Yes

ID sylw: 108538

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warner Planning

We support the review of the settlement hierarchy and BUAB’s, and would expect that boundaries will be amended to include sites which score well in the HELAA and can be brought forward for development as part of the Local Plan.

No

ID sylw: 108548

Derbyniwyd: 29/06/2025

Ymatebydd: Hayfield Homes

Hayfield consider that Draft Policy Direction 3 should be expanded to allow for development of small and medium sized sites of up to 40 homes to come forward, to ensure that a suitable mechanism is in place to bring forward sites capable of delivering homes within the early part of the Plan period. This is particularly imperative given the current emphasis within Policy Direction 1 to focus on strategic-scale sites. It is considered that the proposed amendments to this Policy Direction would help support the delivery of windfall sites, as proposed in Policy Direction 1.

No

ID sylw: 108563

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Corbally Group (Harbury) Ltd

Asiant : Pegasus Group

This Policy Direction, in encouraging small-scale development, is generally supported; Paragraph 73 of the NPPF is clear that small-to-medium sized sites can make an important contribution towards an area’s housing supply, and opportunities should be sought to support small sites being brought forward. It is stated that the existing settlement boundaries will be reviewed, and this is encouraged by Persimmon.

The fact that the Councils will support small-scale development adįacent to settlement boundaries is welcomed, since these can be amongst the most sustainable locations for housing. Going forward, it will be important to define “small-scale”.
Villages should be afforded more growth where this would not have adverse sustainability implications.

The Policy Direction suggests that very limited development will be allowed within and adjacent to settlements in the Green Belt. In order to be consistent with the latest national policy, it is recommended that reference should be made to ‘grey belt’ land.

The settlement boundary for Bishop’s Itchington should be revisited to include this existing development, along with this Site which forms a natural extension to the settlement, enclosed by existing physical boundaries.

Yes

ID sylw: 108612

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Kiely Bros Holdings Ltd

Asiant : Pegasus Group

Policy Direction 3 – Small Scale Development, Settlement Boundaries, and Infill Development
4.32.
This Policy Direction, in encouraging small-scale development, is generally supported; NPPF §73 notes that small-to-medium sized sites can make an important contribution towards an area’s housing supply, and opportunities should be sought to support small sites being brought forward. It is stated that the existing settlement boundaries will be reviewed, and this is encouraged by Kiely, since the Urban Capacity Study (October 2022) identifies that there is only scope for up to
6,145 dwellings within existing boundaries, a figure which is far below South Warwickshire’s housing requirement.
4.33.
The fact that the Councils will support small-scale development adjacent to settlement boundaries is welcomed, since these can be amongst the most sustainable locations for housing. Going forward, it will be important to define “small-scale”. The suggested ‘threshold site size’, below which developments are likely to be acceptable, is expected to be an appropriate approach, although this should only serve as guidance for developers and decision-makers, and not be overly restrictive, to ensure that this does not discourage the efficient use of land, which would be contrary to national policy (NPPF §124).

Other

ID sylw: 108654

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Kingacre Estates Ltd (‘Kingacre’)

Asiant : Nexus Planning

Policy Direction 3 seeks to identify ‘Built Up Area Boundaries’ (‘BUABs’) for settlements within South Warwickshire, alongside considering whether a revised settlement hierarchy classification is required across the Districts. Furthermore, this Policy Direction seeks to provide principles in relation to the appropriateness of development within and adjacent to the BUABs (where defined).
In non-Green Belt locations, Policy Direction 3 refers to ‘Housing, employment and other settlement related development, within or adjacent to Built Up Area Boundaries’. Kingacre supports the recognition that certain sites may be considered appropriate where they outside but adjacent to the BUABs. This will be critical to support the modest growth of the Districts’ rural settlements over the plan period.
However, Policy Direction 3 then provides that ‘Where such sites are adjacent to Built Up Area Boundaries, a threshold site size will be established, below which such developments are likely to be acceptable…’. This is problematic as what may constitute an appropriate quantum of development will necessarily be dependent upon the specific circumstances and context of each site. As such, it is inappropriate to apply an arbitrary number to the maximum number of homes considered to be appropriate on such sites.
Furthermore, should a limit of around 10 dwellings per site (or indeed fewer) be taken forward, as is indicated may be the case in the supporting text, it would be unlikely that much (if any) affordable housing would be provided. Given the stark need for affordable housing, particularly within rural villages, the implementation of this threshold approach is inappropriate and counter productive. Medium-sized sites may well be considered appropriate at these locations, depending on the context of the specific site, the potential benefits of developing it, and its potential harms. It is, therefore, recommended that such development at smaller villages should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recommendation(s): a. Continue to provide an approach in which housing, employment, and other settlement related development in non-Green Belt locations may be considered appropriate, where it is outside but adjacent to the BUABs. b. Transition to an approach where such sites are to be considered on a case-by-case basis, rather than applying a numerical threshold above which development is inappropriate (whether the threshold relates to site size or development quantum).

No

ID sylw: 108662

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cora

Asiant : Woolf Bond Planning

The proposed spatial strategy fails to recognise the important role of the current Main Rural Centres (especially Kineton) in seeking to accommodate housing growth (and other development (including employment)).
In discounting the role for larger scale development, it conflicts with the approach in NPPF paragraph 83, which emphasises the needs for communities to grow and thrive, which apply through the emerging plan period.
The Plan therefore as currently prepared is not sound for the following reason:
1) It is not justified as it fails to acknowledge that growth at places should exceed the infill and small scale development thresholds as currently state.;
2) It is not effective as it does not demonstrate how development plan policies confirm the suitability of locations for the proposal envisaged; and.
3) Not consistent with national policy is that it does not fully reflect the guidance in NPPF paragraph 83 for places to grow, especially where like the Main Rural Centres such as Kineton for a focus of existing services for the locality.
To address these matters of soundness;
a) That the draft policy direction must allow larger scales of development beyond infill and small scale schemes, with appropriate adjustments to settlement boundaries.

Yes

ID sylw: 108670

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Landowner Site 694

Asiant : Bruton Knowles

This Policy Direction encourages small-scale development and is supported, for the reasons noted above in response to Draft Policy Direction 1. As noted above, we consider that allocations for housing at sustainable rural villages should be included in the SWLP, in order to support the viability and vitality of these settlements.

We also welcome the Councils’ intention to review existing settlement boundaries, given the scarcity of available brownfield land, and as existing settlements and edge of settlement locations are often the most sustainable locations for development.