BASE HEADER

I object to the building on green belt part of the above plan for the following reasons: 1. The plan assumes the high growth rate scenario (scenario 3) as outlined in the Local Plan Preferred Options Draft Infrastructure Plan by WDC of May 2012 page 8. Given the changed economic outlook even since that date and the continuing economic problems affecting not just the UK but also the European Community and even markets such as China it seems to be a very high risk strategy to plan on the high growth scenario. If more realistic growth assumptions are made and the buffer of nearly 1400 homes added by WDC are taken out then it would be apparent that all the projected housing need could be built on already identified non Green Belt land. 2. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out 5 purposes for Green Belt land which the Green Belt land identified in the local Plan for development does carry out these purposes and so according to the NPPF should be kept as Green Belt. 3. Previous plans eg 2009 Core Strategy identified sufficient non Green Belt land that was available and suitable for housing and employment purposes thus showing that there is no need to encroach on Green Belt land. 4. The fact that developers may make less profit developing non green belt land does not seem to me to be a valid reason to encourage developers to build on green belt land; the council are supposed to be protecting the green belt not destroying it. 5. The proposed new Northern Relief Road is only required if the Green Belt development is allowed, even then it is as likely to lead to people driving out of the area for jobs , shopping and recreation as to staying in the area. It will also encourage further development up to the boundaries of the road. 6. Dualling the A452 between Leamington and Kenilworth is unlikely to reduce peak time congestion as the choke points are within both towns. 7. The proposed Park and Ride facilities to the north of Leamington are only required if the Green Belt developments take place. In any case one would like to see better justification for such schemes: for example the Stratford upon Avon scheme always looks grossly under-utilized whenever we see it. 8. One suspects that WDC's vision of Garden-city type development is just that, a pleasant fantasy at odds with what developers will actually build especially given the social housing obligation which developers will have to meet.