Local area

The Borough of Rushcliffe covers some 400 square kilometres. It takes in the south of Nottingham and its main population is in West Bridgford. Rushcliffe extends south west towards Loughborough, eastwards towards Grantham and north eastwards along the line of the Trent, towards Newark.

Newton is one of a number of small conurbations dotted around the market town of Bingham. Located to the north west of Bingham and the A46, the name embraces a small village and the former airbase with its military buildings and service personnel accommodation, all of which closed in the 1990’s. Newton forms half of the Parish of Shelford and Newton; Shelford is as a separate village to the north west and just south of the Trent.

Bingham is a prosperous market town in Nottinghamshire, situated nine miles to the north east of Nottingham. With a population of 9,000 its amenities and infrastructure, local shopping facilities, schools and medical services also serve the population of the numerous surrounding villages. Many of Bingham’s residents commute to Nottingham, with just 25 per cent of Bingham residents working in the town.

Why an Eco-town for Rushcliffe?

Earlier this year the Department for Communities and Local Government (the Government department handling the Eco-towns initiative) announced that it was keen to work with Rushcliffe Borough Council and local landowners to examine whether the former RAF base at Newton, near Bingham, could hold potential as a site for an Eco-town.

The image opposite shows the potential area in which development is being considered.

An Eco-town in Rushcliffe could demonstrate how new and existing development can be genuinely integrated into an existing community, serving the needs of the locality and extended area and exemplifying modern environmental and community performance.

Why this location?

• Its strategic setting to the east of Nottingham.
• High transport connectivity by bus, rail and road could be realised relatively easily.
• The opportunity to use a network of green spaces to guide development and enhance the area’s assets.
• The potential opportunities for innovation in the use of environmental technologies such as power generation.
• Stewardship of the community through The Crown Estate’s long-term involvement.

The area offers the opportunity for various approaches to development:

• Using Bingham railway station as a focus for development, connected to, and complemented by, development at former RAF Newton.
• Creating an entirely new community.
• Multiple developments of various scales, based on Eco-town criteria.
• Phasing of development to allow the new community to grow naturally.

Summary of Community Benefits

The level of investment in infrastructure and community facilities will be appropriate support the size of the development Options could include:

Design – High quality integrated design will feature throughout the site, for a visually appealing development that encourages public transport use.

Education – Provision of new primary schools and significant investment in the existing Toot Hill Secondary School.

Formal Leisure – Investment in and protection of, leisure facilities through redevelopment or creation of a new ‘Community Sports Hub’ and playing pitches within the development.

Health and Community Centre – New health and community centre and land for the facility.

Housing –30 per cent of new housing would be affordable housing targeted at people such as key workers.

Transport - Investment in walking and cycling, links to the town centre and station and railway crossing point improvements. 

• Trains: Extension of the Robin Hood line service and upgrades to station facilities and parking arrangements.
• Buses: Bus service improvements, shuttle services to Bingham and Radcliffe stations, A52 and congestion bus priority measures.
• Roads: Localised highway capacity improvements on the A46, especially at Saxondale and Margidunum junctions. New access to former RAF Newton to realise its development potential and provision of links across the road to improve connections.
• Cars: Car-free and low car zones, encouragement of car clubs. Street planning to discourage through-traffic. Development of ‘live-work’ areas to encourage reduction in commuter trips.

Retail – Focus on investment in Bingham Town Centre and improved transport access. New retail provision, well-linked to Bingham town centre and new neighbourhood centres established to meet everyday needs.

Employment - A wide range of job opportunities through the provision of high quality employment sites, investment in infrastructure, other jobs in schools, healthcare and retail.

Environmentally Friendly Infrastructure - Provided within the development and on the wider estate, including a new ‘Town Park’ at Parsons Hill and additional pitches linked to a community sports hub.

Design

Preliminary working arrangements have been established with the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment which would help to ensure that any development at this location would deliver sound principles of planning and design.

Education

The level of education provision would very much depend on the scale of the development envisaged but even at the lower end of 5,000 – 6,000 dwellings it would provide two to three two-form entry primary schools.

With regard to Secondary School provision, Bingham already has Toot Hill School (includes 6th form) which has some existing capacity. If a development substantially greater than 6,000 dwelling were considered then a new secondary school would probably be required. This could offer wider dual-use sports facilities and further education provision linked to nearby higher education institutions.

Formal Leisure

Formal leisure facilities locally are currently provided by a dual-use facility at Toot Hill School.

A number of sports pitches are provided to the north and south of the town at Butt Field and Toot Hill School. Pitches are in short supply but current needs will be partly addressed by recent land arrangements between The Crown Estate and Bingham Town Council which have extended Butt Field.

Additional development would generate a need for formal sports provision, even at the smaller scale of 5,000 – 6,000 dwellings, especially when Bingham’s needs are considered. This may include a new community sports hub.

Healthcare and Community Centres

Provision in Bingham is already under stress and a new health centre and community centre are key aspirations locally.

An Eco-town could deliver a major enhancement in healthcare and community facilities through additional funding and specifically identifying one or more sites on The Crown Estate’s land. Land could be made available and a new health and community centre provided in a convenient location for new and existing residents. This could be multi-use or combined with other sports and education provision.

Housing

At least 1,500 homes affordable properties (rented and shared ownership) could be delivered by an Eco-town. This would significantly benefit local residents on low incomes.

Transport

Whilst transport is a major issue for all the Eco-town proposals, Bingham benefits from a location at a central point in the transport network.

In any development, efforts would be aimed at minimising trips in the first place and maximising walking and cycling. However, where wider trips are required there are opportunities to use high quality bus services and enhance rail use with two stations in close proximity.

The following is a list of the improvements that the development could provide which would be available for all residents. It does not include other measures that would be integral to any proposal such as walkable neighbourhoods and ‘live-work’ areas.

Walking and Cycling

Over 25 per cent of existing Bingham residents currently work in Bingham itself.  This presents a real opportunity to deliver walking and cycling opportunities for a significant proportion journeys to work.

• High quality, safe and convenient links for pedestrians and cyclists through the development area. Links will also be provided across the A46 to ensure that it does not present a barrier to movement.

• Access improvements across the rail line with enhancements to barrier facilities and crossing points for pedestrian and cyclists.
• Improved access to Bingham station for pedestrians and cyclists, including clearly marked routes to the town centre and free shuttle-bus services.
• Information packs for residents as part of a comprehensive ‘Travel Planning initiative’, setting out the sustainable transport opportunities available and a ‘Town-Wide Travel Plan’.

Public Transport

• Discounted public transport passes for residents.
• Extension of the existing Robin Hood line rail services from Nottingham to Bingham, offering half-hourly services during peak hours and hourly services at off-peak periods. Given that Nottingham will remain a key destination for business, relieving existing pressure on the main routes into the city, particularly the A52. Infrastructure improvements will also be required at Nottingham and Bingham stations to accommodate the new service (Bingham improvements to include parking, waiting facilities, café and track improvements to improve train ‘turn round’).
• Provision of a shuttle-bus service on a loop to link Bingham station with Radcliffe station, via the development site and the A52. This service might be free to residents of the scheme, operating at a 15-minute frequency during peak hours and at a reduced frequency during off-peak periods.
• Bus priority measures at congestion hot spots’ on the local highway network and A52. 
• Rail and shuttle-bus services scheduled together to be ‘clock face’ e.g. at 15 minutes past the hour, 30 minutes past the hour and so on. This will encourage the use of public transport.
• Improved access to Bingham Station from the north and to the Market Square to relieve existing traffic congestion and conflict with pedestrians and bus services - linked to an enhanced parking strategy, park-and-ride and to land north of the rail line.

Highways

• Car-free and low-parking zones, together with the provision of a car club.
• Streets planned to discourage vehicle movements through the development area.
• Localised capacity improvements on the A46 primarily at the Saxondale and Margidunum junctions.
• Continuous development over the A46, providing valuable direct links for public transport and bicycles.
• Potential to use the ‘old’ A46 as a local link with enhanced non-car provision should the A46 become a dual carriageway.
• New access to RAF Newton to maximise the development potential of this brownfield site.

Retail and Other Service Provision

Bingham already has a significant catchment area estimated to have a population of nearly 30,000 (Market Town Initiative, 2004) and is the main service centre in the east of the Borough for places such as Newton, East Bridgford, Whatton and Tythby.

The current collection of smaller retail outlets is reasonable with good take-up, however, the larger-scale retail offer, is limited and Eaton Place shopping centre is starting to date with an increase in vacancy rates being noted. 

A strategy could be to use growth to benefit the existing town centre through increasing patronage and investment. Any significant new retail uses would need to be in, or well linked to, the existing centre. 

Other measures could include the provision of improved sustainable access to Bingham, reducing car use and complimentary provision of parking and improved bus access to reduce congestion in the market square. Some two to three neighbourhood centres could be needed containing local convenience shops. These could be combined with new schools and leisure provision as community focal points.

Employment

A major element of any scheme would be the creation of job opportunities for new and existing residents, encouraging self containment and reducing the need to travel.

This could be achieved in a number of ways:

• Plans will include land for businesses that is attractive to the market. These developments would deliver the infrastructure needed to implement existing employment commitments at Bingham and former RAF Newton.
• Provision of a high quality and unique environment that is attractive to inward investment and skilled workers, with extensive landscaping and support facilities and services.
• Provision of additional job opportunities sectors such as education, leisure, retail and healthcare.
• Provision for flexible methods of working such the provision of live/work units – buildings in which people can both live and work.

Green spaces

New green spaces, that provide facilities for community recreation and enhance the natural habitats of both plants and animals will be a priority. 

The overall land holding is extensive covering in excess of 3,000 hectares. This means that there is considerable potential for creating a network of green spaces to enhance biodiversity. 

Particular benefits could include:

• A new ‘Town Park’.
• Green cycle routes, footpath links and corridors.
• New areas of play space for informal and formal recreation, including sports pitches.
• New areas of ecological and nature conservation interest to improve biodiversity.
• Extensive areas of landscape buffering and woodland to create a high quality environment and integrate development into the landscape.