St Edmundsbury Core Strategy (December 2010)

document which will determine the most appropriate levels of and the locationsfor growth in each Key Service Centre.7.9 Where statements have been made about local services and facilities theserelate to the spring 2009 village survey undertaken by the Council. Statementsabout bus services relate to how easy it is to travel during peak periods by bus tomajor employment centres, for example, a „poor‟ bus service means that servicesare unavailable at peak periods.Key Service CentresBarrow7.10 Barrow is one of the smaller Key Service Centres but is close to Bury StEdmunds for access to employment and a wide range of services. The villageenjoys a good range of services and the compact nature of the settlementprovides the opportunity for housing growth to be located within walking distanceof all the services and amenities.7.11 Proposals for growth will need to be sensitive to the proximity of theadjacent settlement of Denham, and care will be needed to avoid coalescence.Depending on the scale, planned growth will require additional or enhanced andexpanded services such as GPs, a dentist, and expanded (or new) primary school,sports pitches and open spaces. These requirements will be detailed in the RuralSite Allocations DPD.7.12 Barrow is a vibrant village and provides a well serviced centre whereappropriate and well designed growth that has regard to local conditions, such asflooding, through the plan period will support and strengthen the range and choiceof services and facilities and the contribute to the community life and character ofthe village.Clare7.13 Clare is an attractive historic settlement with a lively centre providing a goodrange of shops and key services, facilities, including a library, sports grounds,allotments and open spaces. The popularity of the settlement has createdproblems with lack of parking, and whilst bus journeys to towns such as Haverhilland Sudbury are relatively fast and regular throughout the day, there are noregular bus services suitable for commuting out of the village to work.7.14 The historic settlement pattern follows the road north to south and southwest with the Middle School and a group of houses a short distance to the east.This mainly linear pattern of development and the flood risk areas along the tworiver corridors through the settlement and to the south will strongly influencepossible locations for growth. However, it also has the benefit of potentiallyabsorbing areas of growth close to the centre. Great care will be required withthe scale, siting and design of new development to ensure it respects thelandscape setting and attractive historic qualities of Clare, as well as localisedflooding issues.7.15 Growth in Clare should consolidate and enhance local community servicesand facilities, particularly local shops and businesses, and should take place at asteady pace so that changes to the physical infrastructure and fabric as well as tothe social and community character of the settlement are absorbed gradually.74