Testun llawn:
In line with objections raised to Policies DS6, DS7 and DS10, Deeley Group object to Policy DS11 as the overall housing numbers being provided for are too low. It is considered that additional sites should be included to make up the shortfall, and greater flexibility should be built into development within the Growth Villages.
Previous iterations of the Plan have provided for a range of dwellings to be provided within the Growth Villages, for example, the 2013 version of the Plan required a range of dwellings to be provided within each settlement. This approach was supported. The current approach of allocating a small number of sites with very tightly drawn settlement envelopes is inflexible and there is a very real danger that limited choice is being provided. This is not positive planning and contrary to NPPF. It makes little sense to exclude other suitable sites that may come forward in the plan period in sustainable locations. On this basis the current approach is considered to be 'unsound'.
It is considered that the Council should alter Policy DS11 to provide an overall figure for the Growth Villages, allocate known suitable sites, incorporate flexibility in the settlement boundaries and then provide a criteria based policy for additional sites to come forward in the plan period. The current structure of the plan allows for such an approach and this is discussed further in Deeley Group's objection to Policy HS10.
In terms of additional sites to be included within Policy DS11, Deeley Group in particular seek the inclusion of 2 sites:
1. Land off Home Farm, Leek Wooton
2. Land off Friends Close, Baginton
These are considered further below.
Home Farm, Leek Wootton
The site comprises 2.5 hectares of land, it is broadly rectangular in shape and is located on the western edge of the village. The site is accessed off Home Farm a cul-de-sac leading from Warwick Road which currently serves a number of residential properties.
The site immediately adjoins the existing built up part of Leek Wootton and is in a sustainable location. The local facilities within the village are within walking distance of the site. These facilities include a primary school, village hall, place of worship and a public house. The village is serviced by public transport, with an hourly bus service to Warwick.
The site is generally flat with mature trees along the boundaries and a few within the centre of the site. The Warwickshire Golf course lies along the western boundary of the site, farmland is located to the south and existing residential properties lie to the north and east. The residential character of the surrounding area is mixed with varying house types and designs including a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses and cottages.
The site is considered suitable for a mix of open market and affordable dwellings. The illustrative layout plan shows one option of how the site could be developed and indicates a scheme of low density residential development incorporating 10 units including a mix of 6 open market bungalows and 4 social houses to the northern part of the site which aims to provide a sustainable and inclusive mixed community.
The landscape proposals for the scheme are a key consideration, with opportunities for the inclusion of significant areas of open space incorporated into the scheme along with retained and improved landscape boundary treatment. One of the key features is to retain views into the open views into the countryside.
As with any development site, there are a range of environmental and technical considerations that need to be considered as part of any development allocation. These are addressed in the accompanying Statement in Support of the Representations which illustrate that there are no known technical reasons why this site could not come forward for development.
Friends Close, Baginton
The site comprises 0.9 hectares of land, and is located to the rear of houses on Mill Hill, in the north western part of the village. The site is accessed from Friends Close, an adopted cul-de-sac leading from Mill Hill that currently serves a church community hall to the east. A plan of the site is attached with these representations.
The site is sloping north to south and comprises of scrubland and an area of trees. The surrounding area to the north is residential in character whilst to the south it is open countryside. The site was originally part of a wider area that was the local quarry and used for sand and gravel extraction. The quarry was filled over 50 years ago and although some of the former quarry area is not suited for development, the land off Friends Close as identified in this submission has been assessed as suitable for development subject to normal mitigation.
The site is considered suitable for up to 20 units. As part of the development, land to the south as identified in blue on the site location plan would be offered to the Parish Council as for public access. This would provide a valuable local amenity.