BASE HEADER
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 53248
Derbyniwyd: 21/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mr C Wood
Much of what is claimed to be objective and "evidence" in the support documents is really subjective and opinion. The new research does not provide a justification for the south of Warwick option, merely mitigation to make the effects less negative. The concerns of the Council in 2012 (coalescence, impact of development, lack of choice of housing) have not been resolved. The distinction between "green belt" and "green field" when both are serving the same purpose is quite artificial, and should not be used as a justification for not implementing the original preferred option of the Council.
Having read many of the supporting documents, much of what claims to be objective and evidence is really subjective and opinion. For example, the proposal to use the green field area south of the Myton Road ultimately stems from the comments in the Landscape Character Assessment by Richard Morrish Associates. This report suggests that the land to the north east of the Warwick Technology Park has been "devalued" by the very presence of the Technology Park itself, and so ultimately is fair game for development. This is not a justification, purely an opinion, and one not shared by residents and also originally not by WDC. It is also a circular argument - the Technology Park was allowed on the understanding that it would not spread in this direction, something that its mere existence is now being used to justify.
The pieces of research mentioned are largely about mitigating the negative effects of the proposed development - they do not attempt to justify it. Also, they are only about mitigation - not removing the issues, but just attempting to make them less negative.
The concerns of the Council that existed in 2012 have not gone away, namely:
- the issue of coalescence between the settlements: specifically the green field area between the Warwick Technology Park and the Europa Way roundabout is the only thing that prevents Warwick and Leamington Spa merging.
- the cumulative impact of this level of development to the south will still exist - the massive loss of green fields will not be offset by the cosmetic proposals in the research.
- the lack of choice of location of housing - the large swathes of estate housing will not deliver the "wide choice of quality homes" as demanded by the National Planning Policy Framework.
The original plan of a more even distribution of housing around the urban fringe addresses all these concerns. The distinction between "green belt" and "green field" when both are serving the same purpose is quite artificial, and should not be used as a justification for not implementing the altogether more sensible, original preferred option of the Council.