St Austell, St Blazey and China Clay
Area Regeneration Plan
Area Statistics
January 2011
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1
Background .............................................................................................................. 3
Statistical Review of the Area............................................................................... 7
Population ............................................................................................................. 7
Deprivation ........................................................................................................... 9
Housing ................................................................................................................. 9
House Prices ....................................................................................................... 11
Unemployment................................................................................................... 15
Qualifications ...................................................................................................... 16
Income ................................................................................................................ 16
Employment Structure ..................................................................................... 16
Businesses .......................................................................................................... 17
Business Size ..................................................................................................... 17
Economic Activity .............................................................................................. 17
Retail .................................................................................................................... 18
Health .................................................................................................................. 20
Travel to work .................................................................................................... 20
Transport/Connections ..................................................................................... 22
Environment ....................................................................................................... 23
Community ......................................................................................................... 24
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Introduction
This document has been produced as a supplementary part of the St Austell, St
Blazey and China Clay Area Regeneration Plan, and provides background
information and statistics to build a picture of the area as at the end of 2010.
The information provides a brief review of statistics for St Austell, St Blazey and
China Clay Area in comparison with the former Restormel Borough as a whole,
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the South West region and England & Wales as
appropriate.
For the purposes of this report, the St Austell area consists of the former
Restormel Borough Council Wards of Gover, Poltair, Mount Charles, Bethel and
Crinnis, and the China Clay area consists of the former Restormel Borough
Council Wards of Rock, St Enoder, St Stephen and Treverbyn. St Blaise is
identified separately. These former Borough Council Wards are being used as
most data available at this time is based on these area boundaries.
Key messages identified within the regeneration plan focus on community –
population growth, high deprivation issues and low housing affordability;
employment and skills – unemployment levels throughout the plan area, low
qualification levels and limited skills types, and business survivial rates; and
health issues – very high levels of teenage pregnancy and varying levels of
unhealthy weight. The format of this document is set out to provide evidence
and data to support these key messages, as well as provide other relevant
statistical information about the area.
Where Parish or Ward level information is not available for the plan area, the
next most appropriate level of data has been used, i.e., former Restormel
Borough or Cornwall wide.
Much of the background information has been taken from the St Austell, St
Blazey and China Clay Area Strategic Investment Framework & Economic
Strategy document published in September 2008, with additional information
from the draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan (November 2010) by Roger Tym
and Partners. Other sources of data have included Understanding Cornwall,
Nomis and the Office for National Statistics.
Below are some key statistics from each of the three Community Network
Areas covered by the regeneration plan.
St Austell
 Second highest population density in Cornwall (3.8).
 Second highest dependency ratio in Cornwall (75.5 per 100).
 Third highest percentage of population with a limiting long term illness in
Cornwall (22.7%).
 St Austell CNA contains the highest and lowest JSA claimant rates in the
regeneration plan area (Crinnis 1.2% and Gover 3.7%).
 St Austell Bethel Ward West is the least deprived ward in the plan area.
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St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
St Blazey (Fowey & Lostwithiel)
 St Blazey (West) is the most deprived ward in Cornwall, and is within the top
10% most deprived wards in England & Wales.
 Highest teenage pregnancy rate in Cornwall (57.8 per 1000).
 St Blazey has the highest level of householders owning (outright or with a
mortgage) their own homes within the plan area (75.63%).
 Second biggest drop in house prices in the plan area during the period 200610 (-8.4%).
 Lowest percentage of the population achieving Level 3+ qualifications in the
plan area (16.6%).
 Lowest unhealthy weight rate in the plan area (32.1%).
China Clay area
 Highest population increase in Cornwall during the period 2001-8 (+12%).
 Third highest teenage pregnancy rate in Cornwall (38 per 1000).
 Second lowest percentage of population with a limiting long term illness in
Cornwall (18.9%).
 St Enoder has seen the biggest house price increase in the plan area, during
the period 2006-10 (+9.7%).
 Second lowest dependency ratio in Cornwall (61 per 100), which is lower than
the rate for Cornwall (72.2) and equals the national rate.
 Treverbyn parish is the only parish in the plan area to experience a higher
increase in dwelling numbers during the period 2001-10 than 1991-2001.
2
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Background
Over the past 20 years the St Austell, St Blazey and China Clay Area has
changed. The Eden Project has emerged in Bodelva pit, St Austell’s town centre
has been redeveloped and St Austell College has expanded its educational
provision becoming Cornwall College. A continuing feature has been the decline
of the China Clay industry over many decades. China Clay is a finite resource
but there are still significant reserves and it remains an important industry for
the area.
The China Clay industry directly employed approximately 6,000 people in the
early 1970s but now employs as few as 1,000. Staff levels are lower today than
they were, but production is still high with around 1,000,000 tonnes currently
produced annually. However, the decline has had a profound effect locally,
particularly on the China Clay Area, through the loss of not only jobs within the
China Clay companies but also companies involved in the wider supply chains
and associated services. The communities have been adjusting; but this
readjustment coupled with the ongoing changes in the area including large-scale
house building presents problems such as increased traffic congestion
particularly in St Austell, social deprivation, a lack of employment opportunities
and physical leftovers from the former China Clay workings.
St Austell
St Austell has a population of 22,658 (2001 Census), and is the largest single
town in Cornwall. St Austell and the wider area has been known for the China
Clay Industry. The success and high profitability of the clay industry attracted
many of the families who had been put out of work by the depression in the local
metalliferous mining industry, which increased the population of the town
considerably. This increase in population meant that more shops and businesses
offering various products and services to the now more numerous locals were
taking root, providing more jobs and improving trade. This, along with other
factors, led to St Austell becoming one of the ten most important commercial
centres of Cornwall.
St Blazey
Located to the east of St Austell, St Blazey was historically a centre for copper
and tin mining, and the town expanded with the growth of the china clay
industry, which is still dominant in the area. It was an early centre for the
Cornwall Minerals Railway, which had a depot and station in the town. St Blazey
railway depot is still in use, and the town is now served by Par station. The
famous Eden Project is located within the parish at Bodelva, about 2 km from the
centre of the town. The large number of visitors this attracts has helped the
development of tourism in the town.
China Clay Area
The Clay Area forms part of Hensbarrow Uplands lying north and west of St
Austell. Kaolinite extraction has had a major impact on land use, employment,
the environment and the landscape, removing heather moorland for clay
extraction, waste disposal and ancillary uses. The clay industry activity has
fragmented the previous land uses. Despite this, the area has a unique
landscape and environment with a number of designations including a Special
3
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Area of Conservation, ecological and geological Sites of Special Scientific
Interest, Scheduled Monuments and the Goss Moor National Nature Reserve.
In terms of accessibility, the A30 connects the northern settlements and also
provides good access out of the county and to the west of Cornwall. The A391
and B3374 currently pass through the settlements of Stenalees, Bugle and
Penwithick; the B3274 cuts through Roche; the B3279 through St Dennis,
Foxhole, Nanpean, and Indian Queens; and the A3058 through St Stephen.
These cause some degree of severance in the towns and villages. There are no A
or B roads through the centre of the Clay Area from east to west.
Villages close to the A30 have recently experienced significant amounts of
housing development such as at Roche and Indian Queens.
Roche Parish
Roche - Roche is located on the northern edge of the Clay Area close to the A30.
Much of its surrounding area is moorland, with the Goss Moor to the north–west,
which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve. In
recent years it has become a favoured residential village. Roche has a range of
community services and facilities. At nearby Victoria there is an important and
growing industrial estate. Roche is subject to significant through-traffic. The
recent opening of the new A30 dual carriageway has removed some large Heavy
Goods Vehicles from the village, but general traffic levels remain high.
St Stephen-in-Brannel Parish
St Stephen - St Stephen is located on the edge of the China Clay Area but has
played a significant role in the development of the industry. Today St Stephen
has a primary and secondary school, which has recently been redeveloped and
includes a community accessible sports centre. There is also a park which
facilitates a variety of activities, a doctors surgery, a well used community hall
and social club, and a number of shops. The A3058 runs through the village.
Foxhole and Carpalla - This is a relatively new settlement, growing up at the
end of the 19th century with characteristic terraced housing constructed for
workers in the clay industry. There is a single main road through the centre of
the village where parked cars help to create some traffic calming. It has a good
community base with shops, post office, primary school, playing fields, clubs and
a medical centre.
Nanpean - Nanpean is very much in the centre of the Clay Area surrounded by
the industry on all sides. It has a population of approximately 750 people and a
relatively strong community base with good services and facilities. Drinnick, on
the outskirts of the village, is a major clay industry employment site, although
less intensively used in recent years.
Treviscoe - Treviscoe is a good example of a mining village with a cluster of
houses along a single road, with a Methodist chapel, social club but otherwise
limited services and facilities.
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St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Whitemoor
Whitemoor is a small village with a primary school but otherwise limited facilities.
It sits in an exposed location almost surrounded by operational clay industry
land. Like Treviscoe it is sufficiently remote that accessing many services
requires private or public transport.
Treverbyn Parish
Bugle - Bugle is a village which has grown up around a crossroads and the main
A391 road cuts through the village and summer congestion can be a problem.
Close to the village are the clay works at Goonbarrow and Rocks Pit, the latter
including an important refining plant served by rail. Bugle is a growing and well
provided for community with a number of shops and commercial businesses, and
community services and facilities. Expansion is constrained in some directions
by the presence of the clay industry.
Stenalees and Treverbyn - Stenalees and Treverbyn are situated very much in
the centre of Treverbyn Parish. They have some important local facilities
including the primary school and the recreation ground, church hall which
provides luncheon club for senior citizens. Stenalees recently lost its post office
but it sits on a regular bus route enabling residents to still access these services
locally. The Rock Industrial Estate was recently developed.
Penwithick – Penwithick is a predominantly residential, compact settlement,
with some essential local facilities including a shop and village hall with social
club. Penwithick is on a regular bus route providing access to services locally.
The village also has a newly refurbished play area.
Carthew and Ruddlemoor - These are two small settlements to the north of St
Austell. Carthew hamlet developed as an estate village for the Martyn family
home at Carthew House. Ruddlemoor is the location of the Wheal Martyn China
Clay Museum and Country Park.
St Enoder Parish
St Enoder - Whilst the churchtown of St Enoder forms a small hamlet in the
centre of the parish, the main villages have grown up from 19th and 20th century
ribbon development along old arterial roads.
Fraddon - Fraddon sits at the junction of the old A30 and A39 roads. Although
the village has now been by-passed, the area is very accessible and popular with
people and businesses wanting to be at the heart of Cornwall. The village retains
much of its character, has good facilities including those servicing the A30 at
Penhale.
Indian Queens - Indian Queens sits just east of Fraddon. The village sits very
close to the western clay extraction area and many residents are associated with
the industry. The village has good services and like Fraddon is popular because
of its location. There is a large industrial estate to the east of the village.
St Columb Road - This small settlement sits on a crossroads on the old A39
(the road to St Columb Major) and lies next to the railway station of the same
5
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
name. The village has a good range of local services including a small
supermarket. The village has very close proximity to Indian Queens and the
services available here.
Summercourt - Summercourt is a quiet village that lies to the south west of the
parish surrounded by open countryside. The village has good local services and
including public transport. It is popular with a number of businesses due to its
very central, accessible location. The village houses a primary school.
St Dennis Parish
St Dennis - St Dennis is a granite village located just off the A30, close to the
Goss Moor. The village sits at the foot of Carn Hill characterised by dry-stone
walls, hill fort and the Parish church on the top. It has a range of shops and
services, including a petrol station and fire station, and still retains the feel of a
vibrant mining village. Heavy traffic passes through the historic core villagecentre, although on-street parking helps to reduce traffic speeds. The village has
a primary school, and Clay TAWC is located in the village which provides
community and training facilities for communities across the China Clay area.
St Mewan Parish
Trewoon - The northern part of St Mewan parish forms part of the china clay
extraction area. Located close to St Austell is Trewoon, which has a distinct and
separate identity from its larger neighbour although, in many ways, it operates
as a part of the larger urban area. It is a linear settlement with local facilities
including a shop, pub, church and village hall. To the north of the village is the
extensive Blackpool clay pit whilst to the west the Burngullow area contains
extensive clay dries and other processing plant adjacent to the main railway line.
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St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Statistical Review of the Area
Population
Since the last census the wider regeneration area has experienced a higher
proportion of population increase than the rest of Cornwall. In 2001, the total
population of the plan area was 51,237. It is estimated that this had grown to
56,111 by mid 2007, a growth of 9.5% for the area, resulting in representation
of 55% of the Restormel population and 10.6% of the Cornish population. In the
same period, the population of Restormel grew from 95,800 to 101,900 (6.4%
increase) and Cornwall from 502,100 to 528,600 (5.2% increase).
The general plan area population pattern across the age ranges is broadly similar
to that of the former Restormel Borough and Cornwall. In mid 2007, 29.9% of
the plan area population were under 24 (St Austell 28.4%, China Clay 31%, and
St Blazey 33%), compared to 27.7% and 27.3% for the former Restormel area
and Cornwall respectively. The age ranges of 50+ for the plan area are all
slightly lower than the same range for Restormel and Cornwall – in the region of
1.5% difference between this age range in the plan area and Restormel, and
Restormel and Cornwall. There was a similar age ranges pattern in 2001 across
the board, when the under 24 situation was 29.7% in the plan area, 28% in
Restormel and 27.5% in Cornwall, and again the 50+ age range in the plan area
was lower than the Restormel and Cornwall, again, by 0.1-0.3% for each
category. In summary, compared to the population breakdown for Cornwall,
both China Clay and St Blazey & Par have a higher proportion of younger and
working age people than is consistent with that of similar age groups across the
UK as a whole. The population profile for St Austell for the ages up to 45 is
roughly consistent with that of the county average.
Population increase
Plan area
Restormel
Cornwall
South West
England & Wales
2001
2007 % increase
51,237
56,111
9.5
95,800
101,900
6.4
502,100
528,600
5.3
4,943,400
5,178,500
4.8
52,360,000 54,082,300
3.3
Source: ONS Mid-2007 Population Estimates1
In 2007, the proportion of the working age population (16-64 year olds) in the
plan area was 59.1% which is lower than the former Borough, county, regional
and national figures, and has not changed significantly since 2001.
Working Age Population
2001 (%)
Plan area
58.8
Former Restormel
61.7
Cornwall
61.4
South West
62.4
England & Wales
64.1
2007 (%)
59.1
62.6
62.2
60.1
62.1
Source: ONS Mid-2007 Population Estimates2
1 Based on former Restormel Borough Council boundaries
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St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Population Increase 2001 to 2007
Plan area
(former) Restormel
Cornwall
South West
England & Wales
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
% increase
Working Age Population
% population of area
69
67
65
2001
63
2007
61
59
57
55
Plan area
Former
Restormel
Cornwall
South West
England &
Wales
Area
The dependency ratio tells us how many young people (under 16) and older
people (65+ males and 60+ females) depend on people of working age (16 to
64). A higher dependency ratio reflects more people who are not of working
age, and fewer who are working and paying taxes. The higher the number the
more people that need looking after. For example, a dependency ratio of 70
means that 100 working age people provide for 70 dependants, i.e., young
people (under 16) and people aged 65+.
2 Based on former Restormel Borough Council boundaries
8
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
The dependency ratios for St Austell (75.7) and St Blazey (73.8) are higher than
Cornwall (72.2), the South West (67) and England (61). However, the China
Clay area has a lower rate, equal to the national rate of 61. This means that St
Austell and St Blazey have a higher level of dependants per 100 working age
people than the China Clay area.3
Deprivation
On the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2007, the St Austell area
contains some SOAs falling within the 20% most deprived in England. St Austell
Gover Ward South East (3,332), St Austell Mount Charles North West (3,420)
and St Austell Poltair South East (5,612) are all in the top 20% most deprived in
the country. However, St Austell Bethel West is the least deprived of the plan
area wards ranked at 23,085 in the country. St Blazey West was in the top 10%
most deprived wards in England, ranked 3,213 out of 32,482.
Housing
Evidence of housing need in the area is set out in the West Cornwall Housing
Requirements Study 20074. The study indicated a net housing requirement in
the St Austell and Clay areas of 2,000 units in the 5 year period 2006/07 –
2010/11, and of this almost 49% is for affordable housing. When applying this
percentage to the net housing requirement for St Austell and Clay area, it
equates to a housing need of 980 affordable housing units in the St Austell and
Clay area in the 5 year period 2006-2011.
Recent delivery rates
In recent years, delivery of new affordable housing has not kept pace with the
level of housing need established in the Housing Requirement Study. In the five
years from 2005/06-2009/10, 523 affordable units have been completed.
Open Market and Affordable Housing Completions by Community Network Area
Community 05/06
06/07
07/08
08/09
09/10
Total
Network
Area
St Austell
62(26)
130(19)
139(13) 174(55)
92(33)
597 (146)
China Clay
166(67) 157(80)
201(65) 190(56)
85(97)
799 (365)
St Blazey,
22(0)
15(4)
26(0)
9(0)
34(8)
106 (12)
Fowey &
Lostwithiel
Total
250(93) 302(103) 366(78) 373(111) 211(138) 1502 (523)
Note: Affordable figures are in brackets.
3 Figures based on Cornwall Council Community Network boundaries
4 The St Austell and Clay area as described by the Housing Requirements Study is made up of: St
Austell - the newly designated St Austell parishes as well as the rural parishes of Boconnoc, Fowey,
Lanlivery, Lanreath, Lanteglos, Lostwithiel, Luxulyan, Mevagissey, St Blaise, St Sampson, St Veep, St
Winnow and Tywardreath; Clay Area – Roche, St Dennis, St Enoder, St Stephen in Brannel and
Treverbyn.
9
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Further breakdown by Parish:
Community
Network Area
St Austell
St Mewan
St Ewe
Mevagissey
St Goran
St Austell Bay
Pentewan Valley
St Austell
Carlyon Bay
TOTAL
China Clay
St Enoder
St Dennis
Roche
St Stephen
Treverbyn
TOTAL
St Blazey, Fowey
St Blaise
Tywardreath
St Sampson
Lostwithiel
Lanlivery
Luxulyan
Fowey
Total
05/06
06/07
07/08
08/09
09/10
Total
7 (0)
2 (0)
5 (0)
2 (0)
46(26)
0
0
0
62(26)
1(3)
0(0)
1(0)
9(0)
119(16)
0
0
0
130(19)
9(0)
0(0)
12(3)
0(0)
118(10)
0
0
0
139(13)
6(0)
0(0)
11(1)
1(0)
166 (54)
0
0
0
174(55)
5(0)
1(0)
1(0)
1(0)
36(25)
1(0)
45(8)
2(0)
92(33)
28 (3)
3 (0)
30 (4)
13 (0)
485 (131)
1 (0)
45 (8)
2 (0)
597(146)
41(3)
27(6)
0 (8)
1(0)
4 (14)
22(0)
10(0)
17(34)
110(42)
84(40)
165(67)
151(80)
& Lostwithiel
2 (0)
2(0)
4 (0)
1(0)
0 (0)
0(0)
6 (0)
4(0)
0 (0)
1(0)
1 (0)
6(0)
10 (0)
7(4)
22 (0)
15(4)
22(6)
7(2)
47(21)
41(17)
77(19)
194(65)
28(8)
25(12)
42(12)
19(3)
64(21)
178(56)
15(1)
8(0)
13(17)
21(58)
27(21)
84(97)
133 (24)
41 (22)
128 (64)
108 (112)
362 (143)
772(365)
9(0)
6(0)
1(0)
6(0)
0(0)
7(0)
4(0)
26(0)
4(0)
2(0)
1(0)
3(0)
0(0)
12(0)
-1(0)
9(0)
3(0)
7(0)
0(0)
1(1)
0(0)
1(0)
23(7)
34(8)
20 (0)
20 (0)
2 (0)
20 (1)
1 (0)
27 (0)
43 (11)
106(12)
Note: Affordable figures are in brackets.
Planning permissions in the plan area:
RESIDENTIAL LAND AVAILABILITY – POSITION AT 1ST APRIL 2010
Detailed
Outline
Allocated
Permission
permission
Land
Parish
Units Units Ha
Units
Ha
Ha
Est. Total
NS
UC
Est.
Units
St Dennis
28
8
5
St Enoder
105
66
22
1.06
30
223
0
1
15
Roche
83
15
31
1.69
53
182
15
2
13
St Stephen
98
17
20
0.3
10
145
35
23
21
St Austell
150
125
25
300
8
0
45
Treverbyn
161
29
8
2.19
39
237
0
21
27
St Blaise
168
2
3
0.85
26
199
0
0
3
Plan area
total
793
262
6.1
158
1327
58
47
132
0
41
Net Completions
1.4.09 – 1.4.10
RSL
Non RSL
Market
Affordabl
Housing
e
0
0
8
114
0
10
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
House Prices
The table below shows information from Hometrack (December 2010) on current
house prices throughout the plan area, and the price change over the previous
four year period.
Authority/Ward/
Postcode District
Cornwall UA
St Blaise
St Austell Bay
St Austell North
Roche
St Stephen
St Enoder
Treverbyn
PL25
PL26
House Price 4
years ago
£218,697.49
£161.359.87
£232,954.58
£167,920.80
£167,677.73
£165,999.44
£176,674.31
£166,265.84
£186,055.47
£197,252.31
Last Year
Price
£216,423.45
£139,615.06
£202,042.11
£180,252.03
£157,702.12
£148,166.21
£193,891.19
£149,381.81
£181,763.57
£181,455.89
Current Price
£227,485.44
£147,882.04
£212,992.27
£175,015.43
£160,895.16
£168,844.23
£193,767.40
£163,350.40
£179,890.21
£189,655.59
% change 4
years
4.0 (1.3*)
-8.4
-8.6
4.2
-4.1
1.7
9.7
-1.8
-3.3
-3.9
* Hometrack quotes 1.3% change however according to the base figures it is a 4% increase. This has been queried with
Hometrack awaiting a response.
House prices in the UK have risen significantly over the past decade, although
the past four years have seen a partial reversal of this trend. The average house
price in Cornwall is now £227,485 (Hometrack December 2010), which is an
increase of 5% on the preceding twelve months. This compares to an average
house price in England & Wales of £164,773, which has seen an increase of 2.2%
in the last twelve months.
Although house prices in the plan area have fallen in the last four years, with the
exclusion of St Enoder, which has seen an increase of 9.7%, St Stephen
(+1.7%) and St Austell North (+4.2%), the last twelve months has generally
seen house prices start to increase again. This sits against a backdrop of
unprecedented property price increases between 2002 and 2006, which saw
relative prices increase higher in Cornwall than the rest of England & Wales; Clay
properties up 52.3% (£126,232 to £192,263), St Austell up 50.9% (£106,729 to
£161,027), St Blazey up 62.6% (102,954 to £167,368) compared to England &
Wales up 50% (£132,342 to £198,571).5.
People have difficulties with housing affordability due to low wages compared to
the price of housing. Between 2000 and 2009 house prices increased more in
Cornwall than the rest of England and Wales. In the same period, the St Austell
area saw a 144% (from £76,754 to £187,949) increase in average house prices,
compared to a 140.58% increase in the SW region (from £94,937 to
£228,4036). In that time wages in Restormel only rose by 34.5%7.
House prices within the plan area are all above the current average national price
with the exception of Treverbyn and Roche, which are only slightly below the
5 Sourced from the St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Strategic Investment Framework and
Land Registry
6 Sourced from www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140954.xls
7 source ASHE surveys
11
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
national average. St Blaise, however, is currently 11% below the national
average price despite having seen one of the largest increases in the plan area
of, nearly 6% in the past twelve months.
‘Affordability’ is based on a mortgage value of 3.5 times the mean annual
earnings for males in Restormel. As the average house prices above show, the
trend was set between 2002 and 2006 which saw relative house prices in
Cornwall rise markedly quicker than salary levels. In the same period, wages in
Restormel rose by 15.6%, compared to 24.4% across Cornwall and 18.5% in the
South West. The rate of increase nationally was 14.7%, although still
represented a 2006 national average that was 31% higher than the Restormel
average.
The table below shows the relative affordability of different areas using a ratio of
mean house prices and mean incomes, based on figures for the end of the
decade rather than market peak levels. The higher the value, the less affordable
an area is. Incomes differ from earnings by including non-earned incomes, such
as benefits.
Authority/Ward/Postcode District
Cornwall UA
St Blaise
St Austell Bay
St Austell North
Roche
St Stephen
St Enoder
Treverbyn
PL25
PL26
7.62
5.45
6.69
6.31
5.89
5.80
6.31
5.20
6.33
6.68
Housing Register
Cornwall Homechoice, the unified registration system for those applying for
social and affordable housing in Cornwall, became operational in early 2010. All
previous registrants were made to re-apply. The number of active registrants on
the Cornwall Homechoice system in June 2010 was 11,332. The following table
shows the number of Homechoice registrants in each of the three Community
Network Areas.
Community Network Area
Number of
Registrants
St Austell
China Clay
St Blazey, Fowey & Lostwithiel
Total
587
523
290
1400 (total 11,332)
Housing Register by Community Network Area (June 2010)
12
Registrants as %
of existing
households
4.9%
5.4%
4.2%
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Community
Network Area
Annual
Backlog
Quota
Annual
Supply
Net Annual
Need
% of all
Households
19
37
17
Annual
Newly
Arising
Need
74
108
70
China Clay
St Austell
St Blazey, Fowey
& Lostwithiel
Former
Restormel
Cornwall
24
63
26
69
83
60
0.69%
0.63%
0.76%
124
399
142
380
0.8%
590
1853
874
1570
0.65%
Cornwall Housing Market Strategic Evidence Base 2010 update
Share
ownership
Rented
(Council)
Rented
(RSL)
Rented
(private)
Rented
(other)
St Austell
Roche
St Blazey/Par
St Dennis
St Stephen
Treviscoe
Trewoon
Average for plan area
Cornwall
Owns with
mortgage/
loan
Area
Owns
outright
Household Tenure
The table below shows the household tenure in Cornwall and across the
regeneration plan area.
39
31
29.8
32.4
33.9
28.3
44.5
34.1
38.4
33.8
40
40.9
30.3
41.3
44.9
36.2
38.2
33.4
0.8
1.6
0.7
1.6
0.3
1
0
0.9
0.7
3.5
2.9
5.7
6.9
4.9
1
1.9
3.8
6.3
8.5
9.9
11.1
14.8
9.3
2.6
2.7
8.4
5.5
11.1
10.8
8.3
10.7
7.7
19.6
11.3
11.4
11.7
3.3
3.7
3.5
3.2
2.5
2.6
3.4
3.2
4.1
Source: Community Network Settlement Profiles, December 2010 (based on figures in Census 2001)
The 2010 Housing and Planning Statistics survey tells us that within England
67.9% of properties are owner occupied, 8.8% rent with local authorities, 9.1%
with RSLs, and 14.2% with private landlords. Across the regeneration plan area
levels of owner occupation are notably higher than the national average –
Trewoon is the highest with 44.5%, which contrasts strongly with Treviscoe at
28.3%. There is proportionately lower social rented accommodation available
within the plan area, and a slightly lower instance of private rented.
Generally speaking there are much higher levels of rented property with RSLs
within the Clay Country, contributing to an overall higher level of rented
accommodation. There is also a higher level of owner occupation than average
national levels, which, in some Clay communities, may have been helped by the
property disposals carried out by English China Clays (ECC), the predecessor to
Imerys, who performed a role as social landlord to employees and retirees for
many years.
13
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Dwellings
Parishes within the China Clay area have seen the most significant increase in
dwellings between 1991 and 2010, with the biggest increases being seen in
Roche (72.7%), Treverbyn (62.2%) and St Enoder (57.2%). This compares to
an average 28% housing growth in Cornwall during the same period. St Austell
also outperforms the Cornish average with an increase of 50% in housing stock.
39.2
1490
30.0
9821
17.0
2906
20.8
1146
31.8
1816
26.7
3059
22.2
3240
26.8 23,478
24.1
15.5
5.9
10.8
19.3
12.3
32.7
17.2
% Change
Dwellings
1991 - 2010
% Change
Dwellings
1991 - 2001
% Change
Dwellings
2001 - 2010
863
1201
6536
8500
2345
2743
856
1034
1155
1522
2150
2725
1998
2441
15,903 20,166
Total
Dwellings 2001-2010
Roche
St. Austell
St. Blaise
St. Dennis
St. Enoder
St. Stephen
Treverbyn
2001 Census Total
Dwellings
Parish
1991 Census Total
Dwellings
The graph below illustrates the percentage change in dwelling numbers in each
parish, and highlights that Treverbyn was the only parish to experience a higher
increase in dwelling numbers during 2001-2010 than in the period 1991-2001.
72.7
50.3
23.9
33.9
57.2
42.3
62.2
48.9
% Change in Number of Dwellings per Parish 1991-2010
80
70
% Change Dwellings
1991 - 2001
50
% Change Dwellings
2001 - 2010
40
30
% Change Dwellings
1991 - 2010
20
Parish
14
St. Stephen
St. Enoder
St. Dennis
St. Blaise
St. Austell
0
Treverbyn
10
Roche
% change
60
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Unemployment
In October 2010, the Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimant rate in the former
Restormel Borough was 2.9% for the St Austell, St Blazey and China Clay Area,
which is higher than the 2.3% rate for Cornwall and 2.3% for the South West
region.8 Figures show at this time there were 1,789 JSA claimants in the former
Restormel area. This includes 136 in the Rock ward (2.9% of the working age
population), St Stephen-in-Brannel 127 (2.6%), Treverbyn 116 (3.6%), St
Enoder 79 (2.4%), and five St Austell wards: Crinnis 13 (1.2), Gover 102 (3.7),
Poltair 96 (3.6%), Mount Charles 116 (3.1%), and Bethel 94 (2.1%). Gover,
Poltair and Treverbyn all have unemployment rates above the average for the
area.9
In terms of the long term unemployment (residents out of work for over 12
months), the former Restormel Borough had a rate of 10.4%, lower then
Cornwall’s rate (10.7%) and the South West average (12.8%). In 2010, there
were 4.6 claimant unemployed workers for every notified Job Centre vacancy in
Restormel. This is higher than for Cornwall (3.6) and the South West region
(2.7), indicating that it is more difficult for local residents to find work in
Restormel than in the wider area. Figures from 2009 suggest that Cornwall
experiences a similar rate of benefit claims as the national average (15%), but
8% of this is made up from incapacity benefit, which is 33% higher than the SW
average, and 14% higher than the national average.
Jobseekers Allowance Claimants
% of working age population
4.0
3.5
GB, 3.5%
3.0
St Austell, St
Blazey and Clay
Area SIF, 2.9%
2.5
SW, 2.3%
Cornwall,
2.3 %
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Sep-10
May-10
Jan-10
Sep-09
May-09
Jan-09
Sep-08
May-08
Jan-08
Sep-07
May-07
Jan-07
Sep-06
May-06
Jan-06
0.0
Source: Department for Work and Pensions
8 Figures from Nomis 25/11/10 via Cornwall Council Community Intelligence Team
9 Ward based on former Restormel Borough Council boundaries
15
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Qualifications
Analysis of the 2001 Census shows that the population of the plan area is
relatively under-skilled compared to other areas. Approximately 36.7% of the
adult population had no qualifications, compared to 28.9% across Cornwall as a
whole. At the other end of the scale, just 8.8% of the area’s adult population
had achieved Level 4 and 5 qualifications, which was considerably lower than the
levels recorded across Cornwall (15.8%), the South West (18.8%) and England
& Wales (19.8%).10
Fewer people in St Austell (19.2%) and St Blazey (16.6%) attain level 3 and
above qualifications, which is comparatively lower than Cornwall (23.2%), the
South West (27.4%) and England and Wales (28.1%).
Income
In 2009, gross weekly earnings in the former Restormel Borough were £390.50,
lower than Cornwall (£408.60), the South West (£460.10) and nationally (£491).
Employment Structure
St Austell supports an estimated 14,970 jobs, including self-employment and a
total of 31,300 jobs within the St Austell Travel to Work Area. This illustrates
the important amount of employment in St Austell and the surrounding areas.
St Austell has been particularly reliant upon sectors that are economically
declining, particularly the china clay industry. This has resulted in the loss of
jobs and business investment, which in turn has had an affect on the retailing
and service sectors in the town. Public services including the water industry,
education, health and social work and public administration are important
employers and provide a significant proportion of the town’s employment and
resident’s incomes.
The China Clay area is significantly different from all other areas in its
occupational structure with fewer residents likely to be managers, professionals,
or in technical occupations, but more likely to be in skilled trades, process &
machine, or elementary occupations11.
The China Clay area has 5,804 employees with a much higher proportion of
employees in the energy & water, manufacturing and construction industrial
groups than all comparative areas, and with fewer people employed in
distribution, hotels and restaurants, banking and finance, and public
administration.
The former Restormel area’s employment structure is similar to the county
average with the largest single sector of employment in the distribution, hotels
and restaurant sector. This is a contributing factor to the relative low average
weekly wage, as these are historically low paid occupations.
10 Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
11 St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Strategic Investment Framework, 2008
16
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Businesses
The table below shows the survival rate of new businesses established in 2005
within the former Restormel area, Cornwall, South West and England & Wales.
The survival rate after three years in Restormel is lowest figure, although only
1.1% lower than the national rate compared to 4.5% lower than the rate for
Cornwall.
Restormel
Cornwall
South West
England &
Wales
Yr 1 Survival
Yr 2 Survival
Yr 3 Survival
Business
start-ups
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
370
350 94.6
300
81.1
235
63.5
2,175
2,055 94.5
1,760
80.9
1,480
68.0
22,315
21,085 94.5
18,050
80.9
14,900
66.8
252,285 238,000 94.3 201,600
79.9 162,990
64.6
Source: Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
Business Size
In 2007 there were approximately 1,850 businesses in the plan area, of which
approximately 83% employed between 1 and 10 people. The table below details
business sizes for comparative areas (figures are percentages of the total
number of businesses).12
Plan area
Cornwall
South West
England & Wales
Total
1,850
22,621
225,318
2,264,545
1-10
83.0
85.5
85.5
85.3
11-49
13.6
12.1
11.4
11.3
50-199
2.6
2.1
2.5
2.8
200+
0.8
0.4
0.5
0.6
Source: Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
Economic Activity
In March 2010, 75.4% of the working age population in the former Restormel
area was economically active, which was lower than the rates for the South West
(78.7%) and England & Wales (76.4%), but higher than the rate for Cornwall
(74.3%).
In 2008, there were 36,700 employee jobs based in the former Restormel
Borough area, 19% of the Cornwall total. The area’s largest private sector
employers include St Austell Brewery, the Eden Project, Cornwall Business
School, St Ives Roche (printers) and various tourism related activities such as
Dolphin Holidays, Duporth Holiday Village and Carlyon Bay Hotel.
Records in March 2010 show that levels of self-employment are relatively high in
the local area – 14% of the workforce in the former Restormel Borough
compared with 14.9% in Cornwall and 10.4% in the South West region.
98% of the businesses employing people have at least one employee who lives
within the former Restormel area, and 72% of businesses have all staff living
within the former Borough. This follows that the vast majority (87%) currently
recruits staff locally. However, 51% have difficulties recruiting locally,
12 Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
17
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
essentially finding people with the right skills and experience. 70% of businesses
have problems recruiting people with the right skills.
The workforce in the plan area is less likely than Restormel, Cornwall and the
South West to be in part time employment (but more likely than England &
Wales), with the converse picture for full time employment. Residents of the
plan area are more likely to be employees than people in Restormel or Cornwall,
but less likely than the South West or England & Wales.
Plan Area
Cornwall
South West
England & Wales
Part-time %
36
39.9
35.3
31.3
Full-time %
64
60.1
64.7
68.9
Source: Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
The figures for economic activity vary (China Clay Area 64.9%; England & Wales
66.5%; South West 67.5%; Cornwall 63.1%; Restormel 63.7%), and the China
Clay Area has slightly higher economic activity rates for men compared with
other areas, but lower levels for women. People in the China Clay area are less
likely to be a full time student (2.3%) compared to England & Wales (3.9%);
South West (3.8%); Cornwall (3.1%); Restormel (2.8%).
In 2001, self containment levels for the plan area were 70.1%. Ward self
containment rates ranged between 25.5% in Bethel to 36% in St Enoder. Just
50.6% of residents in St Enoder stayed within the plan area for work, which may
be accounted for by being well placed to access work in Newquay and key
settlements located along the A30.13
Poltair
Rock
St Blaise
St Enoder
St Stephen
29.6
45.8
75.4
20.5
4.1
33.3
40.7
74.0
24.6
1.4
29.8
45.3
75.0
22.5
2.5
29.1
46.0
75.1
21.8
3.2
35.9
30.3
66.2
28.8
5.1
32.7
37.6
70.3
27.5
2.2
36.0
14.6
50.6
40.6
8.8
31.3
40.0
71.3
24.8
3.9
Treverbyn
Mount
Charles
25.5
51.5
77.0
20.5
2.6
Gover
Ward
Rest of Clay area
Clay Area
Rest of Cornwall
Rest of UK
Crinnis
Bethel
Levels of Self Containment
25.6
42.8
68.3
28.9
2.8
Source: Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
The former Restormel area also had a very high rate of self-containment in 2001,
with approximately 85% of the area’s jobs being filled by local residents.
Retail
Information on the diversity of uses within the town centre boundary has been
obtained from Experian Goad (survey dated 2008) and updated by GVA Grimley
in October 2010. This information from Experian Goad indicates composition of
the centre is as follows:
13 Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
18
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Retail Composition of St Austell town centre, 2008-2010
2008
Selected
2009
Sector
Cornwall
No.
%
No.
%
Average %
15
9.3
17
9.4
Convenience
10.10
63
38.9
71
39.2
Comparison
48.57
57
35.2
58
32.0
Service
31.59
26
16.1
33
18.2
Vacant
10.14
1
0.6
2
1.1
Miscellaneous
0.68
Total
162
100
181
100
100
UK
Average
%
9.53
43.23
33.97
12.03
1.24
100
Source: Experian GOAD and GVA Grimley. Figures may not add due to rounding
The above data shows the change in retail and service land uses in the town
centre following the opening of the White River Place shopping centre in 2009. It
indicates that convenience, comparison and service uses have all increased,
although whilst there has been a noticeable increase in comparison uses they
remain below the Cornish and national averages. Convenience uses now occupy
9.4% of all units, an increase in two units since 2008, which is in line with the
national average and slightly below the Cornish average. Since 2008, service
uses have only increased by one unit and the proportion of service uses in the
centre remain commensurate with average levels.
The amount of floorspace within the different retail and service land use
categories is outlined in the table below. It should be noted that the floorspace
associated with the White River Place shopping centre is not included as data
was not available from Experian.
Retail Floorspace Composition of St Austell town centre, 2008-2010
2008
Selected
UK
2009
Sector
Cornwall
Average
No.
%
No.
%
Average %
%
41500
17.4
Convenience
42200
17.7
10.10
9.53
111200 46.5 110500
Comparison
46.3
48.57
43.23
60100
25.1
Service
54500
22.8
31.59
33.97
24000
10.0
Vacant
28800
12.1
10.14
12.03
2300
1.0
Miscellaneous
2700
1.1
0.68
1.24
Total
239100 100 238700
100
100
100
Source: Experian GOAD and GVA Grimley. Figures may not add due to rounding
The above data indicates that the small increase in floorspace occupied by
convenience goods operators since 2008 allows this sector to occupy around
18% of all floorspace in the town centre. This is well above the Cornish and
national average levels for this type of floorspace. Leaving aside the floorspace
introduced by the White River Place centre, 46% of floorspace in the town centre
is occupied by comparison goods retailers. This is above the national average
and close to the Cornish average. If the White River Place floorspace is taken
into account, then St Austell town centre is likely to have a proportion of
comparison floorspace which is also above the Cornish average as well. The
proportion of floorspace occupied by service uses is, excluding the White River
Place centre, well below average levels. Given the food and drink uses which are
19
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
now accommodated in the new shopping centre, it is likely that this proportion
will now be closer to the Cornish and national average levels.
In October 2010, the number of vacancies in the town centre had increased from
26 in 2008 (16% of all units in the town centre) to 33 (18%). This is well above
the Cornish vacancy average of 10% and the national average of 12%.
Health
People in deprived areas are more likely to experience negative health outcomes
including lower life expectancy, higher illness and disease levels. People living in
deprived areas are also more likely to smoke and have an unhealthy lifestyle.
Life expectancy is considered a measure of the overall health of an area. On
average, people in Cornwall have a higher life expectancy than the rest of
England & Wales. However, some of the county figures can be distorted by
higher figures in areas of prosperity, and the gulf between high and low income
areas is pronounced within the county. The lowest combined (male and female)
life expectancy in the county is in West Penzance at 75 years of age, but some
areas of Clay Country, around Fraddon and Indian Queens, are only slightly
higher at 77. Across the Clay area the average is only 79. Life expectancy
around St Blazey and Par is only 77, compared to 83 to the area east of
Lostwithiel only a few miles away. St Austell town averages 78, with the coastal
areas of the Bay rising to 81. The highest life expectancy in Cornwall is 83.
In 2001, St Austell had the third highest population percentage with a limiting
long term illness at 22.7% of the population, with St Blazey at 21.7%, both
above the Cornwall rate of 21.2%. However, the China Clay area had the second
lowest rate in Cornwall at 18.9% of the population having a limiting long term
illness.
Smoking is a major contributor to ill health, however, in contrast to the situation
outlined above, in 2008 18.7% of the China Clay area population were recorded
with GPs as smokers, which is considerably above the Cornwall figure of 17.6%.
In contrast, St Austell and St Blazey were both lower than this at 16.8% and
16.6% respectively.
The China Clay area also comes out badly in respect of weight, with 40% of the
population in the area being registered as being of an ‘unhealthy weight’. St
Austell follows closely (38.9%) and both areas are above the Cornwall rate
(34%). However, St Blazey is recorded as being significantly below the other
two areas at only 32.1% of the population being of an unhealthy weight.
All three areas do badly in respect of teenage pregnancies. Based on 15-17 year
old girls in 2008 at a rate per 1000, the Cornwall rate of teenage pregnancy is
28.8. St Blazey has the highest rate in Cornwall (57.8) and the China Clay area
is third (38) closely followed by St Austell (37.9).
Travel to work
The 2001 Census identified that people in St Austell (61.6%), China Clay
(68.3%) and St Blazey (63.8%) are more likely to use a car or van to get to
work in comparison to Cornwall (58.2%), South West (58.7%) and England &
Wales (55.2%). In St Blazey, 8.2% of people walk to work, which is higher than
20
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
the China Clay area (6%) but significantly lower than St Austell (14.5%),
Cornwall (13%), South West (12.2%) and England & Wales (10%).
Travel to Work Area (TTWA) employment is forecast to grow by between 13-18%
up to 2026. If St Austell retains its current proportion of TTWA employment, it
will grow by over 2,700 jobs, with the main growth in miscellaneous services,
education and health and other business services.
Method of travel to work
14.1
South
West
11.2
England &
Wales
9.3
0.0
0.0
0.1
3.0
0.4
0.5
0.8
4.0
2.2
2.8
5.1
7.5
Clay Area
Cornwall
Works mainly at or from home
Underground, metro, light rail,
tram
Train
9.9
Bus, minibus or coach
Taxi
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.5
64.6
58.4
58.5
55.0
Car - passenger
8.7
6.7
6.4
6.3
Motorcycle etc
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.1
Bicycle
1.3
1.7
3.4
2.8
On foot
10.1
12.9
12.3
10.1
Other
0.5
0.8
0.4
0.4
Car or van pool, sharing driving
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Car - driver
Source: Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
The Connecting Cornwall Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) concludes that travel to
work in Cornwall remains predominately car based. The 2001 Census shows
there were around 219,000 journeys to work on any average weekday in
Cornwall. The Connecting Cornwall travel behaviour survey in 2010 shows that
57% of people use the car to get to work. Walking represents the next most
popular mode at 21%. This is due to the high number of internal trips in the
larger towns making walking a more attractive option. Bus (7%) bicycle (3%)
and train (2%) all featured significantly less as modes used to travel to work.
The 2001 Census identified a strong travel to work pattern between the towns of
Penzance, Camborne, Pool and Redruth (CPR), Falmouth and Penryn, Truro,
Newquay, St Austell and Bodmin. Travel to work movements between these
settlements accounted for 113,000 journeys, over half the total work journeys in
Cornwall. 90% of trips to work in St Austell are made by car.
A relatively high proportion of residents within the plan area travel less than 2
kilometres to work. This, however, is skewed by the high numbers of people
living and working in St Austell. Approximately 61.9% of the plan area residents
travel less than 10 kilometres to work, higher than the benchmark areas of
Cornwall (53.8%), the South West (59.5%) and England and Wales (58.5%)14.
Levels of home working in the plan area (15.5%) are lower than Cornwall and
the South West. However, it should be noted that within the plan area, home
14 Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
21
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
working levels range between less than 10% in Gover (8.1%) and Poltair (8.5%)
to more than 20% in the more rural wards of St Stephen (24.6%), St Enoder
(28.2%) and Treverbyn (29.8%)15.
Transport/Connections
Travel behaviour in Cornwall is heavily influenced by our settlement pattern and
the way that the towns and villages across the county have grown and changed
their function and their relationships to each other.
The settlement pattern in Cornwall has reflected the primary industries, many
towns growing up around key mining, agriculture or fishing locations. As these
industries have declined or become less reliant on manpower over time,
employment and services have become more centralised, and moved away from
some of these traditional settlements. Services and facilities tend to cluster in
settlements which are accessible and where local demand is large enough to
support provision. This change has led to a greater need to travel to undertake
our daily lives.
The highest traffic flows within St Austell are on the A390. Around half of this is
through traffic which is exacerbated in the summer months by tourist traffic.
The A3058 from Newquay to the west of St Austell also suffers from heightened
congestion during the summer. Some traffic still chooses to use the A391 and
A390 instead of the A30 route, and this causes regular congestion problems
through St Austell at peak times.16
The LTP3 Connecting Cornwall surveys identified that 80% of Cornish households
have at least one car. In terms of methods of transport used to get around
Cornwall, there is a marginal reduction in the use of car by visitors to get around
Cornwall (dependant upon journey type) with increased use of Public Transport,
but more notably, walking.
36%
Car (driver)
56%
35%
Car (passenger)
10%
Train
2%
1%
Coach/Bus
Residents
15%
11%
Walk
Other
Visitors
13%
14%
2%
3%
15 Draft Clay Area Economic Masterplan, November 2010, Roger Tym and Partners
16 China Clay Area Regeneration Strategy 2030, Terence O’Rourke December 2007
22
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
The draft Connecting Cornwall Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) states that the bus
plays a key role in terms of the public transport provision across the county. The
current bus network provides an important transport link for those people
without access to a car and the smaller settlements without access to the
railway. Cornwall has recently experienced a 19% increase in bus patronage
There are 21 local (not including Penzance to London) bus routes in the plan
area. There are seven regular buses, e.g., every 60 minutes, which run around
or through the area, and a number of other buses operate on a fixed number of
trips per day, many of these only being one trip per day.
Par and St Austell train stations are on the mainline, Par is also on the Newquay
branch line.
Cornwall’s scenic landscape and coastline makes it popular for walkers, cyclists
and equestrians. Access is provided by a large number of public rights of way
4,352km in 2006 and 491 km of coastal path, which forms part of the South
West Coast Path National Trail. Public rights of way provide an invaluable
network of footpaths, bridleways, byways and restricted byways, extending right
across the county from the coast and hills to valleys and villages.
The plan area is hilly which makes walking and cycling challenging in areas.
Nevertheless the Clay trials are a popular resource which could be built upon.
The China Clay Area Regeneration Strategy 2030, produced by Terence O’Rourke
in 2007, stated that given the existing traffic congestion and future pressures the
china clay area is likely to experience, it is essential that regeneration proposals
facilitate a comprehensive package of integrated transport improvements to
public transport, cycling and pedestrian networks through the area.
Environment
Clay extraction has had a major impact on land use, the environment and a
dramatic impact on the landscape – using former moorlands and heathland for
clay extraction, waste disposal and ancillary uses. Clay bearing ground covers
approximately 88 km and the pits and tips dominate much of the landscape.
Imerys, Natural England and the Local Authorities have a history of partnership
working and project delivery. The heathland and woodland projects have
delivered over 1500 hectares of landscape and habitat restoration - the biggest
project of its kind in Western Europe. Significant public benefits have already
been delivered in the form of access, biodiversity and improved visual amenity.
Local action will be able to deliver more and will build on a solid foundation of
previous successfully delivered projects.
Away from the clay extraction zone there is extensive farming and managed land
with a high degree of environmental sensitivity, including the areas of Goss
Moor, Tregoss Moor, Redmoor and Breaney Common. The area has an important
landscape and environment with a number of designations:



World Heritage Site - Luxulyn Valley and Charlestown
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – coastal area west of Porthpean
and east of Par Sands
Landscape Character Areas (LCAs) - includes part of the following LCAs:
23
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
LCA17 St Austell or Hensbarrow China Clay area
LCA20 Mid Cornwall Moors
LCA39 St Austell Bay and Luxulyan Valley
LCA40 Gerrans, Veryan and Mevagissey Bays
Carbis Moor County Wildlife Site (CWS)
Goss Moor - National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Site of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI)
Total of 10 SSSI’s, Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Par Beach Local Nature Reserve (LNR)
Area of Great Landscape Value
3 Special Areas of Conservation
Areas of Ancient Woodland
Regionally Important Geological or Geomorphologic Sites
-








The following tables give a numerical account of known historic assets within the
plan area.
Historic Environment
Record data
HBSMR Monuments
(non-listed)
World Heritage Site
Scheduled
Monuments
Listed Buildings
Conservation Areas
No.
3,562
As % of Details
Cornwall
6.47%
Yes
35
411
4
Historic Parks &
Gardens
Events
2
293
Total Area (ha.)
17,070
Charlestown and Charlestown
Leat linking to Luxulyan Valley
1.80%
3.20%
2.75% St Austell, Charlestown,
Pentewan and Tywardreath
5.40%
7% Each ‘event’ reflects a professional
report held within the HER dealing
with a site or area within the plan
boundary.
4.79%
These figures show that, while this area has an above average number of sites
recorded on the Historic Environment Record (HER), on the whole the area
contains a below average quantity of statutorily designated heritage sites. To a
large extent this reflects the distribution within this area of historic landscape
character types as defined by the 1994 Historic Landscape Assessment, which
shows that whilst representing only 4.79% of the land surface of the county, the
regeneration plan area contains over 60% of the counties industrial landscapes
and around 10% of its urban area. As has been already described the scale of
the clay industry in this area has resulted in the loss of many medieval and
earlier sites, whilst leaving a legacy of industrial sites and funded historic
environment research.
The following table lists the Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) Types
within the plan area. This information comes from a survey undertaken in 1994.
In relation to the reference to reservoirs, this includes most if not all of the water
24
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
bodies within the clay area (although reservoir may not be the most appropriate
description of these features). Apart from obvious typological issues the nature
of the areas has for many years been one of a highly dynamic industrial
landscape, with water coming and going on some sites more than once over 20
years or so. The ‘fluidity’ of these categories is perhaps a fundamental
characteristic of how industrial landscapes and especially heavily extractive
landscapes develop over time.
Historic Landscape
Characterisation
Types
Coastal Rough
Ground
Communications
Farmland: Medieval
Industrial: Disused
Industrial: Working
Intertidal and inshore
water
Modern Enclosed
Land
Ornamental
Plantations and
Scrub
Post-medieval
Enclosed Land
Recreational
Reservoirs
Settlement: C20
Settlement: older
core (pre-1907)
Upland Rough
Ground
Woodland
(deciduous)
Area
(m2)
% of total HLC
Type across
Cornwall
represented within
area
Distribution
Distribution of
of HLC HLC Type across
within plan
Cornwall as a
area
whole*
111
175
7542
2123
1469
1.7%
12%
4.4%
63.8%
66.5%
0.6%
1.0%
41.3%
11.6%
8.1%
88
1.3%
0.5%
1507
104
4%
2.2%
8.3%
0.6%
773
5.8%
4.2%
2617
228
118
1225
4.8%
11%
13.8%
12%
14.3%
1.2%
0.6%
6.7%
166
9.5%
0.9%
1219
4.6%
0.6%
118
1.6%
1.0%
1.8%
0.4%
47.2%
0.9%
0.6%
1.8%
10.4%
1.3%
3.6%
14.9%
0.6%
0.2%
2.8%
0.5%
1.8%
2.0%
* Types not represented in plan area have been excluded
Community
A desk review has focused on collecting data from existing consultation evidence
based documents that have been produced covering the SIF regeneration area.
However, it must be noted that some of the information may cover a specific
geographical area e.g. parish and others may have a wider view e.g. Clay
Futures.
The information collated is based on community views and aspirations and may
not reflect the actual existing service provision.
25
St Austell, St Blazey & China Clay Area Regeneration Plan – Area Statistics
Community facilities has been assumed to describe community buildings;
allotments; open space; health centres; allotments; leisure buildings; local
shops; places for people to meet.
Existing Facilities in the area17
Facility Type
(Primary Activity)
Number in plan
area
No. areas
with mobile
Service
13 (10 St Austell)
15 (13 St Austell)
No. settlements
with identified
facility
3
3
Baker
Bank/Building
Society
Butcher
Cemetery
Church
Chemist
Day Nursery
Dentist
Doctors
General
Store/Supermarket
Hall
Other Hall (club,
recreation centre,
etc
Library
Optician
Post Office
Children’s play area
Playing field
School playing field
Sport field/court
7
18
38
7
9
6
12
49
3
11
16
3
6
2
8
17
2
33
18
16
6
3
6 in St Austell
22
7
20
22
11
3
18
15
5
14
12
6
The above data does give an indication that numbers are small for dentists,
chemists and opticians.
The St Austell Community Hospital has 44 in-patient beds and offers a range of
out-patient and day clinics. This Hospital also has a nurse-led Minor Injuries Unit
(MIU) which opens daily and includes a Day Assessment Centre and the Penrice
Birthing Centre. The nearest Accident and Emergency Hospital to St Austell is
the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, some 20 km away.
17 Data has been taken from the Core Strategy Settlement Study 2009.
26