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ID sylw: 106565

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mr Edward Muntz

Asiant : Sworders

Whilst we have no objections to New Settlements in principle, we are concerned that over-reliance on large, complex sites will see a shortfall in housing need, particularly in the early years of the plan period.
Furthermore, it will deny other areas of the district the benefits that development can bring. The strategy of New Settlements and Strategic Growth Areas should be supported by allocation of small and medium sized sites adjacent to existing settlements. Whereas the site in Hockley Heath Site ID Ref 672 is in single ownership, where the landowner has expressed intention to sell, and with no foreseen extraordinary development costs or constraints and market conditions appear favourable.
Some of the Potential New Settlements fall outside the Spatial Growth Strategy Priority Areas and do not include any existing settlements of facilities and services, this would contradict the statement in the preferred Options that “the majority of the SWLP’s strategic growth needs will be met within priority areas 1-3.” As such we consider that the Strategic approach should have greater focus on the Strategic growth locations as opposed to the New Settlements. Some of these locations are isolated from the main strategic transport network across the SWLP and local bus routes and train stations which all tend to be concentrated around the northern part of the district
and built up areas of Warwick, Leamington and Stratford, and yet the Infrastructure Delivery Plan does not propose any major changes in these isolated areas. Without significant infrastructure and improvements to public transport, some new settlements would rely heavily on the use of the private car, therefore, do not represent the most sustainable pattern for growth.