BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 108270

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Spitfire Homes

Asiant : Harris Lamb

The Policy’s supporting text correctly recognises that smaller sites have a valuable role to play in delivering community led housing and boosting the local economy as they tend to be attractive to medium and smaller housebuilders, and especially local housebuilding companies. NPPF paragraph 73 specifically acknowledges the importance of SME housebuilders in bringing forward smaller sites. They can also help directly to meet the affordable and marketing housing need arising in a particular settlement. New development increases footfall in local shops, services and facilities supporting their viability. There are a number of primary schools in South Warwickshire settlements that are predicted to have decreased levels of pupil intake due to the aging profile of these settlements. Directing new development towards these settlements can help support the viability of local schools and enrich the local community.
However, the supporting text to Draft Policy Direction 3 advises that the Local Plan Part 1 Settlement Boundary Review will not allocate sites for development. This would be achieved through the Local Plan Part 2 and Neighbourhood Development Plans.
We note that Draft Policy Direction 3 proposes support for “small scale” development within or adjacent built up area boundaries. We do not support the use of the term “small scale”. The SWLP Part 1 should support “proportionate” development within and adjacent to existing settlements. “Small scale” development may not meet local market or affordable housing needs. In a similar approach to the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy Policy CS.16, the SWLP should confirm the amount of development that is appropriate at different settlements as this is a strategic policy matter that should be addressed in the Part 1 SWLP.