South Warwickshire Local Plan

Gwrthwynebu

Preferred Options

ID sylw: 48800

Derbyniwyd: 30/06/2012

Ymatebydd: Mr & Mrs Stuart & Katherine Ungless

Crynodeb o'r Gynrychiolaeth:

Objects to development on greenbelt land to the north of Leamington at Old Milverton and Blackdown. Can see the need for new housing to help the economy grow but does not believe there are proven exceptional circumstances to permit the development of greenbelt land particularly as there are other suitable sites previously identified by WDC which require less spending on infrastructure.
Would result in the loss of publicly accessible open space used as a valuable amenity area for walking, jogging etc important as part of acheiving healthy lifestyles. It also provides an important habitat for a range of wildlife. The NPPF outlines that the purpose of the greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl however if these areas are developed it would lead to the merging of Leamington, Old Milverton, Hill Wootton and Kenilworth in the future which is even more likely if Kenilworth is to expand southwards. This coalescence would lead to the eventual loss of the individual towns and villages distinct identities. Infrastructure would be unable to cope and the proposed Northern Relief road would result in additional destruction of the countryside.

Testun llawn:

We are writing to object to Warwick District Council's proposed Local Plan Preferred Options (May 2012) which effectively allows the development of 1980 new homes on designated Green Belt land to the north of Leamington, on sites at Old Milverton and Blackdown.
Whilst we can see the need for new housing to help the local economy grow, we do not believe that there are proven `exceptional circumstances' as required by national guidelines to permit the development of Green Belt land, particularly as there are other suitable sites which have already been identified by WDC as "suitable for development" and which require less spending on the infrastructure to support this development. Such land exists off Europa Way and south of Bishops Tachbrook. In our opinion the Preferred Options paper does not provide the evidence required under the National Planning Policy Framework to permit the proposed Green Belt development. The loss of publicly accessible open spaces in these two areas would deprive North Leamington of a valuable amenity area used by large numbers of local residents for dog walking, jogging, cycling and walking. These are all activities which are being promoted at both national and local levels in an effort to encourage more healthy and active lifestyle choices. These areas are also a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife including birds, small mammals (including bats), insects and hedgerow plants.
The NPFF clearly outlines that the purpose of a protected Greenbelt is to prevent urban sprawl. If these areas of land to the north of Leamington were to be developed this could lead to the merging of Leamington, Old Milverton, Hill Wotton and Kenilworth in the future. This would be even more likely if the proposed plan allows for Kenilworth to expand southwards. This coalescence would lead to the eventual loss of the individual towns and villages distinct identities.
The current infrastructure would be unable to cope with the proposed new development and WDC's solution in the form of the North Leamington Relief Road would result in additional destruction of the countryside around Old Milverton.
For these reasons we believe that the plan is flawed and contrary to the government National Policy Planning Framework.