Post on 21-Apr-2018
Ward Area Profile
Quedgeley Fieldcourt
Spring 2013
Ward Area Profile: Quedgeley Fieldcourt
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Overview Contents
Ward Councillors
Cllr Debbie Llewellyn - debbie.llewellyn@gloucester.gov.uk
10 Moorhen Court
Quedgeley
Gloucester
GL2 4LE
Cllr Fred Wood - frederick.wood@gloucester.gov.uk
76 Welland Road
Quedgeley
Gloucester
GL2 4SG
Summary
Quedgeley Fieldcourt is the southern most ward in the City and comprises part of the larger
southern suburb of Gloucester of Quedgeley. The area has grown considerably since the
1970’s providing large areas of residential accommodation and new employment land for the
City plus the associated shops, services and schools that such a community requires.
More recently the large urban extension of Kingsway on the former RAF Quedgeley site has
begun to be delivered providing new homes including social housing, a new local centre and
new primary schools.
The ward is effectively subdivided by the A38 dual carriageway which runs north south
through the ward. Connectivity between Kingsway and Quedgeley District centre is provided
via a restricted underpass that passes underneath the dual carriageway.
Waterwells Business Park has provided new employment within the ward and is home to
Gloucestershire Constabulary’s flagship headquarters as well as local manufacturers and
national distribution companies. New employment land remains to be delivered at Kingsway.
The ward has a younger population profile than other wards in the City and a very high rate
of children under 4. There are a high number of lone parent benefit claimants and a high rate
of children eligible for free school meals in the ward.
SWOT Analysis of Ward
Strengths
Demand for retail units outside identified district/local centres
Delivering a high number of new homes
Weaknesses
Not enough sites for retail/services
within identified retail centres.
No guarantee to be able to see a doctor
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for the City including affordable housing
Delivering new employment opportunities and inward business investment at Waterwells Business Park for the whole City.
Sites remain for new employment development on Kingsway at Framework 5.
Good infrastructure for sustainable modes of transport, including walking and cycling
District centre well served by public transport to both Gloucester and Stroud.
Area does not suffer from congestion at peak times -Strong community groups and sense of community identity
within the ward – maybe need to travel
to Stroud Road to Pavilion medical
centre
A predominantly young adult population
with a high number of children under the
age of 5
High number of families on lone parent
benefit
High numbers of children qualifying for
free school meals
Geographical access to services in the
far south & west of the ward is identified
as an issue
Distance of the ward from the services
and facilities available in the City Centre
Opportunities
Possibility to expand district centre
owing to lack of vacant units
To expand the number of services and
facilities available to children, young
people and families in the ward.
To deliver allotments and new play
space through delivery of Framework 4
on Kingsway
To deliver new employment
opportunities in Framework 5 at
Kingsway and Waterwells Business part
To integrate bus service to Kingsway
with that serving the neighbouring ward
of Grange
To address parking issues
To work with Stroud District and Stroud
Parish Councillors with regard to
development abutting the south of the
ward.
Threats
High rainfall events resulting in surface
water and fluvial flooding from Daniel’s
Brook and Dimore Brook
Piecemeal urban sprawl to south of
ward in Stroud District placing
increased pressure on existing services
and community infrastructure in
Quedgeley.
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Appendix 1
1.0 Physical Character of the Area
1.1 Location
Quedgeley Fieldcourt lies to the south west of the City and is bounded to the east by the
mainline Birmingham to Bristol mainline railway with Stroud District beyond, to the north by
Grange and Severnvale wards and to the south by Hardwicke parish which lies within Stroud
District. The location of the ward is shown in Figure 1 below.
Quedgeley Fieldcourt is a large ward which includes the majority of Quedgeley south of the
district centre as well as the Kingsway development, Naas Lane and Waterwells Business
Park.
The whole ward lies within the area covered by Quedgeley Parish Council, which also
includes Quedgeley Severn vale ward to the north west.
The ward is characterised by residential development and the shops, services and
community facilities that such development requires. The main existing employment area in
the ward, Waterwells Business Park lies to the south of the ward.
The new urban extension of Kingsway, formerly RAF Quedgeley, has recently delivered
2,000 new homes in the ward plus a primary school, 1,300 new homes remain to be
delivered in the urban village as well as 16 hectares of employment land. When it is
complete Kingsway will have two primary schools and a local centre including community
centre, place of worship and convenience shopping.
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Figure 1: Location of Quedgeley Fieldcourt ward within the City of Gloucester.
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1.2 The Historical development of Quedgeley Fieldcourt
Quedgeley is not mentioned by name in the Domesday survey of 1086 but it may have
formed part of lands owned by Gloucester Abbey during the medieval period. The earliest
historic element in the ward is the Bristol road, which broadly follows the route of the Roman
road running south from Gloucester.
The first edition Ordnance survey map of 1886 shows a predominantly rural landscape which
still retains a number of medieval elements. These include moated sites at Field Court,
Manor Farm and to the west of St. James church. Moated sites are usually important
countryside houses such as manors or farms and the presence of three so close together is
fairly unusual, it is assumed that this was a prosperous area of farmland during the medieval
period. Sadly the moat at Fieldcourt no longer survives but the two remaining moated sites
still survive and are now protected as scheduled monuments. T he church of St James is
also of medieval date and is Grade II* Listed.
The 1886 map shows an area of dispersed rural settlement focused around the Bristol Road
or on isolated farms. The location of many of the farms, the church and the route of the road
will have been largely unchanged since medieval times. The landscape shown is a mix of
open farmland with a smaller proportion of orchards. The only really modern feature visible
is the Midlands Railway which forms the eastern boundary of the ward.
In 1915, in response to a serious munitions shortage during WWI, a shelling filling factory
was constructed in the south east of the ward around Manor Farm. The factory filled shells
delivered from Bristol via the Midland’s Railway which constructed a branch line that ran
directly to the site. The site was huge, covering some 298 acres of good quality arable land.
The extent of the site is shown in the 1923 Ordnance Survey map. During WWII the site
was converted into an RAF base known as RAF Quedgeley and it was used as a
maintenance depot (and was one of the major equipment depots in the area). The area of
the base was expanded to the north-east.
RAF Quedegley continued as a storage depot until 1995 after which the area was heavily
redeveloped for housing (a process which is still ongoing). Today this ward has undergone
extensive development for residential and employment uses and retains very little of its
historic landscape character, that said a number of historic gems do survive – most
particularly the two scheduled moated sites and the church of St. James.
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Figure 2: Historic Map of Quedgeley Fieldcourt
1.3 Character of the area
The ward is effectively split into two halves by the A38 dual carriageway. The older
residential part of the ward lies to the west of the dual carriageway. Properties here date
predominantly from the 1970’s and 1980’s and the estates are characteristic of housing
layouts of the time. A few older properties lie adjacent to the old Bristol Road, which passes
north south through the ward.
Quedgeley District Centre also lies to the west of the ward and comprises a large
superstore, other retail warehouses and smaller shops selling comparison goods. There are
also public houses, a library and village hall in this part of the parish. This centre has been
developed and expanded as the residential area of Quedgeley has grown. A doctor’s
surgery and police station lie to the west of the local centre and the Anglican Church of St.
James, the community centre lie to the south of the local centre. The Scheduled monument
of Quedgeley moat lies to the west of this area.
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The area to the west of the A38 dual carriageway is intensively used for residential purposes
with the largest open spaces belonging to Severnvale Secondary School and the primary
school. Woodlands Park mobile home park lies to the west of the ward. Figure 3 below
illustrates the ward in more detail.
Figure 3: Fieldcourt Ward
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The urban extension of Kingsway lies on the former RAF Quedgeley site to the east of the
A38 dual carriageway, this area comprises that part of the ward between Daniel’s Brook and
Naas Lane and includes the Scheduled Monument of Manor Farm. To date approximately
2,000 of the permitted 3,300 dwellings at Kingsway have been built plus one two form entry
primary school, a children’s centre and a few of the retail units comprising the local centre.
The permitted local centre at Kingsway identifies sites for a community centre, a place of
worship and a medical facility as well as additional retail units. All these facilities are
required in order to provide the social and community infrastructure required to serve a new
sustainable community.
A second primary school to the south of the site is currently under construction and residents
currently have access to a temporary community centre.
The development of Kingsway has been split into five Frameworks, Frameworks 1-3, to the
north and east of the site are substantially complete. Their design reflects the highway and
design standards of their era. Framework 4, the final phase of residential development to the
south, is currently under construction. Framework 5, to the west of the site and bonding the
A38 dual carriageway, is the employment area, yet to be commenced.
The development has been planned with large areas of open space and with strategic
footpath and cycle ways to encourage modes of transport within the area other than the
private car. The area is a mix of tenures and house types of predominantly two storey
dwellings.
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Naas Lane is a former rural lane fronted by residential development along its north side
comprising a mix of bungalows and two storey dwellings. The character of this area has
changed over recent years with the intensification of the use of some of the more spacious
plots, the development of Waterwells Business Park to the south and the development of
Kingsway to the north.
A large public open space with a dedicated playing field lies to the south of Naas Lane.
To the east of Naas Lane and adjacent to the mainline railway lies a large site formerly used
for car storage, this site is now used for open storage of vehicles.
To the south of Naas Lane is Waterwells Business Park, a former employment allocation
which has been built out since 2000 and is almost complete. The area houses the
Gloucestershire Constabulary headquarters building as well as other office, manufacturing
and storage buildings. The site has excellent access to junction 12 of the M5 motorway to
the south and provides the southern most Park and Ride site for the City.
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To the east of Waterwells, between the business park and the railway lies an area of
undeveloped land with a few residential properties.
The main route through the ward is the A38 dual carriageway which effectively cuts the ward
in half. The old Bristol Road runs adjacent to the A38 to its west. Fieldcourt Drive is the
main distributor road through the western half of the ward. Thatcham Avenue and Valley
Gardens provide connectivity through the Kingsway development. To the south of the ward
Waterwells Drive provides connectivity to Brookthorpe and School Lane to Hardwicke and
Elmore in Stroud District.
A large new urban extension of 1750 dwellings has been permitted to the south of the ward
in Stroud District. The new development is known as Hunts Grove and will include housing,
employment land, a new primary school, a new local centre and public open space.
Connectivity to this new development will be possible via a new road leading from
Waterwells Business Park into Hunts Grove.
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2.0 Demographics
2.1 Population
The 2011 Census identifies Quedgeley Fieldcourt ward as having a population of 10,421
people. This
makes the ward the second most populated ward in the City after Barton & Tredworth.
2.2 Age
The breakdown of age cohorts in the ward is provided in Figure 4 below;
Figure 4: Breakdown of population by Age
Source: Census 2011
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Figure 5: Breakdown of cohorts by sex
Source: ONS 2010
Figure 4 clearly shows the high number of children in the ward up to the age of 4, while the
numbers of young children in the City have been rising this ward has the highest number of
under 5’s for the whole City with approximately 11% of the ward population from this cohort.
The graph shows roughly equal numbers of boys and girls aged 5 – 19, but significantly
more women than men aged 20-24.
It is significant that the most populated adult cohorts are 25-34, this means that the ward has
a predominantly young adult population who are producing lots of young children. There are
less older people living in the ward than in other wards across the City. There are more
women than men aged 80 plus in the ward.
These demographic statistics are interesting as they do not reflect the pattern of
demographic breakdown in other parts of the City and highlight the need to provide facilities
and activites in the ward for young families with young children, bearing in mind that there
may be a number of quite young women caring for children on their own in the ward.
2.3 Ethnicity
The following table displays the ethnic make up of the city in 2006, this data demonstrates
that the population of Fieldcourt consists of 96.5% White British and 3.5% Ethnic Minority
groups.
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Table 1: Ethnicity within Gloucester City
Source: Gloucestershire County Council - Ethnicity in Gloucestershire 2006
2.4 Gender
The graph at Figure 4 shows roughly equal numbers of boys and girls aged 5 – 19, but
significantly more women than men aged 20-24 and 40-44. There are also more elderly
women than men in the ward for all cohorts aged 65 plus, especially those aged 85 plus.
2.5 Housing Tenure
The housing tenure split for Fieldcourt is illustrated in Figure 5 below and clearly
demonstrates that the majority of housing in the ward is owner occupied (65%), with 11% of
the housing stock in the social rented sector and 19% in the private rented sector.
Quedgeley Fieldcourt has the highest amount of Shared Ownership properties at 4%.
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Figure 5: Tenure in Fieldcourt Ward
Source: 2011 Census Data
The comparison chart in Figure 6 below shows that Fieldcourt has similar levels of owner
occupation as Barnwood and Tuffley. Quedgeley Fieldcourt has a social housing
percentage of 11% compared to the City average of 13% and a higher than average amount
of private rented housing with 19% compared to the City average of 17%.
Figure 6: Tenure within Gloucester City by ward
Source: 2011 Census
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2.6 Profile of housing stock
The majority of housing stock in the ward has been built since the 1970’s and is modern in
nature. Older properties are predominantly located adjacent to the Bristol Road and along
Naas Lane. There is a higher than City average of houses and bungalows with a
corresponding low level of flats, just 9% compared to the City ward average of 16%.
The ward has less one and three bedroom properties than the City average and more two
and four bed properties than the City average (Source: Census 2011).
2.7 Energy efficiency of housing stock
Thermal imaging of the City shows that for Quedgeley Fieldcourt ward the housing stock is
generally thermally efficient, however newer housing in the north east of the ward is not as
thermally efficient as the established older housing stock in the west of the ward or along
Naas Lane.
A household is deemed to be in Fuel Poverty if they spend more than 10% of their income of
heating their home.In Quedgeley Fieldcourt 5.0% of households are in fuel poverty, which is
lower than the local authority average of 5.5% of households (Source: Fuel Poverty
Indicators – Centre for Sustainable Energy).
2.8 Housing Need
The Fordham Research Gloucestershire household survey (2009) identifies Quedgeley
Fieldcourt ward as one of the two wards lying in the southwest sub-area of the City with a
combined identified total of 6,331 households. Within this sub-area 5.9% of households are
in unsuitable housing and 2.4% are in households in current housing need.
It is considered that the balance of types of properties in the ward is good and should be
maintained.
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3.0 Community facilities
3.1 Health care
Quedgeley Fieldcourt has three medical centres. ‘St. James Family Doctors’ is located to
the rear of the Tesco superstore to the west of the local centre. The practice has recently
expanded and there is no further capacity to physically expand the medical centre on the
site, additional capacity could only be provided by extending the opening hours of the
practice.
The practice is linked with the Pavilion practice on Stroud Road in the City and has 8 GP’s ,
6 nursing staff and 2 health care assistants as well as 3 midwives and 5 community nurses
and 3 health visitors, 2 of whom are based at St. James surgery. The website for the
practice states that people wishing to join the medical centre must be able to travel to both
sites (Quedgeley and Stroud Road) in order to be able to access a clinician.
The Severnvale Surgery is located in the same area and Quedgeley Medical Centre is
located on the Olympus Park Retail site in Quedgeley Severnvale Ward.
There is also a Dental Practice located at St. James adjacent to the medical centre, the
practice does not offer NHS dental care except for a limited number of children. NHS dental
services are available in the City Centre.
3.2 Libraries
Quedgeley Library is located adjacent to the District Centre on the western side of Bristol
Road, it is close to shops and other community facilities such as the medical centre, police
station and village hall. The library is a well used community resource run by the County
Council and is open as follows;
Monday 10am – 1pm 2pm-5pm
Tuesday 10am – 1pm 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday Closed 2pm – 5pm
Thursday 10am – 1pm 2pm – 7pm
Friday 10am – 1pm 2pm – 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
The library also offers the following other groups and resources;
Baby Bounce and Rhyme
Computer Buddy
Bus pass applications
PC’s with internet access
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Library Book Club 1st Thursday each month drop in session between 6pm-7pm
The library has parking and public & accessible toilets and has flat automated access.
3.3 Places of Worship
Quedgeley Fieldcourt has four places of worship, the Anglican Church of St. James is a
medieval church dating from the 1300’s, the church has a family communion each Sunday
as well as daily office each day except Monday.
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Quedgeley Baptist Church meets at Quedgeley Village Hall. As well as Sunday services the
church provides youth groups at the Village Hall and Scout Hall for those aged between 5
and 17.
Quedgeley Methodist Church offers Sunday worship, junior church, youth fellowship, a baby
and toddlers group and a women’s fellowship.
Kingfisher Church provides a Sunday morning service at Kingsway Primary School.
3.4 Community Facilities
Quedgeley Community Centre and Village Hall are both located in Fieldcourt Ward.
The Village Hall is located on Bristol Road to the south of the district centre and is well used
during the day and the evening by various groups offering a variety of community activities
including exercise classes, indoor bowls, dancing classes, art class, toddlers and WI. The
Village Hall has a main hall with a stage, a kitchen , a small hall and a meeting room for
around 10 people.
The Community Centre was opened in 1995 and is located on School Lane to the west of
the A38. The building is run by the Parish Council and is well used by the community
providing the location for a popular playgroup, luncheon club, and evening community
activities. The Community Centre has two large halls, each with kitchen facilities and a
smaller room suitable for meetings.
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Quedegley Social Club was added to the community centre in subsequent years. It is run by
local residents and provides a pub type environment for socialising and events.
The Quedgeley Scout & Guide Hall is located on School and is used by community groups
as well as by the Scouts and Guides alike.
Kingsway has a temporary community centre which is accessed from Naas Lane and
provides a suite of rooms for use by the local Kingsway community. A new community
centre will be built at the Kingsway local centre.
Equals Youth Club is run by Quedgeley Community Trust and operated by Prospect Training
Service who provide training opportunities to young people ages 16 – 19 who are not in
education, employment or training (NEET) during the day and provide activities for local
young people at the youth centre in the evening. It is also understood that the centre will
provide school holiday camps, eg: a football camp for young people locally.
The Gloucester City Draft Community Facility Audit (Autumn 2012) identifies Fieldcourt as
having more than the national recommended level of community facility provision. The
facilities listed include the following;
Quedgeley Community Centre Equals Youth Centre Severn Vale School Kingsway Community Centre Quedgley Village Hall Waterwells Sports Centre
The point to note from the audit however, is that most of the built facilities lie to the west of
the A38, with the Kingsway Community on the east of the A38 only having access to a
temporary community centre in their local vicinity.
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3.5 Education Facilities
There are two primary schools within Fieldcourt Ward, Fieldcourt Infant, Fieldcourt Juniors
and Kingsway Primary School.
Fieldcourt C of E Infant School was judged as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in March 2010. The
school has an on–site pre-school and also has a ‘before and after’ school club. The school
is part of Quedgeley Learning Community, it works closely with other primary school in the
area as well as Severn vale School.
Fieldcourt Junior School is a three form entry junior school accommodating 7-11 year olds,
there are around 300 pupils on role. There are extensive playing field and playground areas
that are shared with the infant school. The 2010 Ofsted report states that the school is
‘Good’.
Kingsway Primary School is located on the Kingsway urban extension. The school was
opened in 2008 as a two form entry landmark school building and flagship of Gloucestershire
County Council, aiming to provide up –to –date and inspirational learning for the primary age
range. The latest Ofsted inpsection took place in October 2012 and the outcome is awaited.
The March 2010 inspection found that the school has an above average proportion of pupils
with special educational needs and/or disabilities, most of whom had moderate learning
difficulties. This report found the school to be ‘Satisfactory’.
Severn Vale School is an Academy catering for secondary aged pupils which has seen
dramatic improvements in recent years. In March 2011 Ofsted stated that the school was
‘Good’ and rapidly moving towards outstanding. The school does not offer a sixth form.
The school offers evening classes including free numeracy and literacy evening classes.
The school works closely with other community groups in the Quedgeley area and students
have recently painted the A38 underpass through to Kingsway.
3.6 Leisure Facilities
Quedgeley Health and Fitness Club is located at Severn Vale school and operated by the
Quedgeley Community Trust, it shares the schools sports and leisure facilities and offers a
range of activities and classes. The club is open Monday to Friday 5.30pm – 9pm and
weekends from 9.30am to 6.00pm. The club offers a fully equipped gym, a range of fitness
classes and a sports hall, in the summer the outside tennis courts can be hired.
Quedgeley Community Centre offers aerobic and dance classes.
There is a Snooker Club on Waterwells Business Park which provides training as well as
being a venue for national competitions.
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3.7 Cultural Facilities
Quedgeley Library is the only facility that meets the requirements of a cultural facility.
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4.0 Deprivation Index
4.1 Deprivation Table
The rate is compared to the County norm of 1. A rate of 0.5 represents half the County
average rate, a rate of 2 would show the locality has double the norm.
Hot indicates the locality is in top 10% (or bottom 10% when marked with an *) of localities in
Gloucestershire (therefore this is an issue within the City).
Warm indicates the locality is in the next 25% of localities in the County (therefore this
indicator is an issue when compared to the County).
A ‘cool’ rating indicates that this matter is not an issue compared to other localities in the
County.
Table 2: Deprivation Indicators for Quedgeley Fieldcourt
Source: Data from Maiden multi agency information database for neighbourhoods 2012 &
2007
Source MAIDeN Number Hot, Warm or Cool
Health
Social work assessments 2011 < 5 Cool
Mental Health Assessments 2011 40 Warm
Accident Admissions 2012
Children and Young People
Accident Admissions of under 5’s 2012 50 Cool
Accident Admissions of under 17’s 2012 110 Warm
Children in need 2011 105 Hot
Crime victims under 20 years old 2010-11 95 Hot
Lone parent benefit claimants August 2008 208 Hot
Key stage 4 - Pupils not achieving 5+ A*-C grades inc English * maths
55 Warm
Free School Meals - Pupils eligible 2012 310 Hot
Pupils with English as an additional language where first language is known
1490 Hot
Crime
Victims of crime (all) 2010-11 475 Warm
Anti Social Behaviour Incidents recorded by the Police 2010-11
815 Hot
Theft victims 2010-11 155 Cool
Violence victims 2010-11 165 Hot
Burglary victims 2010-11 45 Cool
Hate Crime/incidents 2010-11 15 Cool
Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Collisions 2007-10 10 Cool
Criminal damage victims 2010-11 80 Warm
Arson recorded by Fire and Rescue 2008-11 25 Cool
Economy
Mean household income 2007 £k* 38,791 Cool
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Working-age benefit claimants Aug 2008 803 Warm
Job seeker claimants Aug 2008 134 Warm
Incapacity Benefit claimants 2008 267 Warm
Lone parent benefit claimants Aug 2008 208 Hot
Carer claimants Aug 2008 63 Warm
Disabled claimants Aug 2008 69 Warm
Households with broadband internet 2008* 5461 Cool
4.2 Map of Deprivation
Figure 9 illustrates the Indices of Deprivation for Gloucester 2010. The map is compiled by
looking at income deprivation, employment deprivation, health and disability, education,
skills and training, crime and disorder, barriers to housing services, and living environment.
While the map does not indicate high levels of overall deprivation for the ward specifically
high indicators to the east of the A38 dual carriageway include income deprivation affecting
children; crime and disorder and barriers to housing and services. Crime and disorder was
also highlighted around the district centre and geographical barriers to services to the south
west of the ward.
Figure 7: Indices of Deprivation 2010
Source: Gloucestershire Research & Intelligence
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4.3 Headline Indicators
Table 2 above clearly shows the following indicators that are local priority issues for the ward
within the City;
Crime victims under 20
Lone parent benefit claimants
The number of pupils eligible for free school meals
Anti social behaviour incidents recorded by the police
Violence victims
Children in need
English as a second language in school aged children
4.4 Health
The Director of Public Health’s report for Gloucester from 2009 -2010 shows that the
western most lower super output area of the ward has between 100-200 households out of
650 households with existing health problems. Measures include angina at a rate 60%
higher than the national average and heart attack 45% higher than the national average,
plus new cases of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol above the national
average, the map below illustrates this data.
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One lower super output area to the west of the ward has up to 50 households who may
develop future health problems owing to high numbers of smokers or obesity, this is
illustrated in the map below. It should be noted however that Kingsway was still in the
process of being occupied when this data was collated and is still only two thirds complete –
future studies may identify parts of Kingsway at risk from ill health owing to the other
deprivation indicators that are highlighted for the area.
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4.5 Crime
Data from Gloucester City CSP for 2012 demonstrates a slight increase in all recorded crime
in the ward in 2011/12 from 2010/11 compared to an overall reduction Citywide, however the
overall levels of crime in the ward are not as high as elsewhere in the City. There has been a
substantial reduction in criminal damage in the ward but slight increases in burglary, theft
and violence against the person. During a recent Have your say day arranged by Safer
Gloucester, in the Kingsway area, 95% of people feel very or fairly safe during the day and
66% feel safe walking around at night.
4.6 Car ownership
Figure 8 below indicates that car/van ownership levels in the ward are high with very few
households not having access to their own transport. It should be noted that this 2001
census data is now relatively old the 2012 census data will provide an updated picture.
There is a small pocket of vehicle deprivation in the western most corner of the ward where
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12.5 – 18.5% of households do not own a car or van, this is the area of the mobile home
park.
Figure 8: Car ownership
Source: ONS 2001 Census
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5.0 Economics
5.1 Employment
(Source: Gloucestershire County Council Unemployment Bulletin November 2012)
In November 2012 Fieldcourt was ranked 103rd of 142 wards in Gloucestershire with regard
to unemployment based on an analysis of claimant counts. The ward had the seventh
lowest level of unemployment across the City (with a rate of 3.1 compared to the City
average of 4.1), however with a ranking of 103rd out of 142 wards countywide it is clear that
unemployment is an issue in this ward.
Table 3: Claimant Count in Gloucester by Ward November 2012
Source: Gloucestershire County Council 2012
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5.2 Average Household Income
Data from 2007 shows that compared to the rest of the County average household income in
Fieldcourt is not a specific issue, however other indicators such as high levels of lone parent
benefit claimants (August 2008) and high levels of pupils eligible for free school meals
(2012) show that the pockets of deprivation that exist in the ward are being masked by
higher income families such that overall average household income is not showing as an
issue in the ward.
5.3 Educational Achievement
Data provided from the County for 2010/11 demonstrates that within the ward, of 130 pupils
at the end of Key Stage 4, 75 (57.6%) achieved 5 GCSE’s including maths and English while
107 (82.3%) achieved 5 GCSE’s. The comparison of achievement of pupils in Fieldcourt
against the rest of the City can be seen in Figure 9 below.
It is interesting to note that the neighbouring ward of Quedgeley Severnvale has much
higher percentage pass rates (71.8% and 90% respectively), yet the wards contain very
similar housing stock including a mix of established post war housing and more modern
dwellings completed in the past 7 years.
Other indicators which help to support the lower level of educational achievement include
high levels of children for whom English is not their first language and the numbers of
children identified as being in need in 2011 compared to the County average. High rates for
both of these indicators help to explain why educational achievement in Fieldcourt is not as
high as neighbouring Severnvale.
Figure 9: Educational Achievement at Key Stage 4 2010/11
Source: Gloucestershire County Council
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5.4 Retail
Fieldcourt contains Quedgeley District Centre, which is shown on the Gloucester City First
Deposit Local Plan Proposals Map (2001) as split into two distinct areas either side of the
Bristol Road with adjacent areas identified as new retail allocations. Since 2001 the
allocated areas have also been developed for retail purposes such that the District Centre
now has the biggest non bulky goods retail offer in the City after the City Centre and St.
Oswalds retail park.
There is a Tesco superstore to the west of the Bristol Road which has recently been
refurbished and expanded to include smaller retail units on the frontage including a coffee
shop, post office, building society, charity shop and pet shop.
On the east of the Bristol Road is Olympus Park, a number of large retail warehouses
including a Matalan, Next, Brantano and Lidl. There are also some smaller retail units
including a bank, pet shop, take away and estate agents plus a public house.
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To the south in School Lane, but still within the local centre, are a cluster of additional retail
units including a hairdressers, further estate agents, solicitors and take away units.
The district centre is on a bus route and is accessible for both pedestrians and cyclists from
both sides of the A38 dual carriageway.
Kingsway Local Centre has been partly constructed and now provides a public house and
restaurant, a coffee shop, a small convenience store, estate agents, pharmacy, vets and
hairdressers. The local centre will continue to be delivered as more housing is completed on
the urban extension and will eventually provide a small convenience store as well as
additional small retail units.
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Recent planning permissions have been granted for retail uses in Quedgeley Fieldcourt
outside of either the main district centre or Kingsway local centre. A hairdresser and an
optician have planning permission to operate from units on Waterwells Business Park and a
hairdresser and dentist have planning permission to operate from Space Business centre to
the north of the district centre.
These permissions were all granted owing to the lack of suitable vacant units within the
district or local centres for the businesses to operate from.
More recently in early January 2013 a planning application for a new 2,300sqm net retail
floor space superstore was granted planning permission on the employment land at
Kingsway. This facility will offer choice for local residents and competition for the Tesco
superstore in the district centre.
5.5 Public Transport
The Bristol Road is well served by public transport with frequent services from Gloucester to
Quedgeley and Gloucester to Stroud/Stonehouse/Frampton passing through the district
centre. The following bus services serve Quedgeley Fieldcourt;
12 & 12A to Dursley via Gloucester Bristol Road, School Lane, Severvale Drive and
Field Court Drive
14 via Hempsted Lane to Kingsway and Stroud via The Stanleys
14A via Hempsted Lane, Severnvale Drive to Elmore & Fretherne
15 service between Gloucester and Kingsway, Thatcham Avenue
91 Gloucester to Dursley via Stroud Road and Cole Avenue & Quedgeley Bristol
Road
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113 via Hempsted Lane, Severnvale Drive to Elmore, Frampton & Arlingham
Car parking is provided in the ward at the District centre and at Kingsway local centre. The
community centre and village hall also have parking.
5.6 Cycle ways
The 2002 Second Deposit Local Plan proposals map identifies Bristol Road as a cycle route
along with Fieldcourt Drive. Off road strategic footpath and cycle ways exist throughout the
ward and permeate through the residential areas, especially through the new urban
extension of Kingsway.
Cycle link also exist between Kingsway and neighbouring Grange ward at crossing points
over the Daniels Brook.
5.7 Congestion
Gloucestershire County Council Congestion Monitoring Report 2010/11 indicates that there
is very little congestion on the A38 dual carriageway during either the morning or evening
peak times despite the fact that the route carries 20,000-50,000 vehicles per day including
between 350-1,000 large goods vehicles. With the close proximity of Junction 12 of the M5
motorway, congestion can occur during any closures or delays on the motorway.
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6.0 Land use Issues
6.1 Conservation and Archaeology
The ward has several listed buildings including St. James’ Church which is Grade II*
listed. There are other listed buildings in the ward including buildings at Manor Farm
in Kingsway. None of the listed buildings in the ward are on the Buildings At Risk
Register.
There are two scheduled monuments in this ward both of which are medieval settlement
sites:
SM no. 13805 – Moated site at Manor Farm
SM no. 32364 – Moated site 200m west of St James’ Church
There is one Area of principle Archaeological Interest:
East Quedgeley (Historic Landscape and Roman Road)
6.2 Public Open space
The Draft Open Space Strategy (2012) indicates that the ward has 22.28ha of open space
which falls just short of the existing open space standard of 2.8ha per 1000 people. The
ward also falls seriously short of the proposed sports pitch standard of 1.6ha of open space
per 1,000 population having only 0.48ha per 1,000. Details of the open space in the ward
are provided in Table 3 below.
There are six play areas in the ward, plus some informal youth sports areas, which equate to
0.11ha per 1000, which falls short of the proposed standard for formal play provision of
0.25ha per 1000.
The open spaces in the ward have mainly been created as part of housing development, to
provide space for formal and informal recreation. A number of new open spaces are being
created as part of the Kingsway development. It is intended that these will be adopted by
the council, so those that are already completed and open for use have been included in the
calculations for this ward. Proposed Kingsway spaces not yet constructed haven’t been
included.
Dimore Playing Field is also included in the overall calculation. Even though it is unadopted, it has been used by local residents for a number of years. However, it has not been included in the sports pitch calculation, because although it is designed to accommodate 2 football pitches (and even a cricket pitch), it has never been laid out for formal sport.
Quedgeley Fieldcourt’s open spaces are a mainly maintained as short mown grass with associated trees, shrubs and hedgerows. However, in the Kingsway development, there are two old orchards that are being managed less intensively, with nature conservation and preservation of the historic orchard character in mind. During a ‘Have your Say’ day in Kingsway 53% or respondents indicated that they felt that there were enough safe play areas/activities for young people in the area.
Ward Area Profile: Quedgeley Fieldcourt
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Areas of public open space in the ward are listed in Table 4, a key for the table is provided below,
Table 4: Public Open Space in Fieldcourt Ward Source: Draft Open Space Strategy (2012)
Ref. Name Size Description (see list of open space types)
QF1 Druid’s Oak 0.2 B+ H LEAP
QF2 Field Court Gardens 0.4 B
QF3 Field Court Drive 2.86 H + B MUGA, skate
QF4 Needham Avenue 0.17 B
QF5 Waterwells playing field 5.41 J + H + B MUGA, LEAP, synthetic pitch, 2 adult football, 2 junior?
QF6 Dimore Playing Field (in use, but yet to be adopted)
3.31 B (+future J – sports pitches not yet laid out)
QF7 Manor Farm open space and orchard (in use, but yet to be adopted)
4.81
B + H + J MUGA, NEAP, 1 adult football, historic orchard
QF8 Valley Gardens (in use, but yet to be adopted)
0.33 B + H LEAP
QF9 Thatcham Avenue open space & woodland (in use, but yet to be adopted)
2.03 D + B
Type
A Parks and gardens
B Informal green space
C Allotments
D Countryside and natural spaces
E Green infrastructure
F Civic spaces
G Cemeteries
H Spaces for children and young people
I Amenity Green Space
J Sports provision
Ward Area Profile: Quedgeley Fieldcourt
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QF10 Daniel’s Meadow (in use, but yet to be adopted)
0.85 E + B
QF11 Coltishall Close (Area 4c) 0.31 B + E + H LEAP
QF12 Stanbridge Way orchard (Area 4c) (in use, but yet to be adopted)
0.14 B
QF13 Buckenham Sports Park (in use, but yet to be adopted)
1.21 J + H + B 2 x tennis courts, 1 x MUGA, NEAP
QF14 Watermint Drive 0.25 B
QF15+
Kingsway development open spaces (not yet built/adopted)
Future
tbc
To be confirmed
Total: 22.28ha
The open space facilities in Quedgeley Fieldcourt, also help serve the adjacent Quedgeley
Severn Vale ward, which is severely deficient in sports pitches. However, the busy A38 dual
carriageway, which runs through the centre of the ward does act as a major barrier for
residents in the west of the ward and may deter residents from accessing the new open
space facilities at Kingsway and Waterwells to the east of the ward.
A skatepark is located on the Fieldcourt open space and is used by the local young people in
the area. Recent correspondence from some young people living in the area suggest that
they would like some improvements made to the skatepark.
New allotment provision has also been secured in the Kingsway development, but this is not
yet constructed. This should happen in the next 3-5 years.
Needham Avenue is a peripheral open space accessed from a private road off Naas Lane in
Quedgeley. Open space provision along Naas Lane is now well served by Waterwells
Playing Field, so Needham Avenue may be a site to consider for disposal.
There are several play areas in Quedgeley that are managed by Quedgeley Parish Council.
Some of the play equipment is nearing the end of its useful life and the city council will work
with the Parish to investigate opportunities for funding new play areas.
Other local priorities will be developed in consultation with the local community as
part of the development of the Quedgeley Fieldcourt Ward Open Space Action Plan.
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Figure 10: Map of Open Space in Quedgeley Fieldcourt
Source: Draft Open Space Strategy (2012)
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6.3 Green Infrastructure
The Daniels Brook runs along the northern boundary of the ward and the Dimore Brook runs
to the south of the ward through Waterwells and then comprises the southern boundary of
the ward as it flows eastwards towards the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal.
Under the emerging Draft Green Infrastructure Plan enhancements are proposed to the
existing Daniels’ Brook green corridor.
Figure 11 below clearly illustrates all the green infrastructure within the ward
Biodiversity – Appendix 1 of the 2002 Second Deposit Gloucester City Local Plan identifies
the following sites as important for nature conservation;
NC13 - Daniels Brook Grade C
NC27 – Quedgeley Moat Grade D
NC28 – Daniels Meadow Grade C
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6.4 Water
Daniels Brook experienced flooding in July 2007 with properties in Bodiam Avenue in
Grange Ward affected by flooding.
The ward has two historic moats which are protected by historic monument status, both of
the moats hold water except during the dry summer months.
Flood zones include a small area immediately to the south of the mobile home park at
Woodlands Park and areas adjacent to Daniel’s Brook
6.5 Sustainability
As well as the Council’s kerbside recycling facility additional recycling facilities are available
at Tesco’s Quedgeley in the District Centre.
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7.0 Previously Identified Issues
7.1 Issues Arising from Quedgeley Parish Plan (May 2012)
1. Seek to improve public transport facilities if this is identified as a need by the local
community
2. Provide a commuter halt on the main railway line at Quedgeley to avoid commuting to
Gloucester or Cam
3. Ensure existing cycle/footways are maintained and improved
4. Promote green infrastructure linkages to countryside
5. Improve broadband speeds across Quedgeley parish
6. Seek provision of an additional secondary school close to Quedgeley to avoid need for
pupils to commute to remote locations.
7. Promote outdoor educational play opportunities
8. Lobby for and secure health care services to meet the needs of Quedgeley including
Kingsway
9. Aquire Clearwater Drive and Dimore II through localism for community use
10. Provide a high quality ibnterbet café
11. Facilitate better childcare provision within the community.
12. Undertake an audit of trees and establish those that need to be protected
13. Encourage new development to encorporate sustainable building and energy saving
technologies
14. Establish a Quedgeley car share/community minibus scheme
15.To preserve and enhance biodiversity in the parish
16. Local jobs for local people, including apprenticeships by local companies for local young
people 17. Ensure delivery of new community centre at Kingsway on land identified in local
centre for that purpose
18. To ensure delivery of a church on land identified for a place of worship at Kingsway local
centre
19.To ensure delivery of allotments on land identified for such at Kingsway – to be managed
by QPC
20.To encourage social inclusion and a cohesive community
21.To deliver a youth centre on Kingsway to provide a range of services and activities for the
young people in the area
22. Promote Quedgeley as a place for new businesses to come and locate in
23. Seek the retention of all existing open space in the parish for recreational purposes
24. To ensure a mix of housing types and sizes in new development
25. To work with housing associations to better understand housing need within Quedgeley
26. To work with strategic plan making authorities to ensure the character of Quedgeley is
maintained
Ward Area Profile: Quedgeley Fieldcourt
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7.2 Kingsway Have your Say day
When residents in Kingsway were asked what is important to them in their home and
neighbourhood, the most popular answers were sense of community and local amenities.
7.3 What residents have previously said about this area?
During the City Vision City Plan Summer 2011 consultation the following comments were
made about sites within Quedgeley Fieldcourt;
Comments from Quedgeley Event 11th August 2011
How will sites beyond the city be considered by City Plan?
More public open space is required in the parish
More affordable housing is required in the parish
Lower housing densities should be pursued through the City Plan.
Parish is short of community services and facilities, schools, libraries etc..
Public transport networks are poor
Should be no new development to the south of the City in Stroud
0
5
10
15
20
25
No
. o
f ti
mes m
en
tio
ned
What's important to you about your home and neighbourhood?
Ward Area Profile: Quedgeley Fieldcourt
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Written responses to consultation
Need to provide community and social infrastructure alongside new dwellings at
Kingsway
Industrial units purchased for investment on Waterwells in 2004 & 2005 have only all
been fully let for a period of less than 8 months. There is currently an oversupply of such
property in this part of the City therefore an additional employment land allocation to the
east of Waterwells is questionable?
Support for land East of Waterwells and IM Group land being developed for employment
purposes.
Lynton Fields and land to East of Waterwells should be allocated for housing with
associated public open space and contributions to public services.
Mayos Land should be allocated as open space
Commercial leisure should come forward on the RMC site
A new passenger station should be provided on the mainline railway
Need to address the shortfall of public open space in Quedgeley and provide a
swimming pool, plus improve access to health services.
The future planning of Quedgeley needs to be co-ordinated in conjunction with Stroud
District as permitted housing developments in Stroud impact on services and facilities
within Quedgeley.
New housing should be developed at a maximum density of 25 dwellings per ha.
7.4 2006 LDF Site Allocations and Designations (Non- Central Area) consultations
August- September 2006
Objection by IM group to non allocation of land to east of Kingsway and north of Naas
Lane for a rail freight terminal
7 representations objecting to Policy SAD.23 Mayo’s Land – objections to phasing;
sustainability; highways; green field site so should not be developed for residential
purposes.
3 representations objecting to Policy SAD.31 stating that land to the east of Waterwells
should be retained solely for employment purposes and not be used for other purposes
such as for a Showman’s Guild Site
2 representations supporting Policy SAD.33 use of IM Group site for B1 and B8
purposes
2 representations objecting to Policy SAD.33 use of IM Group site – contributions
required for M5 J12 improvements & in accuracy of site area identified.
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1 representation supporting Policy SAD.36 – Extension to Quedgeley District Centre
7.5 Previous local plan allocations
The Gloucester City Local Plan Second Deposit Draft (August 2002) identified the following
commitments and allocations for Quedgeley Fieldcourt;
1. MU5 – RAF Quedgeley (which included a small site to the west of A38 dual carriageway)
Mixed use allocation to include housing with associated public open space, community
facilities and services and employment.
2. Employment Commitment 1 – Waterwells Business Park
3. E.2.2 – RMC Site, Waterwells Business Park, employment allocation of 7.2ha for B1
uses
4. E.2.5 – Land east of Waterwells Business Park, employment allocation of 15.1ha for B1
uses
5. E.2.6 – IM Group Site, Naas Lane, 6.4ha for B8 uses
6. Land to the north and south of the identified local centre was allocated for additional
retail development.
7. A site to the north west of Waterwells Business Park was identified for a Park and Ride
facility and for the extension of the Park and Ride car park.
8. Policy TR.42 looked to safeguard land south of Naas Lane for a proposed new railway
station.
9. Policy TR.43 looked to safeguard land at RAF Quedgeley adjacent to the main line
railway for a rail freight terminal.
7.6 Extant major permissions
Kingsway
The following remains to be constructed of this urban extension;
1000 dwellings to the east and south of the site
The remainder of the local centre including retail, community centre, place of worship
and medical facility
A two form entry primary school with associated children’s centre to the south of the
site
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Framework 5 employment land approx 15ha of employment related development
A new convenience retail store on Framework 5 employment land
Waterwells Business Park
The whole site has extant outline permission for employment uses. There are 2 sites with
extant detailed permission for employment development (B1 & B8).
Planning permission was granted in November 2012 for the erection of a new police
custody suite adjacent to the Gloucestershire Police Headquarters building and accessed
from Edison Close (12/00742/FUL).
RMC Site
The whole site has extant outline permission for employment uses. There are 2 sites with
extant detailed permission for employment development (B1).
Mayos Land
This is a greenfield site to the south of the ward that lies between the Bristol Road and the
A38 dual carriageway that abuts the administrative boundary of the City with Stroud District
and has outline planning permission for the erection of 49 dwellings subject to the
completion of a S.106 legal agreement.