BASE HEADER
RDS3: The Council's Preferred Option for the broad location of development is to:
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55294
Derbyniwyd: 12/08/2013
Ymatebydd: Heather Nicholls
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Pleased that the Council has recognised that the exceptional circumstances to develop the Green Belt to the North of Leamington do not exist and that it is vital to preserve the limited green space between Leamington and Kenilworth as there is a risk that the area will merge into the West Midlands conurbation. RDS proposes: new development close to employment opportunities where there is unlimited green space to the south of Leamington; removes the proposal for 2000 houses on the North Leamington Green Belt; proposes better use of brownfield sites and now only 325 further houses are proposed on Greenfield land; improvements to the road network (it is important these are carried out as part of a coordinated plan); the necessary schools and other infra-structure to support the new development; a fair distribution of new housing across the District. Requests the Council keeps the housing requirement to a minimum and if more houses are required following the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis there is sufficient non Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55295
Derbyniwyd: 23/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Tony Moon
Good to see that some progress has been made in abandoning the proposed use of green belt land in the Milverton and Blackdown areas. However, the revised draft still contains proposals to use other green belt land and is unacceptable.
Not convinced that the RDS fully addresses the opportunity to regenerate urban areas and utilise brownfield sites. This is even more important if considering the Coventry area. Green Belt land is sacrosanct in this Green and Pleasant Land.
Alternative strategy was proposed last year:
1 Promote competitive town centre environments; 2 Promote vitality of urban areas; 3 Protect green belts around them; 4 Recognise the benefits of best agricultural land; 5 Conserve landscape and scenic beauty; 6 Use brownfield sites first; 7 Only change green belt boundaries under exceptional circumstances; 8 Even then, only consider limited infilling of green belt land; 9 Avoid potential coalescence.
based on the following principles:
1 Accept that this area is already overpopulated; 2 Regenerate urban areas. Much of the housing is decrepit and should be redeveloped with a higher urban population density; 3 Regenerate town centres and depressed urban areas. Replace old housing with modern accommodation; 4 Accept that maximising economic growth and housing is not the priority for Warwick District; 5 Quality of life and the environment are more important; 6 Moderate development is the key; 7 Existing green belt boundaries are sacrosanct.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55296
Derbyniwyd: 23/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mr Simon Lieberman
Location of development:
Agree with the locations identified in the new plan.
Strongly believes that there are no exceptional circumstances for building on green belt land to the north of Leamington as originally proposed and is pleased that this has been recognised in the new plan.
Urges the Council to ensure that this is not sacrificed if the result of the additional joint SHMA with Coventry City Council shows there is a need to build more homes in the District.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55297
Derbyniwyd: 23/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mr John Evans
Objects in the strongest terms to the RDS:
* The proposed development to the south of Warwick and Harbury Lane is grossly disproportionate to the housing needs of the district.
* There is no evidence that the majority of people moving to this area will find employment locally and will be car commuters placing intolerable strain on the road network.
* If new houses are needed they should be spread through the area with priority for brownfield sites and [located] to the north or the district with access to the West Midland region.
* Warwick District already has a high proportion of built up areas and development proposed will result in the loss of agricultural land and destroy the character of the area.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55302
Derbyniwyd: 26/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Alison Kelly
Serious concerns over the potential impact upon health and wellbeing. Will have serious health impacts upon local residents. Local roads which are already in excess of capacity will be unable to support the additional traffic which will result in additional pollution and further decline in already poor air quality.
May result in an increase in respiratory conditions.
As more traffic is introduced even more will become stationary and slow moving causing an increased concentration of pollution in the Myton area.
Extremely concerned about the potential health impact upon the residents of Warwick and surrounding areas. Air Quality Action plan (2008) shows poor air quality, worst area being Warwick town centre. Seeks confirmation that the issue of air quality is being thoroughly investigated as an urgent matter of Public Health.
Convinced that this Plan will be opposed in its entirety if it is found to be detrimental to the health of residents. Would welcome assurance that this will be done in good time so that the results can be published for local residents to consider well in advance of any decision on the Local Plan itself.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55305
Derbyniwyd: 26/07/2013
Ymatebydd: NFU
NFU represents over 850 farming businesses located throughout the county of Warwickshire. Food security is a key concern. The challenge is to increase productivity, maximise output, minimise inputs, achieve environmental sustainability and adapt to a changing climate.
The growth targets in the RDS will lead to large new developments on the edge of existing urban areas and in the villages within the District, placing considerable additional demands on the natural resources of the area. Urge the council to thoroughly investigate the impacts on surrounding agricultural land to ensure that adequate water resources and drainage capacity is available to cope with the new demands placed on the districts natural infrastructure.
Sites should not be allocated for residential development if they are found to be in close proximity to an existing livestock unit where there will be sources of noise and odour. Keen to ensure that development in the countryside does not result in conflict between new residents and existing farm businesses.
Where agricultural land is identified for development, consideration should be given to prioritising sites on lower grade land (grades 3 & 4) rather than the best and most versatile land (grades 1 & 2) which is highly valued for food production.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55321
Derbyniwyd: 21/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mrs Julie Tidd
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55324
Derbyniwyd: 27/06/2013
Ymatebydd: Mr Stephen McFadden
To say that "the Plan" is grossly unfair to residents of South Leamington and Warwick is an understatement. Sanctioning the bulk of such a massive development all in one area of the town represents a very ill thought out plan, and one that will create chaos, not just in southern areas of Leamington/Warwick, but across the district.
An alternative plan would distribute housing evenly around the district. If we are to have such a number of new homes, and spread the burden thinly across the district, it could also benefit smaller local building firms rather than large national developers, and this would help the local economy. Evenly distributing the housing around both Leamington and Warwick might mean that fewer significant road infrastructure changes would be needed, thus saving the Council money in these times of economic austerity.
Given the volume of housing that is proposed, another option would be to create a whole "new town" outside Leamington and Warwick in open countryside. This could be built from scratch to include schools, parkland, shops and other infrastructure etc, making it largely independent. This would impact far fewer existing residents, and require fewer significant infrastructure changes in the main Leamington/Warwick district.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55326
Derbyniwyd: 31/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mapeley Gamma Aquisition
Asiant : Turley Associates
Supports the greater focus placed on the redevelopment of brownfield land to meet the identified housing target. In this respect, it is noted that the Employment Land Review 2013 has identified poor quality employment sites which may be suitable for housing development and acknowledges that there has been a lack of speculative development activity in the district for over 12 years (from well before the start of the 2008 recession). If take up of employment land continues at a similar rate as it has over the last 5 years (circa 16 hectares take up in total) the existing supply of available employment land (48.5 hectares) has capacity to provide approximately 15 years' worth of supply.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55329
Derbyniwyd: 29/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Hilary and Dale Fittes
The air quality issue is of great concern. Air quality in Warwick and Leamington is already above the legal limit. The Council is required to improve air quality. The scale of planned houses will make it worse. Notes that Stratford Council have their own plans for even more houses south of Warwick - has this development been taken into consideration?
There is no doubt that the plans will ruin the visual look of Warwick forever. The increase of traffic and people will drive visitors away. We need to conserve the beauty of Warwick, not plan to destroy it.
New Local Plan does not have any policy to protect our parks. When this is adopted there will be no protection for our parks from developers - only NPPF which is insufficient. This could mean that developments could go ahead on exceptional circumstances (which was the basis for the Gateway application).
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55333
Derbyniwyd: 28/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Ram Karki
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55335
Derbyniwyd: 28/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Sharba Homes
Asiant : PJPlanning
The RDS will fundamentally conflict with the NPPF's approach [set out in paras 83 and 84 in respect to the Green Belt] since it does not channel development to the type of areas set out in paragraph 84 of the NPPF.
On the contrary, it channels over half of the 'village' development toward 'washed over' villages in green belt.
It does this:
* Despite accepting that more work needs to be done to assess the capacity of villages to accept development
* Ignoring the capacity of the 'other villages' to accept development. This is not an insignificant capacity. For example, if each of the 'other' settlements was to receive a single additional dwelling each year (which is perfectly possible), then that could account for almost 400 dwellings over the plan period.
It follows that the location of development in Green Belt has been considered as closer to a first, rather than a last, resort and that the necessary exceptional circumstances have not yet been demonstrated.
Recent announcements by the Secretary of State have made it abundantly clear that a simple need for additional housing cannot in itself provide the exceptional circumstances necessary to justify amendments to the Green Belt boundary, and it is very clear that this Strategy takes this approach.
Since the consequence of the local planning authority's policy approach would involve significant intrusions into the green belt around a number of 'washed over' villages, the minimum necessary evidence should be a clear demonstration that it is impossible to meet the housing requirements within or adjacent to existing settlements.
This includes Primary and Secondary Service Villages outside green belt as well as the main urban areas, since all of these have been identified as 'sustainable' locations.
This should be allied to a full green belt review to demonstrate, for example that the extension of 'washed over' villages is a more sustainable approach to the use of Green Belt land.
Until all of these matters are demonstrated, the Strategy is unsound:
* It has not been demonstrated to be the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence.
It is not, therefore, 'justified'.
* It does not enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework - in this case, specifically, sustainable development and Green Belt policies.
*It is not, therefore, consistent with national policy
Resolving Objection:
The next version of the Strategy should promote a pattern and rate of development that:
* Is based on the full objectively assessed needs for market and affordable housing in the housing market area
* Fully assesses the capacity of locations outside Green Belt to enable the creation of sustainable development towards meeting that need
* Following a full review of Green Belt, identifies sustainable locations in the green belt sufficient to meet any shortfall in capacity.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55339
Derbyniwyd: 26/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Richard Knight
The costs to the immediate locality are obvious, loss of greenbelt, greater traffic congestion particularly at peak periods, greater demand on local services such as hospitals and transport infrastructure. The area needs more jobs creating that can benefit the local economy. It should be noted that serviced based jobs do not meet that criteria.
The proposal does not take into account the shift in commercial demands. There are many commercial properties in the centre of Leamington & Warwick that lay empty as retailers shift their focus to out of town shopping centres. The plan should look at converting existing commercial premises to residential, avoiding ghost localities within towns. This approach will stop the unnecessary consumption of green field sites and utilise existing brownfield developments.
Concentrating development to the south of Warwick in preference to the more distributed pattern contained in previous plans is very poor planning and does not take into account other proposed developments such as Stratford District Council proposal of up to 4800 houses at Gaydon/Lighthorne. This will mean a total of over 8,000 new houses / 20,000 new residents living along the Gaydon to Warwick/Leamington corridor.
The areas designated for planning and major junctions from the M40 already suffer from significant traffic bottlenecks at peak periods, and the proposed developments will only exacerbate the traffic congestion.
Based on known traffic patterns, it is apparent that the proposed park and ride will be in the incorrect location.
The significant increase in air pollution arising from the additional traffic will put the health of young children further at risk. Many children attending the schools along Myton Road are already exposed to significant levels of pollutants from stationary traffic.
Protecting Warwick Castle's status as the finest castle in the UK is crucial to the town's future. Looking south over the ramparts at another 3,000 new homes will be contrary to recommendations of the Council's landscape and environmental consultants. The historic nature of the town will be irreversibly damaged. More consideration should be taken of their advice and to the preservation of the landscaped setting of the approaches to the south of Warwick.
The Bridge End area of Warwick is susceptible to flooding due to inadequate drainage, with water running down to/up from the drains. Further development will remove natural drainage and potentially increase the problem and frequency.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55340
Derbyniwyd: 26/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
RDS outlines that up to 1,000 homes will be distributed amongst primary and secondary villages in the district. The baseline ecological data for each of these listed villages should therefore be reviewed and updated to ensure that, in accordance with NPPF, any development that comes forward in these areas is justified and informed by up-to-date information about the local natural environment.
Recommend that the Stratford-on-Avon District Ecological and Geological Study of Local Service Village 2012 is used as a model to update the ecological baseline.
The following sites listed in the RDS are inclusive of, or are adjacent to, a statutory Local Nature Reserve (LNR) or a county important Local Wildlife Site (LWS): Myton Garden Suburb; South of Gallows Hill; Lower Heathcote Farm; Former Severn Trent Works; Grove Farm; East of Whitnash; Land at Thickthorn
The value/importance of these features, and the level of protection assigned to them in the NPPF must be upheld in the RDS so that the preferred site allocations can be achieved without any net loss or degradation of these county important assets.
The following sites in the RDS are inclusive of, or are adjacent to, a potential Local Wildlife Site (pLWS):
Site Allocation Potential Local Wildlife Site South of Gallows Hill; East of Whitnash; Golf Lane/ Fieldgate Lane. Any site listed as a pLWS should therefore be treated as a LWS in the RDS unless survey and assessment against the standardised criteria suggests otherwise.
All preferred sites within the RDS are likely to include habitats and species of principal importance for nature conservation, as listed under section 41 of the NERC Act. The local authority should have regard to the potential presence of priority habitats and species within all preferred site allocations. Current revision of the Warwick District Local Plan is not inclusive of a specific biodiversity policy at this stage.
Include robust policies to ensure that all site allocations make a proportional contribution to the delivery of biodiversity enhancement and green infrastructure in the district, linked to the identified green infrastructure projects and the aims and objectives of the Sub-regional GI document.
Adopt the sub-regional GI strategy and associated Biodiversity Offsetting metrics.
Identify the Princethorpe Woodlands as a Biodiversity Opportunity Area within the local plan to demonstrate that the local authority has adopted a landscape scale approach to deliver biodiversity enhancements in the district.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55343
Derbyniwyd: 23/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Alfonso Pacitti
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55344
Derbyniwyd: 30/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Rowington Parish Council
Strong support for the retention of open spaces (Green Belt and Special Landscape Areas). Difficult to comment further without information regarding potential changes to green belt boundaries.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55345
Derbyniwyd: 22/07/2013
Ymatebydd: G Ralph
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55350
Derbyniwyd: 31/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Dominique Benedetti
Objects to the Revised Development Strategy 2013.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55369
Derbyniwyd: 27/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Miss Laura Ghiggino
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Building on green land on such a large scale especially near the River Avon could have increased and disastrous effects on flooding on the proposed development and possibly existing houses- and will make selling the houses very difficult.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55373
Derbyniwyd: 22/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mrs K Ralph
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Pleased that the Council has recognised that the exceptional circumstances to develop the Green Belt to the North of Leamington do not exist and that it is vital to preserve the limited green space between Leamington and Kenilworth as there is a risk that the area will merge into the West Midlands conurbation. RDS proposes: new development close to employment opportunities where there is unlimited green space to the south of Leamington; removes the proposal for 2000 houses on the North Leamington Green Belt; proposes better use of brownfield sites and now only 325 further houses are proposed on Greenfield land; improvements to the road network (it is important these are carried out as part of a coordinated plan); the necessary schools and other infra-structure to support the new development; a fair distribution of new housing across the District. Requests the Council keeps the housing requirement to a minimum and if more houses are required following the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis there is sufficient non Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55375
Derbyniwyd: 12/08/2013
Ymatebydd: Mr Stuart Oldham
Strategy seeks to concentrate the majority of an excessive amount of growth into one particular small part of the District i.e. urban fringe areas around the south west of Leamington. Shoehorning this amount of growth into such a location would result in unsustainable over development with all its associated problems including traffic congestion, pollution and overloaded local infrastructure and services, and which cannot be adequately mitigated.
It would further increase the existing unbalanced pattern of development across the District between the 'urbanised south' (20%) and 'rural north' (80%) and as such, cannot be justified, certainly not on the grounds of seeking to protect existing Green Belt boundaries.
The 2012 Preferred Options level and locations of growth, whilst not perfect, comprises a reasonably robust, sustainable and balanced basis for future development for the District. Within this document, the Council identified the advantages to locating some development in the Green Belt to the north of Leamington and all four options considered for housing locations, (para. 7.38, Table 3) have significant allocations in this part of the District.
Regrettably and misguidedly, the RDS now marks a significant step backwards compared to the 2012 proposals. Any planning benefits arising from the non development of the relatively small parts of the Green Belt north of Leamington are outweighed by the major planning disbenefits of over development to the south of the town, resulting in a net reduction in planning and environmental benefits across the whole District.
The RDS does not constitute a basis for a 'sound' Local Plan as defined by the NPPF para 182.
Since the PO consultation the Council has radically revised its proposals for the broad location of new development. It has switched major housing allocations away from Green Belt land to the north of Leamington and concentrated most housing developments on locations to the south of Warwick, Leamington and Whitnash, outside of the Green Belt.
The Council claims that this is due to the consultation responses opposing Green Belt development, but also as a result of so-called 'new information' on the ability of the land to the south of Warwick / Leamington / Whitnash, and brownfield land, to accommodate new development.
It seems clear that the Council has bowed to the well articulated and forceful objections of the North Leamington NIMBY lobby, with the 'sanctity' of the Green Belt providing a convenient 'escape clause' for both parties, but this does not make for sound planning, in fact just the opposite!
It is important to note that Chapter 9 of the NPPF makes it clear that the Green Belt, which covers the northern 80% of the District, does not represent an insuperable barrier to development. According to the Council 'exceptional circumstances' can include the need to accommodate housing and employment growth to meet the needs of a community where there are insufficient suitable and available sites outside of the Green Belt. The Preferred Options take on board the National guidance in its Green Belt policy (Section 16), which supports the allocation of housing and employment development on Green Belt land with associated boundary adjustments. The Council identified advantages to locating development to the north of Leamington and also highlight some of the negative consequences of a large amount of development to the south of Warwick/ Leamington/Whitnash. These are a key part of the Council's own case for justifying their 2012 Preferred Options and for rejecting what are now their 2013 RDS proposals!
Moreover, it is clear that locally the RDS proposals would: greatly exacerbate existing traffic congestion not just in Leamington but also in Warwick, a town of national historic and cultural importance, both south and north of the river; degrade environmental amenity, including air quality; increase atmospheric pollution; place unsustainable pressure on local services and infrastructure.
That all of this amounts to over development is clear from the fact that the Council feels the need to attempt to put in place various 'mitigation measures', notably relating to transport and traffic management via the County Council.
The RDS proposal also conflicts with the environmental principles of the Council's Local Plan Strategy (RDS Appendix 1, para.3.5) relating to key elements of Sustainable Development: 'Distributing development across the District. Avoiding coalescence. Ensuring new development is based on the principles of Sustainable Garden Towns, Suburbs and Villages. Protecting biodiversity, high quality landscapes, heritage assets and other areas of significance.' Thus it can be seen to be internally inconsistent in policy terms.
Many District residents have strong objections to the RDS proposals; the RDS can also be seen to fail to comply with the NPPF (para. 155).
In summary then I object to the RDS proposed broad locations of growth on the following grounds: The justification, based largely on protecting the Green Belt, for the significant changes from the 2012 Preferred Options, is inadequate. The Council itself made a good case for rejecting this strategy in making its case for the Preferred Options! They would result in an unbalanced and unsustainable pattern of development between the north and south of the District, and a net reduction in planning and environmental benefits compared to the 2012 Preferred Options. They would result in overdevelopment of urban fringe areas around the south west of Leamington, with consequential major adverse environmental and transportation impacts for both Leamington and Warwick that cannot be adequately mitigated. The proposals are clearly contrary to some of the Council's own key planning and environmental policies and principles, and also to para. 155 of the NPPF.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55376
Derbyniwyd: 22/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Pierpaola Ghiggino
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55377
Derbyniwyd: 22/08/2013
Ymatebydd: Duncan Smart
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55378
Derbyniwyd: 21/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mr Matthew Evenden
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55384
Derbyniwyd: 26/07/2013
Ymatebydd: NHS Property Services
The District currently has 20 surgeries (including branch surgeries) of varying age, size and configuration. The picture of existing surgery provision and the demands placed upon it is therefore complex. NHS England, NHS Property Services and the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG's) have commenced a review of its existing estate as part of preparing a long term primary care strategy for the District.
For the Southern Sites there is an estimated 10,019 future residents of the proposed developments and this warrants a new surgery of commensurate size to the existing surgeries and strategically located away from the existing surgeries in order to provide a sustainable and practical solution to meeting the future primary healthcare needs of the area. Need for a 5 GP surgery practice. NHS England will therefore be seeking contributions from all of the proposed developments by way of planning obligations.
NHS Property Services will look to engage with the Council to ensure the information provided is sufficient to support the Council's draft policies and CIL charging schedules in due course.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55391
Derbyniwyd: 28/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mr Peter Robbins
* The Asps development seems to have been excluded due to the fact that it can be seen from Warwick Castle.
* The heritage value of the castle is within the castle itself, not distant views of it. Previous development has been permitted within view of the castle and this should continue to be allowed to ensure sustainability of Warwick, and certainly before Green Belt development.
* More development opportunity is available in primary service villages outside the Green Belt.
* Many gypsy and traveller sites have been identified and only 2-3 are needed, those remaining must have already been deemed broadly suitable for development and should be built on with housing before Green Belt
.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55392
Derbyniwyd: 28/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Mrs Eileen Robbins
Support the RDS, and particular the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown:
* a fair distribution of new housing across the District, including plans for new houses in the Green Belt at Thickthorn and Lillington as well as proposed development in villages
* however further use of Green Belt would be unsustainable.
* The exclusion of development in the North Leamington Green Belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF.
* Any attempt to re-introduce further development in the North Leamington Green Belt would be unacceptable as no exceptional circumstances exist for any additional development in the north Leamington greenbelt.
* The land is a vital and immeasurable resource for the future of the district and is critical to its future sustainabllity.
* If the Joint SHMA identifies that it is necessary to increase the number of houses above those currently proposed there is sufficient non Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development.
* Having the majority of the development in the South reduces traffic congestion and reduces air pollution; it enables better provision of public services such as schools and other facilities such as infrastructure along with better access to the employment hubs in the South.
* It will also mean that it will enable the concentration of the majority of the funds from the CIL to be in one area thus providing better value for money allowing a better result from the spending of the CIL for more residents.
* the new Country Park to the South of Warwick and Whitnash should be relocated to allow easier access for the residents from both sides of the parkland rather than just benefiting the new development, thus creating a green lung and reducing pollution.
* Moving it would encourage more residents to benefit from the ease of having recreational ground near to them thus promoting healthy living and giving the existing houses a buffer from the new development.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55394
Derbyniwyd: 28/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Frances Karki
Supports the Revised Development Strategy. Supports the absence of development on the North Leamington Green Belt around Milverton and Blackdown as this land meets the 5 key roles of Green Belt and is an excellent and well used cultural and exercise related resource. If the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis identifies an increase in the number of houses above those currently proposed, there is sufficient non-Green Belt land to accommodate this additional development. Proposals represent a fair distribution of housing. Commuting, pollution and infrastructure can be minimised as most of the new development is located close to where employment opportunities already exist and also maximises the opportunity for people to live close to their place of work, improving quality of life. There is ample space to build to the south of Leamington and focussing in one broad area ensures adequate public services can be provided and developed to meet the needs of the new population. The transport assessment clearly shows that development in the North would generate more traffic congestion in the district.
RDS provides for improvement to the road network South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the new development. It is possible that mitigation methods may need to be employed in the Southern areas to reduce pollution and congestion but the work needed to do this would be less than that needed for the north. Putting the country park in the South next to the existing houses, with new housing beyond it, would make the green-park more accessible, crossed by cycle-ways and acting as a green-lung to reduce air pollution. The exclusion of development in the North Leamington green belt enables the plan to comply with the NPPF, any attempt to reintroduce this area would be opposed as no exceptional circumstances exist.
Gwrthwynebu
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55397
Derbyniwyd: 29/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Centaur Homes
Asiant : Turley Associates
The desire to protect the Green Belt from development where alternative non-Green Belt sites are suitable and available is noted however Green Belt issues should be weighed in the balance with other planning objectives, for example supporting sustainable growth.
In respect of the large more sustainable Primary Service Villages Green Belt release should be considered a necessary requirement of the Plan in order to deliver housing to meet needs in the location where it arises, and in order to underpin the sustainability and viability of such settlements.
The objective of distributing growth across the District including within and lor on the edge of some villages is also supported since a greater number of smaller sites will provide the Plan with inherent flexibility, more able to deal with rapid change should it occur though the Plan period. It will enable housing needs to be met in the location in which it is generated; and will also allow for the benefits of development to be spread.
The policy should set out the levels of growth for the larger more sustainable Primary Service Villages; including reasonably significant housing numbers (without undermining the urban first approach to development).
The Council must ensure that housing is distributed to Primary Service Villages in order that they deliver housing in their own right rather than as a 'sweeper' once all opportunities for development at the larger urban centres are exhausted.
Cefnogi
Revised Development Strategy
ID sylw: 55410
Derbyniwyd: 29/07/2013
Ymatebydd: Steele Raymond LLP & A Rajkowski
Asiant : Savills
The provision within policy RDS3 to distribute growth across the District, including within and on the edge of some villages is supported. A hierarchy of growth in the rural areas to include a higher level of growth in the larger, more sustainable villages with a reasonable level of services is also supported.