BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 108049

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Rainier Developments Ltd

Asiant : Pegasus Group

The HEDNA housing need is now out-of-date. The Standard Method identifies 2,188 homes as a starting point. The Draft Policy Direction suggests this is the maximum number of homes but additional housing may be required to help deliver affordable homes and meet unmet need from neighbouring authorities. This would be deliverable as completions across Stratford and Warwick have exceeded this figure 6 of the last 8 years. Windfall delivery has varied from between 30 and 933 dwellings per year in Stratford. Overreliance on windfall should be avoided given this wide variation.

We strongly dispute Stratford District's housing land supply figure. Deducting past over-supply undermines the conclusion of the 2021 review as this has been used to substantially lower the housing requirement. The Core Strategy is out-of-date and housing needs must be measured against the Standard Method. The emerging SWLP identifies a minimum need of 1,126 dpa, or 5,630 homes for 2024-2029. The latest assessment by Stratford suggests 3,505 homes will be delivered in this period, creating a demonstrable need for 2,125 homes. The five year supply is therefore just 3.11 years. Following a recent appeal decision it is confirmed Warwick District has only 4.40 years of supply. The presumption in favour of sustainable development applies which may lead to speculative applications outside the preferred growth strategy.

We support identification of Priority 2 and 3 areas given the limits to brownfield capacity identified in the Urban Capacity Study. This will help support the viability and vitality of smaller settlements and provide opportunities to enhance sustainable transport. While we agree not all strategic growth areas will be required, the Councils have an opportunity to go beyond minimum local need to deliver much-needed affordable homes, accommodate unmet demand from neighbouring authorities, and ensure flexibility in case of shortfalls of delivery. The SA undervalues the positive contribution housing development can make to biodiversity. Baselines may be low, particularly in the case of arable land. The SA does not recognise the positive impacts on transport and accessibility in terms of improving public transport options.

Land at Walton Road, Wellesbourne forms part of SG16 Priority Areas 1. We support inclusion and Priority Area designation, which highlights the Site is sustainably and suitably located for growth in alignment with the spatial strategy. Development would assist with sustaining facilities and services in Wellesbourne, a smaller settlement. SG16 has been assessed against the SA Framework and generally performs favourably.