BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 107795

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Bellway Homes

Asiant : Savills

Site ID 334, 335, 336
Bellway’s land adjacent to Long Itchington (Site ID 334, 335 and 336) were all carried forward to be assessed in Part B of the HELAA.
Long Itchington is a sustainable settlement suitable for accommodating housing growth within the plan period. We consider that additional areas / sites outside of Strategic Growth Locations should be allocated for development that can come forward in the short to medium term.
In the submitted Vision Document, Bellway has set out different promotion options for Site ID 334, 335 and 336 depending on the scale of growth which is directed to Long Itchington. The sites are directly adjacent to Southam Road which connects the site via public transport to Leamington Spa, Rugby and Daventry. We consider that Long Itchington should be identified for growth given its location on a key transport route, the range of shops, services and facilities provided and that it is one of the few sustainable settlements that is not located within the Green Belt, AONB or Special Landscape Area. • Option 1 - Northern site only - Circa 45 – 55 dwellings (30 – 35dph).
• Option 2 – Northern and Central sites – Circa 80 – 100 dwellings (30 – 35dph)
• Option 3 – Northern, Central and Southern site 100+ dwellings as well as potential community uses and / or school if required.
The HELAA assesses the sites as follows:
• Site ID 334 Land to West of Southam Road, Long Itchington (North) scored 45.5 overall (1.71ha).
• Site ID 335 Land to West of Southam Road, Long Itchington (Central) scored 54.9 overall (2.28ha).
• Site ID 336 Land to West of Southam Road, Long Itchington (South) scored 62.9 overall (10.98ha).
Across all sites assessed in Part B, the median score was 45. We note a lower score is considered better and therefore the site ID 334 score reflects the most positive assessment of the three sites. In comparison to sites assessed in and around Long Itchington, Site 334 (north) is the joint lowest scoring parcel which we consider reflects that it is one of the most suitable locations for housing growth adjacent to Long Itchington.
In the ‘Settlement Design Analysis’ (January 2023), Site IDs 334 and 335 are category ‘B’ out of 9 categories and Site ID 336 is category C, ‘A’ being the best connectivity to a settlement. Therefore, the HELAA recognises the sites, particularly 224 and 335, are in a sustainable location.
The only potential concern raised in the HELAA relates to potential heritage impact. The Sites are within an area assessed as ‘Red’ in the HELAA and Heritage and Settlement Sensitivity Assessment (2022). CSA Heritage has produced a Heritage Note (February 2025) which is submitted with this response. CSA consider that the assessment is not consistent with the heritage sensitivity of the Site due to the incorrect assessment of the Site’s relationship with the Long Itchington Conservation Area. The ‘Red’ score does not take into account the presence of woodland between the Sites and the Conservation Area which differentiates it from land assessed further west. We therefore consider that the assessment of the Site, and subsequent score applied in the HELAA, should be amended.