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Objects to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Councils's Preferred Options for the Local plan.
This land has great recreational value to the local community. It is enjoyed by many runners, riders, walkers and cyclists. It had a wide variety of wild life. It is used to grow valuable food and crops at a time when it we need to grow our own food in this country.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the Government attaches great importance to Greenbelts and that the fundamental aim of Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. Once this land is lost it is lost for all future generations.
The Greenbelt in Old Milverton and Blackdown fulfils the 5 purposes of Greenbelt set out in the NPPF and therefore should remain as open Greenbelt land for ever. It
Prevents the unrestricted sprawl of Leamington to the north
Prevents the merging of Leamington and Kenilworth
Helps safeguard the countryside from encroachment
Helps preserve the setting and special character of Leamington (a historic town)
Helps urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
There are other sites which can be developed that are not in the Greenbelt. These sites, which are mainly to the south of Leamington, were included in Warwick District Council's previous plan (the 2009 Core Strategy). Employment opportunities and infrastructure already exists here, and this land should be used in preference to the Greenbelt.
The NPPF states that Greenbelt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. As there are alternative sites, there are no exceptional circumstances which outweigh the harm caused by altering the Greenbelt boundaries in Old Milverton and Blackdown and allowing development on this land.
Please reconsider your Preferred Options.

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My husband and I strongly object to the proposed development in Old Milverton and Blackdown contained in Warwick District Council's Preferred Options for the Local plan. We oppose the District Council's plans to develop on Green Belt Land as shown in their 2012 Preferred Options booklet. Nothing has changed since the 2009 Core Strategy, so there cannot be any justification for these fundamental changes now

We understand the National Planning Policy Framework requires 'Very Special Circumstances' for development on the Green Belt. It also requires the harm caused to the Green Belt by the development to be outweighted by the benefit of the development. According to Warwick District Council the special circumstances are that there is nowhere else for the homes to be built.

However, in the '2009 Core Strategy' land south of Leamington (not in Green Belt), was identified and is still available for development. The assessment performed by Warwick District Council shows that this land is easier to develop and already has a substantial amount of infrastructure (roads etc) to support the development, and the new residents who will live there. It is close to the M40 and there are existing employment opportunities South of Leamington as weall as existing out of town shopping facilities and good access to the town centres.

Therefore, the previous 2009 Core Strategy plan is direct evidence that there are alternative areas for development other than the Green Belt and that the 'special circumstances' put forward by Warwick District Council are wrong.

The land at Old Milverton and Blackdown is a unique area with distinct character which would be a great loss to Warwickshire. This area is greatly enjoyed by many walkers, runners, riders, cyclists, and many people just enjoying the wildlife and countryside. Both the proposed building development and the 'Northern Relief Road' would substantially reduce the amount of land that is available to be enjoyed and farmed and have a detrimental impact on the whole area. There will be a great loss of a significant amount of high quality agricultural land in Blackdown and Old Milverton. All this would be a great loss to future generations, once it is gone it is gone. Which is why we believe it is so important to protect our countryside and stop eroding the Green Belt.



Also the proposals will encourage the merger of Leamington and Kenilworth which I understand is against the National Planning Policy Framework, to prevent urban sprawl of built up areas and prevent neighbouring towns merging, to protect the countryside from encroachment, to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns etc.