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Whilst I recognise the need for development and change I have some concerns about Warwick District Council's Local Plan. My concerns relate mainly to the proposal to build on Green Belt land to the north of Leamington. The NPPF highlights the importance of Green Belt land and seeks to protect it. It states that building should only take place under special or exceptional circumstances. It seems that Warwick D.C. is proposing to make Green Belt land available for development without establishing or indentifying these exceptional circumstances. In fact, the reality is that alternative non green belt land is available but the proposal is rejecting this. The existence of this alternative land surely means that no exceptional circumstances exist to justify the development on Green Belt land and means the proposal runs counter to the guidance in the NPPF.
Further to this, in the "Local Plan Preferred Options" document, it is indicated that the estimate for the number of new homes includes a buffer of 1370. If this proves to be an accurate figure then it would become impossible to justify developing the Green Belt land at Old Milverton and Blackdown, especially when there is identified spare capacity on land to the south of Leamington.
It would seem that the choice to build at Old Milverton and Blackdown is not based on necessity but on convenience. Concentrating development on non Green Belt sites to the south would require greater imagination in ensuring appropriate infrastructure and transportation links but is not impossible and would enable us to preserve an invaluable environmental resource to the north of the town.

The proposal to build a northern relief road is also problematic. The bulk of traffic movement in this area is north-south and congestion is associated with access to the town centre. It is difficult to see how providing an east-west route would alleviate town traffic problems but it would involve further, significant erosion of the Green Belt. It is claimed that a northern relief road would reduce congestion on 'through routes' between Leamington and Warwick town centres. The M40 to the south and the A46 to the north already provide alternative routes between the two town centres so this third option would only benefit residents of the proposed Old Milverton and Blackdown developments. It is likely that if this road is built it will at some point in the future simply establish a new boundary which will encourage/catalyse further development on Green Belt land.
The land at Old Milverton and Blackdown is an accessible stretch of countryside and is enjoyed by many. It is has huge amenity value and improves the quality of the environment for many people. The proposed developments would have a devastating impact on an area which contributes greatly to the character of the region.
If development must proceed in this area and there is no possible alternative then it should be as a last resort and should only take place in Phase 3 of the plan.