BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 108059

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Seven Homes

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The HEDNA housing need is now out-of-date.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 in 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 The Core Strategy is out-of-date and housing needs must be measured against the Standard Method.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 limits to brownfield capacity identified in the Urban Capacity Study. This will help support 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 Russells Garden Centre, Mill Lane, Baginton is within Spatial Growth Priority Area 2 and whilst not in an SGL it is to the northeast of SG03 Coventry Airport Group for employment. A highly sustainable location combined with excellent access to existing employment opportunities and future employment growth in the immediate locality means it is an excellent Site for allocation. Whilst the Site is within Green Belt it aligns with the proposed Spatial Growth Strategy, which seeks to prioritise development of brownfield land. The Site is partly previously developed land. The remainder meets the definition of grey belt land. Baginton was identified as a Growth Village in the 2017 Warwick Local Plan and is already established as a sustainable location for housing growth. Housing site H19 (a greenfield site) was identified to deliver approximately 80 dwellings and now has outline consents (W/22/1038 and W/20/0808) totalling 119no. dwellings. This highlights Baginton's suitability for housing growth and strong deliverability of allocations in Baginton.