Dec 2010 - South Worcestershire Development Plan

SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT 2010220CONTEXTUAL INDICATORS EVIDENCEIn establishing whether the policies within Wychavon are working effectively itis important to understand the context in which they are set and the issuesand opportunities facing the District. This chapter sets out contextualindicators that provide an overview of the district, and form a basis from whichlocal policies can be assessed.CONTEXT AND SETTINGA Map of the District of WychavonWychavon is apredominantly ruralarea situated in theeastern part of thecountyofWorcestershire, in thesouth of the WestMidlands region. Thearea covers 260 squaremiles (400 km 2 ) and isborderedbyWarwickshire to theeast, the city ofWorcester, MalvernHills District and theRiver Severn to thewest, the Cotswoldsand Gloucestershire tothe south and the townsof Bromsgrove,RedditchandKidderminster to thenorth.Wychavon has three towns, namely Droitwich Spa, Evesham and Pershore. Itis also home to the large Cotswold village of Broadway in the south and nearly100 other villages and hamlets that are scattered throughout the District. Thelandscape ischaracterised by the River Avon that meanders through the southern part ofthe district, the fruit growing Vale of Evesham and the isolated high point ofBredon Hill which falls within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding NaturalBeauty.The District has good communication links with the M5 running the length of it,providing 4 access points, and rail services connecting it with main linesrunning from Worcester to both Birmingham, London, the South West andSouth Wales.