BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 107898

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: TERRA

Asiant : Lichfields (Birmingham)

Yes, Terra considers that it is clear that the step-change in delivery required to meet the
SWA’s SM LHN figures, and any unmet housing needs from the GBBCHMA, will require a
suite of new sites to be allocated throughout the SWLP area – including the potential for
Strategic Growth Areas and New Settlements. Indeed, the NPPF is clear that the supply of
large numbers of new homes can often be best achieved through planning for larger-scale
developments (Para 74), such as New Settlements.
2.54 Importantly, however, it is also clear that plans should be prepared positively, in a way that
is aspirational but deliverable (Para 16b) and should set out an appropriate strategy, taking
account of reasonable alternatives, and be based on proportionate evidence (Para 35b). As
such, the SWAs also need to robustly test reasonable alternatives for the spatial distribution
of South Warwickshire’s housing needs through the SA process at an early stage. In
addition to the above, it is also important to note that the NPPF shifts the need to consider
viability to the plan-making stage, requiring authorities to identify a sufficient supply and
mix of sites, taking into account their availability, suitability and likely economic viability
(Para 67).
2.55 The Planning Practice Guidance [PPG] provides further clarity for new settlements, stating
that LPAs should demonstrate that there is a reasonable prospect that large-scale
developments can come forward. In particular, this should include a realistic assessment of
the prospect of sites being developed and should engage with infrastructure providers to
ensure that the infrastructure requirements are not beyond what could reasonably be
considered to be achievable within the planned timescales.1
2.56 In this context, Terra would not object to the option of exploring meeting some of the
SWA’s needs through a New Settlement but wishes to highlight to the SWAs that sufficient
evidence will need to be prepared in support of any future allocation. Terra would note that
such forms of development should not be viewed as the panacea for meeting all of the
SWLP’s needs.
2.57 New Settlements by their very nature require significant upfront commitment to the
delivery of new community, physical and social infrastructure and are often challenged in
terms of viability through the initial phases of development, requiring significant public
sector investment. These types of development can take some years to come onstream and begin delivering, and the SWAs will need a spatial strategy that allocates a supporting
package of ‘suitable, available, and achievable’ sites at different scales throughout the SWLP
area in sustainable locations to ensure that supply can come forward in the earlier parts of
the plan period to meet housing needs in the interim – such as SG14- East of Gaydon.