BASE HEADER

I wanted to state that I fully appreciate the scale of the task facing Warwick District Council in providing new housing growth whilst balancing environmental, planning and other objectives. However I fully welcome a Local Plan that is based on sound principles and robust evidence to ensure that it provides a solid framework upon which to guide future development. I believe that the Preferred Options for the New Local Plan published in June 2012 do not comply with the National Planning Policy Framework and that as a consequence the Local Plan would be found unsound at Public Enquiry.

I am pleased that Warwick District Council has recognised that the Exceptional Circumstances to develop the Green Belt to the North of Leamington do not exist and that as a consequence the risks of the Local Plan being found unsound at public enquiry are reduced.

I believe that new development should be concentrated where there are existing employment opportunities and infrastructure to support the development. I also believe it is essential for new development to be properly planned and controlled, and where necessary there is adequate investment in new roads and other infrastructure to support that development.

The Revised Development Strategy fulfils these objectives. Recent evidence shows that the revised plan may have less traffic congestion, less pollution and improved schools and other facilities than building on North Leamington's Green Belt. For these reasons I fully support the Revised Development Strategy.