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I am writing to oppose the District Council's plans to develop green belt land as part of the new Local Plan.

The Council's plans are somewhat alarming given the extent of the planned development on green belt land and also the extent of the planned development for Warwick, Kenilworth and Leamington overall. By 2029, Leamington and Warwick will be almost half as big again.
If this number of dwellings is really required then I feel there needs to be a new approach. You cannot continue to bolt on great big developments to towns, filling in all open countryside spaces without ultimately ending up with endless suburbia and everywhere becoming the same. This amount of new dwellings requires actual "new town" planning, not constant town extending.
It seems that Warwick District Council is taking on a huge proportion of the required development for Warwickshire as a whole and this is already a very over-populated area. There are less populated areas in the south of the county where potential new sites could be found with good transport access to the M40. Perhaps something on the lines of Hatton Park, but with some school and service infrastructure?
Once this level of development starts on the green belt around North Leamington, what is there to stop a complete in-fill? Old Milverton is in danger of becoming a scattering of period properties amongst a mass housing estate? This area is used by many for a variety of recreational purposes - walking, running, dog walking etc. Old Milverton and its surrounding rolling countryside is a rural idyll, not just for those of us who live here but for many residents of North Leamington. People need access to open space, countryside and fresh air; free of incessant traffic noise and concrete. Development of the scale shown in the plans will be detrimental to the quality of life for people in the area - people who have chosen to live in/close to a small town environment with easy access to countryside. We are running out of space!



Also of great concern is the lack of specific information. The Council has asked for the public to comment on their preferred options and all the plans available to view, do not show where the new roads, schools, supermarkets, park and rides etc. are going to be. It is all of these elements that will carve up at least half as much green belt again and change the character and landscape of the North of Leamington and Old Milverton forever. I feel that the Council is collecting public opinion based on information that is so vague it is to all intent and purposes, inaccurate.
In 2009 a plan was drawn up to make provision for more dwellings than are being considered in the current plan and there was no requirement for green belt land to be developed. What has changed? Certainly not the role of the green belt, the benefits the green belt offers to residents or the views of residents.
I don't believe that green belt land should be built on when there are other options, particularly when, after building so many homes on green belt, so much more green belt needs to be carved up for new roads and facilities. There are brown belt sites available in South Leamington with good roads and motorway access all in place and, once again, I believe that development of this size requires a whole new town planning, otherwise it will swamp our landscape in suburbia.
Please re-consider your plans and protect Leamington from becoming a faceless suburban sprawl.