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Response to the Consultation in respect of Hampton Magna - 31 December 2013.
The Warwick District Council . Village Housing Options and Settlement Boundaries
Consultation November 2013 (the "Consultation") contains a proposal for an additional 100
dwellings in Hampton Magna. On the basis of public meetings and market research
undertaken by the Hampton Magna Residents' Association, this figure is considered too high
and a substantial reduction is necessary. There are a number of reasons for this as listed
below. Any possible increase to this number by a future proposal is strongly opposed.
Green Belt Land and Loss of Amenity
Green Belt land should only be altered in exceptional circumstances and the change must be
sustainable. The consultation acknowledges this in principle. However, the proposed scale of
development fails to adequately take account of it.
If the village envelope is enlarged as presently suggested it will significantly encroach into the
adjoining countryside and result in unacceptable loss of existing amenity which will place an
unsustainable burden on existing residents.
The scale of the proposed growth is disproportionate to the ability of Hampton Magna to
absorb this increase and will negatively impact.on the semi rural character of the
neighbourhood which is a key feature for residents.
The local school is already undergoing expansions with plans for further classrooms and
school run parking around is already leading to traffic congestion and safety problems.
Additional numbers will add to this problem.
The consultation refers to an "Indicative Settlement Boundary". A cast-iron guarantee is
required that there will be no future increases to the designated number of houses to be built or
sites on which they will be located.
Increased Traffic Congestion and air pollution
Traffic volumes in the surrounding area have risen considerably over recent years due to
increased traffic flows from Hatton Park and Warwick Chase estates, expansion of the
Warwick Parkway Station and associated parking and the Premier Inn on Birmingham Road. In
addition the Gateway Project will introduce more traffic and congestion onto the Birmingham
Road and the A46, particularly lorries travelling to and from the logistics centre (storage depot)
at the Gateway Project near Coventry.
The Consultation recognises the need to carefully consider the impact of the development on
traffic but fails to address the significant traffic problems created by the 100 houses expansion.
Congestion already exists as access to and from Hampton Magna is through an alternating
traffic lights single flow system or a narrow winding road which is not designed to absorb major
traffic flows. The additional extra traffic from 100 houses is likely to create even more
congestion and delays particularly at peak times and result in increased journey times to and
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from the village. It could also increase the time needed for emergency vehicles to reach the
village, thus endangering lives.
Further traffic pollution would cause problems for people with asthma, bronchitis and other lung
problems.
Direct Road Link with the A46 and Second Road Link via Ugly Bridge Road to
Birmingham Road.
Any such alternative road schemes are strongly opposed. We do not support a direct link with
the A46. We understand that it was considered too dangerous when Warwick Parkway station
was built and the same applies even more now. Any such link has the potential for gridlock and
the use of the village as a cut-through to surrounding locations.
At the Exhibition on 17 December, It was suggested that plans were being considered for an
additional road link via Ugly Bridge Road. We oppose any such plan as it would use a country
lane as a road as well as acting as a second cut through.
Once a site has been found developers tend to come back with further planning applications in
the future. Any new road would "unlock" all sites, if not now, then in the future. The village was
never designed for this.
Period of BUild.
The Consultation refers to "phased development". The time taken to build any new houses
must be fixed to prevent open-ended disruption. We do not want (say) ten houses being built
in the first year and the profits used to finance more houses and so on. Building work entailing
disruption and noise could continue for many years. We only have to look at other estates
nearby e.g. Warwick Chase to see this prinCiple in operation.
The Type and mix of Housing
This must be known and should be tailored to the needs of residents who already live here or
their relatives. The Council should be speaking to the Residents' Association as well as the
Parish Council and not confine their discussions to Developers and Public Housing Providers.
The large organisations like Developers and Housing Associations must not be allowed to
override the wishes of ordinary residents.
There should be cast-iron guarantees that local people will benefit instead of decisions being
left to Developers and Housing Associations. Cawston House has been trying to rent empty
flats for months. In the meantime they stand idle at public expense. There has been an
obvious over-provision or the residences provided are unattractive to the target market.
Green Self Builds should be included in the Development
There is no provision for Green self builds in the development and there should be. This would
provide employment for local builders and craftsmen and residents. Self builds are usually
much more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient than mass produced housing. The
National Planning Policy Framework 2012 (paragraph 50) makes special reference to self
builders and the District Council has duties to include them in any local plan.
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Needs Survey on which a "need" has been discovered for 31 permanent and 12 transit pitches.
WOC acknowledges that many of the Gypsies and Travellers already have permanent homes.
Site of Special Historical Interest
The Gog Brook ponds and ancient hedgerows should be preserved and protected. They are
one of the few remaining links with the past and belonged to the old monastery which used to
stand there.
Wildlife.
There may be bat roosts, protected species of frogs, toads, newts etc. in the area. A thorough
study should be undertaken and the rules applied to individual householders should be applied
equally stringently to developers.
Buried armaments from the old Barracks / First World War Hospital.
Hampton Magna is built on the site of the old Budbrooke Barracks and therefore has a unique
problem with buried armaments. Several have been uncovered over the years. The Copse on
the preferred site should have entry forbidden as, it is believed, armaments are buried there. A
First World War hospital was situated on the proposed site and as a result there may be buried
bodies in the surrounding area. These factors are not recognized in the Consultation and their
impact must be assessed.
Sharing development
Hampton on the Hill adjoins Hampton Magna and utilises its amenities, so it is not clear why
there is no option to develop any housing at all in Hampton on the Hill. Although we are
opposed to any disproportionate housing expansion in Hampton on the Hill, some additional
expansion should be seriously considered. If it is not considered appropriate then the reasons
for this should be fully explained in detail. We refer to the National Planning Policy framework
2012 (paragraph 55) and the WOC Local Plan P - 9. Hampton Magna infrastructure facilities
should be considered as shared with Hampton on the Hill as residents from this village use
them and there is no natural boundary e.g. road or river between them.
Guarantees are required that:
The proposed number of houses will be decreased.
The decreased number of houses finally agreed by the Council will be final and will not be
subsequently increased.
Building developers and Housing Associations are not allowed to override the wishes of local
people.
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