Our VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT needs YOU!!!

The first Village Design Statement workshop will be held on the 8th March at the Village Hall

At the Monxton Parish Council meeting on 22nd January it was agreed that a start should be made as soon as possible on a Village Design Statement for Monxton. Councillor Jack Taylor was very keen to support our activities as Monxton is currently the last of his four parishes to produce this very important document.

News of the meeting at inaugural meeting at the Village Hall on the 15th February

For sometime the need for a Village Design Statement (VDS) for Monxton has been recognised but the necessary work activities have not been undertaken by the village.  

The VDS provides a description in some detail of the distinctive character of the appearance of the village and the surrounding landscape.  It provides guidance on how this distinctive character can be protected.  It is a pre-requisite that the VDS is researched, discussed and written by the people of the village.

A Village Design Statement is concerned with three aspects of the village:

1.    The landscape and surroundings
2.    The pattern and content of the settlement, including highways, important open        
       spaces, trees, boundaries etc.
3.    Buildings and material, including style, scale, diversity and design.

How do we create a Village Design Statement?  

We will shortly be holding a public meeting in the Village Hall, at which the more detailed content of a VDS and  outline of the programme of works will be described.  

We will also be looking to form the nucleus of a Village Design Team to lead the research and undertake the initial activities required to commence the process.  

An advisory booklet on the subject confirms:  "To prepare a VDS you do not need to be an expert on planning or architecture. Villagers are the experts on the character of our village and its distinctive qualities".   

We need members of our community who have the interests of the future of our village at heart and who can give some time and support to the production.  There will be opportunities for help from workshops and professional sources as the work continues.  I am assured by those who have already produced their VDS that they saw things they had never noticed before and it  fun.

Most importantly a successful VDS provides Supplementary Planning Guidance to its parish council and local authority.  We have received confirmation that the Abbotts Ann VDS has been very successful in enhancing and protecting its own village - a planning inspector's opening words at an appeal were: "I have read the Village Design Statement with interest and I give it great weight in making my decision."  He turned the application down!!!

For further information on the Monxton Village design process and the program details click here

Examples of other village design statements

If you would like more information contact Joan Leslie: 

Telephone number:  01264 710253

e-mail address:  leslicot@aol.com.