BASE HEADER

The plan needs to consider issues of sub regional importance which have potential to impact upon the future requirements and shape of the district. In particular the District's relationship with Coventry and the impact of this on the role and function of Warwick District. It is essential that the Local Plan has a meaningful strategy towards sub regional growth in line with the requirement to cooperate with other authorities through the localism bill. The strategic relationship with Coventry is not included anywhere in the key issues report.

There is a lack of recognition of the proposed Coventry Enterprise Zone at Coventry Airport which will result in a number of issues which the Local Plan will need to address. These include the need for major revisions to the green belt boundaries to facilitate the proposals and provide suitable locations for new housing to support the economic / job creation at the EZ and provide for balanced housing / economic growth.

The 3 scenarios do not represent proper scenario options and merely relate to historic completion levels. the Council should have considered a higher level of 1,000 units and a lower level of not less than 700 units per annum. Consideration should also have been given to the need to provide housing to support the EZ at Coventry Airport and the need to build more homes in order to support the provision of more affordable homes.

The Council should give serious consideration to Objectives which support the growth role and function of Coventry City and its spatial implications for Warwick District and, secondly, the significance which the EZ will provide over the next 20 years. A balance of housing and community uses should be provided to the south of Coventry, such as at Baginton, to support the employment sites in the EZ.