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ID sylw: 106582

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: The Umberslade Estate

Asiant : Sworders

It is clear that the Strategic Growth proposals alone will not maintain the housing development required over the plan period and, in particularly in the short- term. As such, the five- year housing requirement will need to be met by development in and around existing settlements. Whilst we agree with the broad approach, the draft policy direction still emphasises small scale development and makes little reference to the importance of small-scale development in preserving the vitality of smaller settlements, an approach which would limit growth of some of the larger settlements that do not lie within the Priority Areas 1-3. The Policy Direction should reinforce advice within para 83 of the NPPF that the plan should allow for new housing opportunities for existing settlements, to assist their growth and allow them to thrive and support existing local services, either within that settlement or services within a neighbouring settlement.
We would support a revised single approach to a Settlement Hierarchy classification across the whole
South Warwickshire Plan to ensure consistency. Policy Direction 3 should allow for small scale development to meet local housing need and support existing services within settlements that do not have an adopted Neighbourhood Plan or do not have any settlement boundaries. The draft policy does not recognise the importance of local sustainability, many smaller villages which do not have settlement boundaries.
Draft Policy Direction 3, in line with para 83 of the NPPF should provide for the provision of small sites within existing settlements without settlement boundaries to deliver appropriate levels of growth and to meet local housing need that will support the vitality of communities and the viability of existing services and facilities. As such Draft Policy 3 is not consistent with national policy and therefore the plan is not sound in accordance with para 36(d).