The Plan sets out to celebrate and sustain the unique characteristics of the market town of Kingsbridge, the distinct and separate villages of West Alvington and  Churchstow, and the estuary and hill landscape they sit within. It aims to provide a  development framework which will sustain a balanced community and a varied and  vigorous local economy for the long term for Kingsbridge town and the surrounding rural area it serves. It is built on the need to maintain a  balance between protecting the beautiful natural and the much valued historic environments, and encouraging modest, appropriate and achievable development.  Development is only identified where necessary to ensure the current and future  wellbeing of all sections of the resident community, local businesses and visitors.