Meadows Survey Analysis Report Background and Objectives The report presents the findings of a Consultation the final draft stage of The Meadows’ Neighbourhood Plan, conducted by Nottingham City Council. The final draft stage contained detailed information about the plans for developing The Meadows area, including areas of demolition and proposals for new homes. The principle objective of the survey is to provide the authority with robust data which accurately represents the views on the citizens on the Plan.
Sampling and Fieldwork For this stage of consultation NCC interviewed a total of 368 people of all ages across the Meadows Neighbourhood Plan Area. Fieldwork was conducted, faceto-face and in-home and at particular locations across the Meadows Area, between 18th June and 22nd July 2009. This sample size gives a confidence interval of around + 5% for the whole survey. Further breakdown of the sample to smaller subgroups (i.e. age groups or areas within the Meadows) will increase the confidence intervals, so differences between groups have to be very large to be statistically significant. NCC organised several of its own consultation events and also attended a number of events which were already being held by local residents and stakeholders. In total NCC has surveyed over 1140 residents and stakeholders.
Methodology The main body of the survey was divided into six parts which related to information available to respondents in the form of ‘Storyboards’. The first question was to gauge the success of various methods of publicity and to consult with residents about how they would like to be communicated with in the future, this will not be reported from in the report.
Respondents 89% of the respondents were residents of the Neighbourhood Plan area, with a further 4% living just outside. 57% of survey respondents are working age – between the ages of 16 and 60, with a further three 3 in ten being over the age of 60 (see table below). The Meadows Mosaic profile overleaf suggests that, whilst just 4% of the population of the Meadows overall fell in to the ‘older people living in social housing with high care needs’ Group, 16% of survey respondents were in this group. Conversely, whilst the ‘educated, young, single people living in areas of
transient populations’ Group makes up nearly a quarter of Meadows residents, just 16% of survey respondents were from this group. The largest number of responses were from the ‘people living in social housing with uncertain employment in deprived areas’ Group – making up half of all responses, with a similar proportion in the population of the Meadows overall. Age breakdown of respondents Age Group Under 16 16-17 18-24 25-44 45-59 60-64 65-74 75+ Not disclosed Total
Number 16 1 20 117 73 28 51 34 28 368
% 4 0 5 32 20 8 14 9 8 100
Of those giving a valid answer to the question on ethnicity, just over two thirds were from a White British background - slightly lower than in the 2001 Census with one in ten being from an Asian ethnic background, 9% from a Mixed background and 7% from a Black background. Of those answering the question on tenancy with Nottingham City Homes (NCH), 43% of respondents said they were NCH tenants.
Headline Results •
The proposals were strongly supported with all receiving in excess of 80% support and most between 85% and 97%. Even the proposals at the lower end of this spectrum represented a significant increase in support when compared to the previous consultation. It is important to note that the different consultation exercises may not be entirely comparable, as different methods and / or questionnaire structures could affect responses.
•
90% of people agreed with building new homes within The Meadows, with 87% agreeing with the proposed location for the new homes – with only 5% disagreement.
•
88% agreed with the proposed new location of a New District Centre which was a significant increase from the previous location which was supported by 65% of those surveyed.
•
4 in 5 people supported opening Arkwright Walk to bus and local traffic, with only 12% disagreeing. During the last stage of consultation 23% of people disagreed with this proposal.
•
There were no statistically significant differences between the responses from different areas of the Meadows, or from NCH tenants / non NCH tenants.
Mosaic Public Sector Group Profile Your area or file: Comparison area or file:
Meadows Survey Respondents Date: Meadows Neighbourhood Plan Area Client: Your contact:
29/01/2010 Client Name Account Manager Name
Mosaic Public Sector classifies all citizens in the United Kingdom by allocating them to one of 61 Types and 11 Groups. The Groups and Types in these profiles paint a rich picture of UK citizens in terms of their socio-economic and socio-cultural behaviour. Mosaic Public Sector Groups
Your area/file
%
Comp.
% Pen. %
Index 0
Career professionals living in sought after A locations
1
0.28
0
0.00
0.00
0
B Younger families livi ng in newer homes
1
0.28
2
0.02
50.00
1183
C Older families living in suburbia
1
0.28
0
0.00
0.00
0
52
14.69
1,482
17.70
3.51
83
55
15.54
2,031
24.26
2.71
64
177
50.00
3,957
47.26
4.47
106
8
2.26
553
6.60
1.45
34
2
0.56
0
0.00
0.00
0
57
16.10
348
4.16
16.38
387
0
0.00
0
0.00
0.00
0
0
0
0.00
0
0.00
0.00
0
0
354
100
8,373
100
4.23
100
50
100
1 50
2 00
2 50
0
0
D E F G H I J K
Close-knit, inner city and manufacturing town communities Educated, young, single people living in areas of transient populations People living in social housing with uncertain employment in deprived areas Low income families living in estate based social housing Upwardly mobile families living in homes bought from social landlords Older people living in social housing with high care needs Independent older people with relatively active lifestyles People living in rural areas far from urbanisation
83
64
Total
106
34
0
Your Area/File vs Comparison Area/File By Mosaic Public Sector Groups
Percentage
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Your area/file Comparison Area/File
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
Mosaic G roup
Ranked Mosaic Groups
Your area/file
%
Comp.
% Pen. %
Index
1 57 177 52 55 8 1 1 2 0 0
0.28 16.10 50.00 14.69 15.54 2.26 0.28 0.28 0.56 0.00 0.00
2 348 3,957 1,482 2,031 553 0 0 0 0 0
0.02 4.16 47.26 17.70 24.26 6.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
50.00 16.38 4.47 3.51 2.71 1.45 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
1,183 387 106 83 64 34 0 0 0 0 0
354
100
8,373
100
4.23
100
0
Group B Group I Group F Group D Group E Group G Group A Group C Group H Group J Group K Total
sector list:9626
Tel: 0115 968 5027
Email: publ ic.sector@ uk.experian.com Or visit: www.business-strategies.co.uk/publicsector
50
10 0
15 0
106
83
64
34
0
0
0
0
0
200
2 50
Building New Homes 9 in 10 respondents agreed with building new homes and the building of Extra Care facilities for Older People. 87% of people supported building both types of accommodation in the location that was proposed. % Strongly Agree / Agree
90.2
90.4
87.4
% Strongly Disagree / Disagree
5.2
6.8
5.1
Q2a) Do you agree with proposals to build a mixture of new homes for rent, shared ownership and sale within The Meadows? Q2b) Should we build new Extra Care elderly persons accommodation to complement existing sheltered schemes /elderly persons accommodation? Q2c) Do you think we should build in the areas shown?
Comments from respondents included suggestions of improving existing houses rather than demolishing, and specific suggestions of areas to build / not build. Respondents raised concerns about individual circumstances regarding renting or owning housing, plus general concerns about provision for types of resident – single people, older people and families, particularly larger families. Parking issues were also commented on.
Remodelling the New Meadows There was whole scale support for remodelling the Radburn layout in The New Meadows with 92% agreeing that it would improve security and 92% feeling that it would make the area more attractive. 88% of people felt that turning homes around to face the street would be beneficial to the area. % Strongly Agree / Agree
91.6
92.1
% Strongly Disagree / Disagree
3.6
2.3
Q3a) Do you feel that proposals to redesign the street layout would improve safety and security in the area? Q3b) Do you think that it would make the area more attractive?
87.9
3.4
Q3c) Do you think the idea of turning homes around to face the street would benefit the area?
Comments received were around individual circumstances – including that individuals liked their existing home, liked privacy, liked the road, or were owner occupiers, and wanted to know how remodelling would affect them. Several people suggested that specific consultation with individuals who would be affected is needed. General concerns of parking and safety were raised, although a high number of comments were positive.
A New District Centre An overwhelming 95% of those asked agreed that a ‘High Street’ style of District Centre would be beneficial for the area with 88% approving the location along Arkwright Walk, compared to 65% for the previous proposal. Crucially the number of people disagreeing with the proposed location has reduced dramatically from 26% to 6%. 9 in 10 people supported the proposed locations for the smaller shopping areas, with 7% disagreeing with the location. % Strongly Agree / Agree
95.0
% Strongly Disagree / Disagree
1.9
Q4a) Are you in agreement with proposals to create a New District Centre along a new high street?
88.1
6.4
Q4b) Do you agree with the proposed new location along Arkwright Walk?
89.3
7.3
Q4c) Do you agree with providing additional smaller shopping areas in the locations shown on the map?
A number of respondents commented that a district centre should be central, and there were concerns over the increased distance people may have to travel to the shops, as well as concerns around the impact on housing. Some comments preferred redeveloping the Bridgway centre. Regarding smaller shops, several respondents were concerned about the viability of these, particularly with the proximity to the City Centre. Overall comments on this section were that people would like a market or supermarket, and that redeveloped centre should include facilities such as a bank or rent office, plus leisure facilities like cafes. Several raised concerns over parking.
Connecting The Meadows People were largely supportive of proposals to ‘increase the connectivity’ of The Meadows with 92% supporting the proposed new entrances and 86% agreeing that better routes to The Embankment are a positive proposal. 80% of people support the idea of opening up Arkwright Walk to local and bus traffic which represents an 8% increase from the March consultation, potentially due to a better understanding of the importance of this change to a new District Centre. The number of people disagreeing with this proposal has almost halved from 23% to 12% which could be a further indicator of the increasing support for this proposal. % Strongly Agree / Agree
92.1
80.2
86.4
% Strongly Disagree / Disagree
3.4
Q5a) Do you think that the changes to the roads and pathways will make it easier to get in and out of The Meadows?
12.3
Q5b) Do you agree with the proposal to open up Arkwright Walk to local and bus traffic to help support a new District Centre?
9.3
Q5c) Do you agree with the proposal of creating better links from The Embankment through The Meadows to the City Centre and neighbouring areas?
Respondents raised concerns around traffic – that changing the roads would make the area too busy, and therefore dangerous for children, suggesting that Arkwright Walk should not be used for cars, just buses. Some comments were received suggesting the area should be pedestrianised, and that open space should be retained. Regarding linking the embankment to the City, people raised concerns that roads would be used as cut throughs by non residents, increasing traffic. Several thought the links were fine as they are.
Old Meadows Improvements 91% recognised that traffic and parking are an issue in the Old Meadows and approved measures to counteract these difficulties. 85% agreed that introducing landlord accreditation and licensing in the area for Private Landlords would be beneficial. Further to this there was strong support for joining ‘Street Clubs’ to improve the Neighbourhoods with over 50% of people interested in being involved.
% Strongly Agree / Agree
90.8
Q6a) Do you agree with proposals to deal with traffic and parking issues in the Old Meadows? Q6b) Would you support the introduction of landlord accreditation and licensing within the Old Meadows?
1.9
85.1
Yes
% Strongly Disagree / Disagree
4.2
No
51.1
Q6c) Would you like to get involved in street clubs to help improve your street/neighbourhood?
48.9
Respondents commented that some houses in the Old Meadows were fine, but others needed looking after. Several comments related to the area having lots of private-rented properties. A number of people were concered about parking, but, conversely, a couple stated that they would disagree with placing restrictions on parking.
Embankment Ideas Ideas to make more use of The Embankment and equip it with high class facilities were extremely strongly supported. 97% of people agreed that The Embankment should be a place of excellent active leisure facilities and 93% agreed with proposals to achieve this. % Strongly Agree / Agree
97.2
51.5
Q7a) We propose to make The Embankment a place where people of all ages can enjoy excellent active leisure facilities, do you support this?
1.4
93.1
Yes
% Strongly Disagree / Disagree
2.0
Q7b) Looking at the proposals on the board - do you agree with the ideas proposed?
No 48.5
Q7d) Would you like to be involved in developing plans for the Embankment?
The proposals received general agreement, with some people commenting that the area should be kept green. There were a high number of suggestions, mainly around provision of sports, leisure (including seating and parks), more events, and facilities such as catering and toilets. A number raised concerns about safety, and geese. General concerns were around the environment and whether any new facilities would be properly supervised and maintained.
Conclusion Overwhelming support for the proposals in The Meadows Neighbourhood Plan was demonstrated through this consultation. This enables NCC to take The Plan forward for formal approval and continue to explore ways of delivering The Plan. Throughout the development and implementation of The Neighbourhood Plan extensive community consultation will take place.