation 

5 The Current Situation 

5.1 The current settlement hierarchy is established through various tiers of policy 

documents. This currently comprises the following key documents: 

Regional Planning Guidance for the South West – RPG10 (September 2001), 

The Gloucestershire Structure Plan Third Alteration (September 2005), and 

The Forest of Dean Local Plan (November 2005) 

5.2 The Forest of Dean Local Plan is the most detailed of these documents, setting 

the current settlement hierarchy (see Appendix A) and builds upon the more strategic 

approach in the Structure Plan and Regional Planning Guidance. 

5.3 The emphasis then was to concentrate development in the four main towns of 

the District – Lydney, Cinderford, Coleford, and Newent – and to develop their role 

and function as accessible employment, service and transport centres serving the 

surrounding rural hinterland. This reflected the requirement of national and regional 

policy to concentrate development in certain locations. 

5.4 Despite some housing growth in villages across the District, some settlements 

have generally continued to lose their services, especially shops. This follows a 

general trend of increased competition from large supermarkets resulting from 

increased mobility of the population. However, for those without a car there is more 

reliance on bus services for economic and social links. The larger and more 

accessible towns have retained their services better and act as hubs for the smaller, 

more isolated settlements. 

7


6 . National Policy 

6 National Policy 

6.1 In terms of national guidance, PPS7 (Sustainable Development in Rural Areas), 

PPS3 (Housing) and PPG13 (Transport) contain the most relevant sources of national 

guidance on settlement strategy matters. The general thrust of these documents is 

that: 

Most new development should be directed to existing towns and cities, to help 

maximise accessibility to employment and services by walking, cycling and 

public transport 

In rural areas, development should be focused on settlements that can act as 

service centres for surrounding areas 

In open countryside small ribbons of housing development with no service are 

not usually appropriate for further housing. 

With regard to housing, the focus for significant growth should be market towns 

or local service centres, well served by public transport and other facilities, with 

development in villages and other small rural communities only where needed 

to contribute to their sustainability. Therefore only limited growth should be 

expected though the expansion of villages. 

8


7 . Regional Policy 

7 Regional Policy 

7.1 National planning policies are currently interpreted and applied at the regional 

level though Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) and the Structure Plan. The 

Structure Plan formed part of the “Development Plan” for the area, which also included 

the Local Plan. Since the enactment of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 

2004 the previous RPG has also been incorporated into the Development Plan as a 

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). This document is intended to replace the current 

RPG and Structure Plan documents. In this respect a revised RSS is currently under 

preparation, and once adopted will replace the current two tiers of regional planning 

policy and will be combine with the Council local policies in the LDF to for the 

Development Plan for the area. 

7.2 The most up to date regional guidance on settlement hierarchy is found in the 

emerging Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West 2006-2026. This has been 

prepared by the South West Regional Assembly submitted the Draft RSS for the 

South West and was submitted to the Secretary of State for consideration in April 

2006. It has been the subject of an Examination in Public and the Panel Report is 

anticipated to be produced in October 2007. It is anticipated that it will be 

subsequently adopted in 2009. 

7.3 This was supported by a number of research documents. This included 

research by Roger Tym & Partners and Land-Use Consultants on the Functional 

Analysis of Settlements on behalf of the South West Regional Assembly. This 

document was published in April 2005 and sought to develop and apply a methodology 

(with associated datasets) to identify the functions and functional relationships of 

settlements in the South West. It also provides guidance on how to deal with 

settlements - settlement functionality and potential allocations for "local requirement" 

at the local level. 

7.4 A full review of relevant policies in the current and emerging policy documents 

is contained in Appendix A but, in summary, their implications for this paper are that: 

Strategically Significant Cities and Towns (SSTCs) should be the focus for the 

majority of future development in the South West Region. However, there are 

no SSTCs in the District. 

In other areas, including the Forest of Dean, development should be focused 

on settlements that can act as service centres for surrounding areas. 

A settlement hierarchy should be identified to determine the location of future 

development and this hierarchy should be based on the role and function of 

settlements, not the size of population within them. 

Development in larger settlements should reflect local housing and employment 

needs, and wider regeneration objectives. 

Development in other villages should be limited and in a form that helps to meet 

local rural needs. 

9


7 . Regional Policy 

7.5 Consideration therefore needs to be given to the role and function of settlements 

in the Forest of Dean. 

10


8 . Methodology 

8 Methodology 

8.1 This paper provides the evidence and justification for the settlement hierarchy 

policy in the Core Strategy. The Council has assessed the settlement hierarchy 

through the use of National, Regional and Strategic Guidance, historic policy, data 

collected for the GVA Grimley Forest of Dean District Retail Study (prepared in 2008), 

and a local facilities survey in villages undertaken by Forest of Dean District Council, 

plus local knowledge. 

8.2 The paper has been prepared in accordance with the existing policy framework, 

and in particular the adopted RPG and Structure Plan. It also builds upon the existing 

Local Plan and the experiences gathered from operating the existing policy 

framework. However, in order to future proof the assessment particular regard has 

been had to the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy and the research that was 

undertaken in its preparation. 

8.3 The facilities survey was undertaken in July and August 2007 by the Council. 

Officers visited each settlement to record facilities. Other sources of data used to 

compile the lists included online bus timetables, the West Gloucestershire Primary 

Care Trust, the Post Office website, and internet business directories. 

8.4 The matrix at Appendix B presents a summary of the facilities survey and 

shows the level of shopping, service, social, cultural, community, and health facilities 

in each settlement in the District with a defined settlement boundary. The matrix 

also identifies whether the settlement is accessible and served by public transport, 

and whether there are significant employment opportunities available. 

8.5 All locations with a defined settlement boundary have been assessed using 

the selection criteria mentioned above. They have then been ranked according to 

the following requirements, which reflect the emphasis on providing a basic level of 

service for the local rural community and reducing the need to travel, especially by 

private car: 

1. At least one general store; 

2. At least one shop (other than general store) or other A1 use; 

3. Access to employment opportunities; 

4. A primary school; 

5. A secondary school; 

6. Two or more of the following services: a Post Office, surgery or health centre, 

bank, A5 food and drink use (e.g. take-away), café / restaurant; 

7. Two or more of the following types of social facilities: public house(s), community 

centre or hall, church, library; and, 

8. Reasonably accessible by public transport. 

11

Number of 

Criteria Met 

Public 

Transport 

Social 

Cultural 

Facilities 

Other 

Services 

Secondary 

School 

Primary 

School 

Employment 

Uses 

Other A1 

uses 

General 

Store 

3 

* 

* 

* 

Alvington 

4 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Aylburton 

3 

* 

* 

* 

Beachley 

6 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Blakeney 

7 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Bream 

3 

* 

* 

* 

Brierley 

1 

* 

Brockweir 

2 

* 

* 

Bromsberrow 

Heath 

8 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Cinderford 

3 

* 

* 

* 

Clearwell 

8 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Coleford 

7 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Drybrook / 

Harrow Hill 

2 

* 

* 

Dymock 

1 

* 

Edge End 

2 

* 

* 

Ellwood 

2 

* 

* 

English 

Bicknor 

4 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Hartpury 

3 

* 

* 

* 

Huntley 

0 

Kempley 

Green 

5 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Littledean 

5 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Longhope 

6 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Lydbrook 

8 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Lydney 

7 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Mitcheldean 

8 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Newent 

1 

* 

Newland 

6 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Newnham - on 

- 

Severn 

1 

* 

Northwood 

Green 

0 

Oldcroft 

4 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Parkend 

3 

* 

* 

* 

Redbrook 

2 

* 

* 

Redmarley 

D'Abitot 

5 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

Ruardean 

12 


8 . Methodology


8 . Methodology 

General 

Store 

Other A1 

uses 

Employment 

Uses 

Primary 

School 

Secondary 

School 

Other 

Services 

Social 

Cultural 

Facilities 

Public 

Transport 

Number of 

Criteria Met 

Ruardean Hill 

0 

Ruardean 

Woodside 

* 

* 

* 

3 

Sling 

* 

* 

2 

St Briavels 

* 

* 

2 

Staunton 

(near 

Coleford) 

* 

* 

2 

Staunton / 

Corse 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

6 

Tibberton 

* 

1 

Tutshill / 

Sedbury 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

8 

Upleadon 

* 

0 

Upper 

Soudley 

* 

* 

* 

3 

Viney Hill 

* 

1 

Westbury 

* 

* 

* 

* 

4 

Whitecroft / 

Pillowell 

* 

* 

* 

* 

4 

Woodcroft 

0 

Woolaston 

* 

* 

* 

* 

4 

Worrall Hill 

* 

1 

Yorkley 

* 

* 

* 

* 

4 

13


9 . Market Towns 

9 Market Towns 

9.1 Table 1 shows that the four main towns of Lydney, Coleford, Cinderford, Newent 

meet all the criteria relating to services and facilities. 

9.2 It is noted that Tutshill / Sedbury also meets all 8 criteria but a closer 

examination of facilities indicates that the two adjacent settlements, close to Chepstow, 

do not have the range and choice of services and facilities found in the four main 

towns. The services and facilities available in Tutshill and Sedbury are somewhat 

dispersed and the settlements do not have a particular location which acts as a focus 

and which could reasonably constitute a ‘town centre’. 

9.3 Turning back to the main towns of Lydney, Coleford, Cinderford and Newent, 

the GVA Grimley Forest of Dean District Retail Study 2008 undertook an assessment 

of the main facilities within each town centre and a summary of the results is set out 

below: 

14


10 . Lydney 

10 Lydney 

10.1 Lydney is the main town serving the southern part of the south Forest with a 

wide catchment area including several large settlements, such as Bream. The 

composition of the centre is as follows in Table 2: 

10.2 Table 2: Lydney Town Centre – Retail and Land Use Composition 

Sector 

A1 Convenience 

A1 Comparison 

Service 

Vacant 

Miscellaneous 

Total 

No of Units 

8 

49 

42 

5 

2 

106 

Source: Forest of Dean Council Survey 2007 

10.3 Lydney has a large Tesco store on the southern edge of the town centre and 

a Co-op store on Newerne Street. There is also a Somerfield store in the town centre 

accessed from Ham Road, adjacent to the bus station. In addition to these three 

national operators, there are also a number of independent convenience retailers in 

the town including bakers and newsagents. 

10.4 In the comparison goods sector, the only national major retailers are Lloyds 

Pharmacy, Oxfam Charity Shop, and Travis Perkins (although Dorothy Perkins 

operates from within the Co-op store). The remainder of comparison retailers consist 

of independent retail units, including a range of clothing, electrical, personal goods 

and books/arts/crafts shops. In the serve sector, there are a number of high street 

banks, building societies and estate agents, plus hair salons and a selection of food 

and drink establishments. 

10.5 Outside the town centre, there are limited further retail facilities in Lydney. 

The main facility is at Taurus Crafts which is located to the south west of the town 

and includes craft, art, food and gardening supplies. There is also a store called 

Light Fantastic on Forest Road just outside the town centre which sells DIY, gardening 

and electrical goods. 

15


10 . Lydney 

10.6 Bus services visiting Lydney link the town to Chepstow and Gloucester with 

an hourly service running Monday to Saturday and a more limited service on Sundays. 

The bus station is located at the eastern end of the town centre on Ham Road and 

provides an accessible location for town centre visitors. 

Overall Lydney is assessed to be a reasonably healthy centre with a reasonably 

good range of shops and services, albeit limited to largely local independent 

businesses in the comparison sector. It has, by a small margin, the highest number 

of retail and service units in any of the four main Forest centres. 

16


11 . Cinderford 

11 Cinderford 

11.1 The retail composition of Cinderford town centre is shown in Table 3 below: 

11.2 Table 3: Cinderford Town Centre – Retail and Land Use Composition 

Sector 


A1 Comparison 

Service 

Vacant 

Miscellaneous 

Total 


11 

32 

35 

15 

4 

97 


11.3 There is only a limited number of national multiple shops in the town centre 

including the Co Op, Lidl and Sue Ryder Charity Shop. The retail offer is focussed 

around independent retailers and the Westgate Department Store which is the largest 

comparison retail unit in the town centre selling clothing, homeware, garden and 

electrical goods. 

11.4 Outside the town centre, there is a limited amount of additional retail provision, 

including a large builders merchants (hales) to the north of the town and a number 

of quasi-retail premises within the Forest Vale industrial estate. 

11.5 There is a small bus station adjacent to the vehicular entrance of the Co-op 

store and this accommodates services linking the town centre with regular services 

to Joys Green, Micheldean, Ruardean, Gloucester and Coleford. Most services run 

on an hourly basis. 

11.6 Overall, Cinderford possesses the second largest town centre in the District 

in terms of retail and commercial units and has the potential to possess a large 

shopping catchment population. Analysis of the retail composition of the town centre 

indicates a good level of convenience and service uses, but low levels of comparison 

goods retail uses. 

17


12 . Coleford 

12 Coleford 

12.1 The retail composition of Coleford town centre is shown in Table 4. 

12.2 Table 4: Coleford Town Centre – Retail and Land Use Composition 

Sector 


A1 Comparison 

Service 

Vacant 

Miscellaneous 

Total 


8 

42 

38 

4 

3 

95 


12.3 In terms of retailer representation, Coleford has a large Co op, a small 

Somerfield store, and a Tesco Express store. In addition to these three national 

multiples, there are a number of independent convenience retailers in the town centre 

including butchers, newsagents and health food shops. 

12.4 In the comparison goods sector, again there is a limited number of national 

multiple retailers. In addition to the foodstores mentioned, there is only a Lloyds 

pharmacy, Sue Ryder Charity Shop and a Cancer Research UK Charity Shop. The 

remainder of comparison retailers in the town consist of independent retail units, 

including a range of clothing, electrical, personal goods and books/arts/crafts shops. 

In the service sector, there are a number of high street banks and building societies, 

including HSBC and Lloyds TSB, as well as estate agents, hair and beauty salons 

and food and drink establishments. 

12.5 Outside the town centre, Coleford has a garden centre and a small foodstore 

called EskiMart. 

12.6 The town centre is served by a number of local bus services, linking the town 

to Cinderford, Gloucester, Christchurch, Lydbrook, Ross on Wye and Micheldean. 

Most of these services run on an hourly basis. In addition, one return serve runs 

between Coleford and Hereford on alternate Wednesdays. 

18


12 . Coleford 

12.7 Overall, Coleford is considered to be a healthy centre, which caters well for 

local residents. Household telephone surveys indicate high levels of expenditure 

leakage from the town, which suggests that the centre is not particularly attractive 

to local residents for a wide range of shopping, although the comparison goods 

retention rate is comparative to other Forest towns. 

19


13 . Newent 

13 Newent 

13.1 The retail composition of Newent town centre is shown in Table 5. 

13.2 Table 5: Newent Town Centre – Retail and Land Use Composition 

Sector 


A1 Comparison 

Service 

Vacant 

Miscellaneous 

Total 


10 

23 

31 

5 

0 

69 


13.3 There are fewer units in Newent than the other three centres, and the 

proportion of service units is higher reflecting its role as a rural service centre. 

13.4 Newent has Costcutter, Co-op and Budgens foodstores, the latter of which 

is the largest of the three. In addition, there are a number of independent convenience 

retailers including confectioners, newsagents, butchers, delicatessen, healthfoods, 

greengrocers and a small general stores. Overall, for a town of its size, the range 

of convenience stores is considered to be good. 

13.5 In the comparison goods sector, there are no national multiple retailers but 

a number of independent specialist and niche retailers. The centre has Barclays, 

Lloyds TSB and Halifax banks. 

13.6 Outside of the town, there are a couple of garden centres to the north of the 

main urban area. 

13.7 The town is visited by bus services, including an hourly service to Ross on 

Wye and Hereford. One return service to Gloucester also runs each Tuesday and 

Friday. 

13.8 In summary, Newent is the smallest town centre in the Forest of Dean in 

terms of the number of retail and commercial units available and serves a rural 

hinterland in the northern part of the District. General shopping provision is limited 

but reasonably healthy. 

20


14 . Other Settlements 

14 Other Settlements 

14.1 Paragraph 3.5.1 of the Draft RSS indicates that in order to enable rural 

communities to thrive, some development, particularly economic development ma 

be appropriate in small amounts in villages and small towns. The draft RSS suggests 

that ‘many small communities and groups of communities are sustainable and 

self-sustaining; especially where economic development is taking place and 

employment is available locally and local services including shops, post offices, 

schools, health centres and meeting places are provided together with an adequate 

supply of affordable housing’. 

14.2 Table 1 shows that there are several settlements in addition to the market 

towns previously mentioned which have a range of facilities, services, and employment 

opportunities. The following settlements meet a least 4 criteria: 

Table 1 Serviced Settlements 

Aylburton 

Blakeney 

Bream 

Drybrook / Harrow Hill 

Hartpury 

Huntley 

Littledean 

Longhope 

Lydbrook 

Mitcheldean 

Newnham-on-Severn 

Parkend 

Redbrook 

Ruardean 

Staunton / Corse 

21



Tutshill / Sedbury 

Westbury 

Whitecroft / Pillowell 

Woolaston 

Yorkley 

14.3 The settlements shown in Table 1 have a broader range of facilities than the 

other settlements assessed, and therefore are better placed to support a limited 

amount of additional development. However, they have significantly fewer facilities 

and a narrower range of services than the four main towns. 

14.4 It is relevant to note that the proximity of a number of settlements in the Forest 

of Dean effectively means that services and facilities in one settlement may serve 

the neighbouring settlement and vice versa. Some individual settlements may not 

have the size of population to support certain services but its proximity of one or two 

other settlements may make the service viable. Examples of this can be found in 

the ring of settlements around the Statutory Forest, including Ruardean / Ruardean 

Woodside / Ruardean Hill, Ellwood / Sling, and Yorkley / Pillowell / Whitecroft. 

14.5 Notwithstanding the inter-relationships within this group of settlements, all of 

the settlements rely on many of the services and facilities provided in the nearest of 

the four main towns in the District, or larger towns and cities outside the District. 

Residents of the settlements listed in Table 1 are within the ‘service catchment area’ 

of the following larger settlements: 

Main Settlement 

Lydney: 

Alvington, Aylburton, Blakeney, Bream, 

Oldcroft, Parkend, Viney Hill, Whitecroft / 

Pillowell, Woolaston, and Yorkley 

(combined population 7,600 approx.) 

Coleford: 

Clearwell, Edge End, Ellwood, English Bicknor, 

Lydbrook, Newland, Parkend, Redbrook, St 

Briavals, Sling, and Staunton 


Cinderford: 

Brierley, Drybrook / Harrow Hill, Littledean, 

Longhope, Lydbrook, Mitcheldean, 

Newnham-on-Severn, Northwood Green, 

22



Ruardean, Ruardean Hill, Ruardean Woodside, 

Staunton, Upper Soudley, Westbury, Worrall 

Hill 


Newent: 

Bromsberrow Heath, Dymock, Hartpury, 

Kempley Green, Redmarley, Staunton / Corse, 

Tibberton, Upleaden 

(combined population 2,400 approx) 

Chepstow (outside District): 

Beachley, Brockweir, Tutshill / Sedbury, 


Gloucester(outside District): 

Blaisdon, Hartbury, Staunton / Corse, 

Longhope, Tibberton, and Westbury 

Ledbury (outside District): 

Bromsberrow Heath, Dymock 

Monmouth (outside District): 

Redbrook 

(Note: some settlements are within the service catchment areas of more than one 

town.) 

14.6 The following table indicates the various settlements size and their relation 

to the RSS and Core Strategy. 

Settlement 

Policy Approach and 

Relevant RSS Policy 

Core 

Policy 

Lydney 

Town 

Most accessible of Forest 

towns, major location for 

additional growth, and 

regeneration, proposed AAP: 

RSS Policy B 

CS 15 

Cinderford (with Ruspidge) 

Town 

Focus of area regeneration, one 

of forest towns proposed AAP 

and related business plan: RSS 

Policy B 

CS 16 

23






Core 

Policy 

Coleford (with Berry Hill, 

Broadwell, Coalway and 

Milkwall) 

Town 

local centre and forest townwell 

located for Wye Valley and 

Forest : RSS Policy B 

CS 17 

Newent 

Town 

local centre for northern part of 

district: RSS Policy B 

CS 18 

Tutshill and Sedbury, Bream, 

Drybrook and Harrow Hill, 

Mitcheldean, Newnham, 

Major 

Village 

Large villages with employment 

and/or services important to a 

wider area: RSS Policy C 

CS 19 

Whitecroft-Pillowell-Yorkley, 

Joys 

Green-Lydbrook-Worrall Hill, 

Group 

Village 

Villages which can be 

considered part of a group with 

common facilities and services 

in close proximity. May offer 

potential for small housing sites 

within existing settlement, and 

for affordable housing outside: 

RSS Policy C 

CS 19 

Alvington, Aylburton, 

Blakeney, Clearwell, Huntley, 

Littledean, Longhope, 

Parkend, Redbrook, 

Ruardean, St Briavels, Sling, 

Staunton and Corse, 

Westbury, Woolaston 

(Netherend) 

Service 

Village 

except for possible affordable 

housing as an exception, and 

existing allocations, new 

housing and employment 

opportunities are likely to be 

small in scale (eg single plots, 

or pairs, small workshops or 

changes of use of existing 

buildings plus re use of 

agricultural buildings): RSS 

Policy C 

CS 19 

Beachley, Brierley, 

Brockweir, Bromsberrow 

Heath, Dymock, Edge End, 

Ellwood, English Bicknor, 

Kempley Green, Hartpury, 

Newland, Northwood Green, 

Oldcroft, Redmarley, 

Ruardean Hill, Ruardean 

Woodside,Staunton 

(Coleford) Tibberton, 

Upleadon, Upper Soudley, 

Viney Hill, Woodcroft, 

Small 

Village 

some local services/facilities but 

generally very limited 

opportunity for additional 

development. Settlements with 

some services may be suitable 

for small affordable housing 

developments: RSS Policy C 

CS 19 

24






Core 

Policy 

Small settlements without 

defined settlement 

boundaries- 

Small 


Will be regarded as part of the 

open countryside for most 

purposes, but may be 

appropriate locations for limited 

affordable housing and rural 

employment as defined in Core 

Policies. 

- 

Key settlement characteristics 

14.7 This analysis demonstrates that, in addition to their own population, the four 

main towns act as service centres for a significant number of residents in the 

surrounding area. 

25


15 . Conclusion 

15 Conclusion 

15.1 The analysis has identified a clear settlement hierarchy within the Forest Of 

Dean District. 

15.2 The four main towns of Lydney, Cinderford, Coleford and newent all have a 

range of facilities, and meet all the criteria related to shopping, services, social, 

cultural, community and health facilities. Consequently, these should be the primary 

focus for new development. 

15.3 Underneath this tier, there are a number of settlements, which have a broader 

range of facilities than the other settlements assessed and, therefore are better 

placed to support a limited amount of additional development. However, they have 

significantly fewer facilities and a narrower range of services than the four main 

towns. 

15.4 Below this, many of the smaller settlements lack community facilities, service, 

public transport and access to jobs at close hand, and will be generally unsuitable 

for new development. 

26


16 . Relevant Strategic Policies 

16 Relevant Strategic Policies 

Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10) 

RPG10 provides the current strategic planning guidance for the South West, and the 

basis for the RSS revisions process. In relation to the range of settlements across 

the region, RPG10 is clearly identified as providing an “urban focus” to proposals 

and policies guiding development to 2016, and is particularly noted for its use of the 

designation of “Principal Urban Areas” for 11 parts of the region and “Other Designated 

Centres of Growth” for 10 other settlements. 

RPG10 the polycentric settlement pattern of the region and proposed that PUAs and 

some other larger centres for growth offer the best prospect for focussing growth 

which is balanced in terms of housing and employment and reduces the need to 

travel; but also notes that a significant proportion of the existing population lives in 

smaller towns, villages and rural areas with relatively few previously developed 

“brownfield” sites and with relatively modest development requirements to meet local 

needs for economic diversification and changes in household size. 

The principle for RPG10 is to concentrate growth at the Principal Urban Areas (PUAs) 

and other designated centres of growth; and to recognise the different roles of 

appropriate development in market towns, and key villages in rural and coastal 

locations, as places where development will be favoured locally. This approach is 

reflected in Policy SS 1 discussed below. 

The spatial strategy is set out in Section 3 of the document key elements of which 

are highlighted below. 

Policy SS 1: Regional Spatial Strategy 

Regional Spatial Strategy which considers the region in terms of four spatially based 

sub-regions which are considered to make different contributions and have differing 

potentials for supporting regional growth – the Northern, South East, Central and 

Western sub-regions. Forest of Dean lies within the Northern sub-region. 

27



It requires that Local Planning Authorities through their development plans and other 

agencies should reflect these varying sub-regional issues and take into account, 

where appropriate, important linkages with adjoining regions. In relation to the northern 

sub region (which also includes Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Swindon) 

it advised: 

The Northern sub-region will continue to be the main focus for growth in the 

South West; its prosperity should be maintained and enhanced, because of the 

contribution the area makes to the well-being of both the region and the nation. 

In developing and implementing sustainable policies, the important relationships 

in both economic, transport and environmental terms between this sub-region 

and the adjoining regions of the South East, West Midlands and South Wales 

should be recognised; 

Policy SS 2: Regional Development Strategy 

Policy SS2 sets out the policy of focussing growth on the PUAs and other designated 

centres, but notes that the level of growth to be accommodated in these centres must 

be considered in relation to their function and not provide for growth that can be 

accommodated at the PUAs. It requires that Local Planning Authorities, in their 

development plans and other agencies and developers in their plans, policies and 

programmes, should consider the needs of the whole of their area and the best 

opportunities to promote more sustainable patterns of development, in accordance 

with the vision, aims and principles of development set out in section 2. None of the 

PUAs identified, which were to be the focus of new development, lie within the Forest 

of Dean although significant influence is exerted by the nearby Bristol, Gloucester 

and Cheltenham. However, it goes on to advise that outside the PUAs and other 

designated centres for growth towns should be designated to act as local service 

centres for the wider rural areas of the region, other small towns and villages in rural 

areas should provide for local needs. However, it also advises that policies should 

also resist the continuing substantial planned expansion of residential development 

of small dormitory towns within easy commuting distance of the PUAs that has 

occurred historically 

28



RPG10 was clear that other settlements should be designated as centres for growth 

in the context of this strategy. The need for such centres and their identification would 

need to be reviewed by structure plan authorities in each sub-region. It was however 

the responsibility of development plans to specify the appropriate level of development 

at market towns, “including those in coastal locations and in key villages”. 

Policy SS 3: The Sub-Regional Strategy 

Policy SS3 provided more detailed advice in respect of the planning of development 

and infrastructure investment in the various sub-regions. In relation to the Northern 

sub region it advised it should be based on the following objectives: 

build on the economic strengths of the north of the region and foster economic 

growth in the area to improve its performance in relation to the EU average; 

make adequate provision to meet future development requirements at the PUAs, 

including the identification of major strategic employment sites; 

seek a more sustainable pattern of development than in the past by strengthening 

the roles of the PUAs, fostering urban renaissance, curbing unsustainable 

outward expansion and aiming for greater self-containment in towns within 

commuting distance of the PUAs; 

encourage appropriate housing, employment, retail and social facilities in 

sustainable locations to reduce social exclusion and rural need; 

develop and improve sustainable urban and inter-urban transport networks; 

give priority to measures for economic and social restructuring in parts of Bristol 

and the Forest of Dean and improve transport and economic linkages between 

the economically successful and less successful parts of the sub-region; 

conserve and enhance important environmental assets. 

Policy SS 6: Other Designated Centres for Growth 

This policy relates to the future development in the region outside the PUAs and 

advised that this should generally avoid significant growth in the larger towns within 

easy commuting distance of PUAs and especially housing development proceeding 

out of step with employment. In this respect it advised that Development Plans 

29



should provide for balanced development and growth at identified centres designated 

to meet sub-regional growth needs outside the PUAs while maintaining and enhancing 

the range of employment, housing and other facilities in the area. 

Policy SS 7: Meeting Local Needs 

In relation to development elsewhere, Policy SS7 advised Local Authorities that when 

planning for future development outside the PUAs and other designated centres for 

growth, development plans should: 

identify, where appropriate, towns to accommodate smaller scale development 

to serve local needs and make services available to the wider rural areas of the 

region; 

recognise that other small towns in rural areas should provide for local needs 

only. 

It went on to advise that policies should also resist the substantial expansion of 

residential development at small dormitory towns within easy commuting distance 

of the PUAs (see also SS2 above). 

Policy SS 19: Rural Areas 

In relation to rural areas which is particularly pertinent to the Forest of Dean policy 

SS19 advised that market towns should be the focal points for development and 

service provision in the rural areas and this role should be supported and enhanced. 

Outside market towns, development should be small scale and take place primarily 

within or adjacent to existing settlements, avoiding scattered forms of development. 

Local authorities in their development plans should: 

locate development to support the rural areas primarily in market towns, identified 

and designated in development plans through a balanced mix of homes, jobs, 

services and facilities suitable to the scale and location of such settlements; 

30



adopt policies which support the restructuring of the rural economy and the 

provision of jobs to satisfy local needs; 

set out policies for supporting sustainable farm diversification schemes which 

help to maintain the viability of the agriculture sector and rural economic vitality; 

seek ways of providing for essential shops and services to serve the rural areas; 

promote improved and integrated public transport, communications and service 

delivery and support innovative community based solutions to public transport 

and communications, in order to increase access to jobs, housing and facilities; 

limit housing growth in market towns near larger urban areas where it would fuel 

commuting rather than meet local needs. 

Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West (RSS) 

The emerging Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West provides a revised 

approach to settlement hierarchy which is set out in Development Policies A, B and 

C. These are summarised below. 

Development Policy A – Development at the Strategically Significant Cities and 

Towns (SSCTs) 

This policy advises that the primary focus for development in the South West will be 

those places which offer the greatest opportunities for employment, and the greatest 

levels of accessibility by means other than car to cultural, transport, health, education, 

and other services. These SSCTs, will continue to have regionally and sub-rgionally 

important functions and potential, and play critical roles in delivering development in 

the period to 2026. They are identified as: 

Barnstaple 

Bath 

Bournemouth 

Bridgwater 

Bristol 

Camborne/Pool/Redruth, Falmouth-Penryn, Truro 

Cheltenham 

31



Chippenham 

Dorchester 

Exeter 

Gloucester 

Plymouth 

Poole 

Salisbury 

Swindon 

Taunton 

Torbay 

Trowbridge 

Weston-super-Mare 

Weymouth 

Yeovil 

The supporting text confirms that the 21 SSCTs have not been identified because 

of size, but because they are places where cultural facilities and a wide range of 

services fundamental to residents’ quality of life are found, where clusters of economic 

activity will arise in future and where the requirements of individuals to travel can be 

catered for by better and more reliable public transport provision. These are also key 

places in the region with potential to achieve further significant development 

sustainably. The Strategy is for an increased proportion of new development, 

particularly housing, to be delivered at these SSCTs. 

For these SSCTs, specific policies set out the scale of development to be planned 

for and the strategic investment in infrastructure and other facilities necessary both 

to support that development and enhance their strategic role. In total, provision will 

be made to deliver about 20,000 jobs and provide at least 15,125 dwellings per 

annum over the period 2006-2026. 

Development Policy B – Development at Market Towns 

In addition to the SSCTs identified in Development Policy A and other towns identified 

in Section 4, those places which, based on an analysis of roles and functions, meet 

all of the following criteria, will be identified as the focal points for the provision of 

locally significant development: 

32



Where there is an existing concentration of business and employment, or where 

there is realistic potential for employment opportunities to be developed and 

enhanced; 

Where shopping and cultural, religious and faith, educational, health and public 

services can be provided to meet the needs of the town and the surrounding 

area whilst minimising car dependence; 

Where there is potential to maintain and develop sustainable transport modes, 

including accessible local public transport services to meet identified community 

needs. 

The Draft RSS recognises the role that certain towns (in many cases the ‘market 

towns’ and coastal towns) can play in ensuring the availability of jobs and services 

for a cluster of surrounding settlements in a more rural setting. Towns are places 

where locally significant scales of development should focus in future, with the bulk 

of district housing provision outside the SSCTs made in them. Local authorities should 

base their allocation of development in relation to these towns on a clear evidence 

based view of the changing role and function of all settlements in their area for work 

and service delivery. This requires a sound understanding of how they function and 

the hierarchy of relationships between small villages, between villages and ‘market 

towns’, and between these communities and the SSCTs. 

It advises that in some districts there may be few or no towns, which meet all the 

criteria of Development Policy B, and in these cases districts should take account of 

the functional role of settlements beyond their boundaries as well as identifying those 

settlements with the potential to play a more strategic role locally and allocate 

development accordingly. Local Accessibility Assessments should be used to help 

identify those settlements. Development in towns identified under Development Policy 

B should be specifically geared to meeting local objectives – in terms of tackling 

pockets of deprivation, meeting needs for affordable housing, addressing the impacts 

of larger shopping centres on local town centres and delivering elements of local 

economic strategies, for instance, to respond to declining traditional industries. 

The scale and mix of development should increase self-containment of the places 

identified, develop their function as service centres especially in terms of employment 

and service accessibility, and secure targeted development which can address 

regeneration needs. 

Development Policy C – Development in Small Towns and Villages 

33



The RSS accepts that rural areas of the South West, including the smaller towns, 

villages and surrounding countryside, represent a major asset for the region. Much 

of these rural areas are made up of villages and small towns not meeting the criteria 

of Development Policy B. This Draft RSS seeks to present a positive vision of vital 

and viable rural communities. In order to enable these rural communities to thrive, 

small amounts of development (particularly economic development) may be 

appropriate in villages and small towns over the next 20 years. 

It accepts that many small communities and groups of communities are sustainable 

and self sustaining; especially where economic development is taking place and 

employment is available locally and local services, including shops, post offices, 

schools, health centres and meeting places, are provided together with an adequate 

supply of affordable housing. 

It goes on to advise that the scale and nature of development in rural communities 

needs to be managed more carefully than has been the case over the last 20 years 

if the most sustainable approach to development is to be delivered across the region. 

LDDs will need to reflect these differences, based on the analysis of roles and 

functions set out in Development Policy C. Furthermore it advises that targeted 

small-scale development for housing in accessible village communities will be 

appropriate if it is supported by local needs surveys and other parish and village 

plans. 

In small towns and villages not meeting all the criteria of Development Policy B, 

based on an analysis of roles and functions, development will be appropriate where 

it: 

Supports small-scale economic activity which fits the scale of the settlement and 

can accommodate the future growth of business in the development permitted; 

Extends the range of services available including outreach delivery of services, 

making use of existing premises where possible; 

Does not significantly increase traffic on local roads and where traffic implications 

can be demonstrated to be acceptable; 

Promotes self containment, strengthens local communities, and helps support 

key services 

34



Development of housing in these settlements will be permitted where it relates to 

requirements identified in housing market studies and other assessments of local 

needs for housing verified by the local authority or where housing development is 

necessary to support employment provision locally. 

Policy SR14 

Section 4 of the document relates to more locationally specific policies. The main 

SSCTs are covered together with associated towns in the nearby rural area, which 

will be subject to Development Policy B, but for which some strategic guidance is 

required to assist LDD preparation and investment decisions by regional agencies. 

Of particularly relevant to the Forest of Dean is that part which relates to the 

Cheltenham and Gloucester area. This section advises at paragraph 4.2.44 that: 

“Gloucester and Cheltenham’s economy continues to be a dominant influence over 

a number of nearby towns, with substantial levels of inward commuting from towns 

such as Stroud, the Forest of Dean towns and Tewkesbury and from Southern 

Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Beyond the links to Gloucester, the Forest of 

Dean towns (Coleford, Lydney and Cinderford) demonstrate a complex, yet localised 

nature of commuting to and from each other and with other settlements in Wales and 

Herefordshire also intimately involved. Collectively, the three Forest towns form a 

relatively tight network with strong inter-relationships. In these towns there has been 

a considerable scale of housing development but this has not been matched by local 

job creation. A key issue to address in the Forest of Dean LDD is that of stimulating 

economic activity, increasing the opportunity for people to live and work in close 

proximity. Higher levels of self-containment, a reduction in dependencies with 

Gloucester and increased provision of services and facilities in the immediate locality 

will move towards a more sustainable community. Further housing development in 

the Forest of Dean towns should be clearly linked to increased economic provision.” 

Policy SR14 goes on to advise that Whilst Gloucester and Cheltenham should 

accommodate the major part of the development within their areas of functional 

influence, LDDs should identify where opportunities exist within Stroud, Tewkesbury 

and the Forest of Dean towns which can be promoted and encouraged for 

development that will reduce the existing imbalances between population, employment 

and housing provision and reduce dependence on car-borne commuting. Strategic 

35



releases of housing should only be provided when it can be demonstrated that an 

increasing rate of employment has brought employment and housing more closely 

into balance. 

The Gloucestershire Structure Plan Third Alteration 

The Gloucestershire Structure Plan Settlement Hierarchy as identified in Policies 

SD.1, SD.3, SD.4, SD.5, and SD.7 is as follows: 

Policy SD1 identifies the Principle Urban Areas (Policy SD.1) as being Gloucester 

and Cheltenham. Other Designated Centres for Growth are identified as Policy SD.3 

as being: 

Tewkesbury / Ashchurch 

Stroud / Stonehouse 

Cirencester 

Policy SD4 relates to other Market Towns (i.e. those outside the PUAs and Other 

Designated Centres for Growth). It advises that market towns should be identified 

in the relevant District Local Plans which should form the focal points for a smaller 

scale of development which is consistent with the character and function of the 

settlement, and supports local services and the social and economic well-being of 

local communities. They should therefore be: 

Accessible to the community they serve and well related to public transport and 

the highway network 

Defined to ensure that the social and economic needs of all rural areas can be 

met, taking into account their location relative to other settlements and 

environmental considerations, including those in adjoining administrative areas 

Residential development should be limited in such towns near the PUAs where 

it would encourage commuting rather than meet local needs 

36



In relation to other rural settlements Policy SD.5 advises that residential, commercial 

and industrial development within other rural settlements (i.e. those not referred to 

above) should be limited in scale, well integrated with the existing form and framework 

of the settlements, and sustain and enhance the character and appearance and 

social and economic well-being of local communities. 

Residential development should be limited to those settlements that: 

Have access to a range of employment opportunities to meet local needs 

Have access or potential access to community facilities and services, and 

Are well served by public transport services 

Commercial and industrial development should primarily be limited to those 

settlements that are well served by public transport services. These settlements 

should be identified in the relevant District Local Plans. 

The Forest of Dean is identified as an Area of Special Need where Policy SD.7 is to 

be applied. The policy advises that within this area priority will be given to economic 

growth and regeneration based on the principles of sustainable development. Such 

development should support an enhanced role for the market towns, adding to their 

self-containment thereby: 

Improving access to jobs, services and community facilities 

Allowing the provision of a range of housing, including affordable housing 

Developing a more sustainable transport system which improves access both 

within the Area of Special Need and to areas outside it, and 

Bringing forward environmental enhancement 

Within this Area of Special Need, Lydney and Cinderford are identified as particular 

foci for growth. In addition, proposals for tourism development will be supported 

where they will benefit the local economy as well as meeting environmental and 

transport criteria. 

37



The Forest of Dean District Local Plan, November 2005 

The current settlement hierarchy is set out in the following policies relating to housing 

provision: 

Towns (Policy (R)FH.1) 

Lydney 

Cinderford/Ruspidge 

Coleford 

Newent 

Infill Villages (Policy (R)FH.4) 

Aylburton 

Blakeney 

Bream 

Clearwell 

Drybrook 

Dymock 

Hartpury 

Huntley 

Joys Green 

Littledean 

38



Longhope 

Lydbrook 

Mitcheldean 

Newnham 

Parkend 

Redbrook 

Ruardean 

St Briavals 

Sling 



Westbury 


Woolaston 

Yorkley / Yorkley Slade 

Smaller Villages (Policy (R)FH.5) 

Alvington 

Beachley 

Brierley 

Brockweir 

Bromsberrow Heath 

Edge End 

Ellwood 

English Bicknor 

39



Kempley Green 

Newland 

Northwood Green 


Redmarley 

Ruardean Hill 

Ruardean Woodside 

Staunton (nr Coleford) 

Tibberton 

Upleadon 

Upper Soudley 

Viney Hill 

Worral Hill 


40


17 . Comparative Matrix of Services & Facilities in the Forest 

of Dean Settlements 

17 Comparative Matrix of Services & Facilities in the Forest of Dean Settlements 

Services and Facilities in Forest of Dean Towns and Settlements 

Town / Settlement 

Population 

A1 

Convenience 

(1) 

A1 

Comparison 

(2) 

A1 

Services 

(3) 

A2 (4) 

A3 

Restaurants 

& Café 

A5 

Food 

& 

Drink 

Post 

Office 

Public 

House 

(5) 

Library 

Church 

(6) 

Village / 

Community 

Hall 

Health 

Centre / 

Doctors 

Surgery 

Primary 

School 

Secondary 

School 

Distance 

to 

Nearest 

Main 

Town 

(km) (7) 

Main Road and Public 

Transport (8) 

Alvington 

350 

3 

yes yes 

A48 and Public Transport 

Aylburton 

400 

2 

yes yes 

yes 


Beachley 

255 

1 

yes 

Public Transport 

Blaisdon 

70 

1 

yes yes 

Blakeney 

712 

2 

1 yes 2 

yes yes yes yes 


Bream 

2600 4 

3 2 

1 yes 2 yes yes yes yes yes 

B4231 and Public Transport 

Brierley 

152 

1 

1 

yes 


Brockweir 

110 

1 

yes 

A466 

Bromsberrow Heath 

240 1 

yes 

yes 

Clearwell 

330 

1 yes 3 

yes yes 

yes 

Drybrook/Harrow Hill 

1700 2 

1 1 

1 yes 2 

yes yes yes yes 


Dymock 

320 

yes 1 

yes yes 


Edge End 

150 

yes 


Ellwood 

175 

yes yes 

yes 

English Bicknor 

217 

yes 

yes 


Hartpury 

350 1 

1 

yes 1 

yes yes 

yes 

A417 

Huntley 

840 

yes 1 

yes 

yes 


Kempley Green 

100 

yes yes 

Littledean 

770 2 

1 yes 1 

yes yes 

yes 


Longhope 

890 

1 

yes 2 

yes 

yes 


Significant 

Employment 

yes 

nearby 

yes 

nearby 

yes 

nearby 

yes 

41


17 . Comparative Matrix of Services & Facilities in the Forest of Dean 

Settlements 


Lydbrook 

Mitcheldean 

Newland 

Newnham-on-Severn 

Northwood Green 


Parkend 

Redbrook 

Redmarley D'Abitot 

Ruardean 

Ruardean Hill 

Ruardean Woodside 

Sling 

St Briavels 

Staunton (near Coleford) 


Tibberton 


Upleadon 

Upper Soudley 

Viney Hill 

Westbury 

Population 

800 

2110 

130 

1175 

190 

200 

470 

372 

150 

1043 

350 

340 

886 

750 

240 

850 

350 

3460 

85 

387 

200 

230 

A1 

Convenience 

(1) 

4 

3 

1 

3 

1 

2 

5 

1 

A1 

Comparison 

(2) 

1 

2 

3 

1 

3 

1 

A1 

Services 

(3) 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

A2 (4) 

1 


A3 

Restaurants 

& Café 

A5 

Food 

& 

Drink 

Post 

Office 

Public 

House 

(5) 

Library 

Church 

(6) 

Village / 

Community 

Hall 

2 yes 5 

yes yes 

1 1 yes 3 yes yes yes 

1 

yes 

1 yes 1 yes yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 2 

yes yes 

yes 

1 

yes 

yes 

yes 

1 yes 2 

yes yes 

yes 

yes 

1 

3 

2 

yes 

yes 

1 

yes 

yes 

1 

yes 2 

yes yes 

yes 

1 yes 2 

yes yes 

yes 

yes 

1 

yes 

yes 

yes 

2 

yes 

1 

yes 

yes 

Health 

Centre / 

Doctors 

Surgery 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

Primary 

School 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

Secondary 

School 

yes 

Distance 

to 

Nearest 

Main 

Town 

(km) (7) 


Transport (8) 




B4234 

A466 



B4228 

A4136 

A417 




Significant 

Employment 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

yes 

42


17 . Comparative Matrix of Services & Facilities in the Forest 

of Dean Settlements 




Woolaston 

Worrall Hill 

Yorkley 

Population 

900 

210 

745 

400 

1160 

A1 

Convenience 

(1) 

1 

2 

A1 

Comparison 

(2) 

A1 

Services 

(3) 

yes 

A2 (4) 


A3 

Restaurants 

& Café 

A5 

Food 

& 

Drink 

Post 

Office 

Public 

House 

(5) 

Library 

Church 

(6) 

Village / 

Community 

Hall 

1 yes 3 

yes yes 

1 

1 

yes 

yes 

2 

yes 

Health 

Centre / 

Doctors 

Surgery 

yes 

Primary 

School 

yes 

yes 

yes 

Secondary 

School 

Distance 

to 

Nearest 

Main 

Town 

(km) (7) 


Transport (8) 

B4234 

B4228 



Significant 

Employment 

yes 

43


backCover 

44

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