Other

ID sylw: 107033

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

In terms of employment need to 2050 the CWCCC supports the basis of this key Policy. It notes that this draft policy direction sets out a large range of additional “industrial” provision between 75 and 125 ha up to 2050. The figure needs to be refined in subsequent iterations of this plan.

The CWCC welcomes the indication that the plan will accept the upper end of the range derived from
the WMSSS.

The final figures should not be derived only from the quantitative sources identified. It should also be informed from additional qualitative input from business organisations like the Chamber of Commerce, directly from industry and the spread of businesses across the C&W sub region.

The Chamber of Commerce has not commented on the
proposed new settlement locations but notes that a new settlement is likely to be allocated. CWCC
believes that if this option is selected it must include provision for an appropriate balance of
employment opportunities.

The CWCCC welcomes and supports the overall approach underpinning the Spatial Growth Strategy
this will provide a balance of new growth and an appropriate relationship between homes, jobs and
the provision of infrastructure and community facilities.

Other

ID sylw: 107034

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

This important policy direction is silent on small scale employment opportunities and is focussed on housing provision. The C&W sub region is characterised by large numbers of small businesses and many of these are in the smaller towns, villages and rural areas of the two districts, especially in the south and southeast of the plan area.
Consequently, this Policy Direction should be supplemented by explicit consideration of the need to
facilitate local growth ,expansion and development of existing small scale businesses and to encourage the start up of new small businesses in rural areas by ensuring adequate provision of premises and land.

No

ID sylw: 107035

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

The CWCCC is concerned by the whole approach in the emerging plans and proposals related to the Duty to Cooperate.
The first point to note is that the draft Policy direction here deals only with housing provision. The wording must be amended to recognise employment provision. The recently published Regulation 19 consultation regarding Coventry City sets out explicit provisions to “export” employment provision to surrounding/neighbouring local
authority areas which includes this plan area. The draft strategy is currently silent on this matter. This is surprising given the statements elsewhere (ref Para 1.10 )suggesting
the close liaison and “ active engagement “between the sub regions local authorities.

This Regulation 18 draft plan is silent on this specific issue related to employment provision and the DTC. If there has been effective liaison and partnership, then it would be reasonable to expect that it should be reflected in this draft Policy Direction.

Other

ID sylw: 107036

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

The CWCC does not, at this stage have a strong preference for the sites identified. As it has noted elsewhere the Chamber favours a final figure for employment land provision at the upper end of the range (125 ha) and believes that this figure should be a minimum and that it should also be informed by further qualitative work that could help both refine the overall target figure to 2050 and, critically, inform the
type of sectoral provision that is required across the development plan period.
There are two major “Strategic sites” identified and clearly both sites have the potential to make a major contribution to employment provision. However as noted in the text
the timing of implementation may differ and that may be important to ensure a steady “flow “of employment opportunities over the plan period.

In the final paragraph of this Policy Direction there is a recognition that the larger sites portrayed in this Policy may be unsuitable to accommodate and expand the range of smaller businesses and enterprises located in smaller towns and villages. This is in line with the current NPPF and Section 6.6 of the draft proposals. This recognition/acknowledgement is welcomed by CWCCC.

Yes

ID sylw: 107037

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

The CWCCC welcomes and endorses this draft Policy direction related to the MIS identified. These are all important locations for employment and have continued
growth potential. It should be acknowledged that with MIS the additional provision of new employment is likely to be aimed at the higher end of the overall market. Additional policy wording to try to ensure a wider balance of provision at these locations should be examined.

No

ID sylw: 107038

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

The CWCCC welcomes the recognition of these three airfield sites. It supports the continued development and policy recognition of all three airfield sites for different reasons.

It is short sighted to suggest, as this draft proposes, that the facility at Atherstone Airfield be “downgraded” and no longer be an employment allocation. The CWCCC objects to this proposal.

These are three of the remaining airfield facilities in the whole of the Coventry and Warwickshire Sub region. Strategically the retention of facilities to accommodate and
protect local flying facilities and so-called general aviation airfield is important for local business and indeed may become much more important in the future as the nature of mobility is changing and may continue to evolve at a swift rate over the plan period.

The electrification of air transport and flying is beginning to develop alongside the development of motorised vehicle transport. It seems important that some local flying facilities are retained as part of a long-term development strategy.

Yes

ID sylw: 107039

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce recognises this as a key policy which contains positive provisions to encourage local growth. As the Chamber has noted much of the
proposed joint plan area comprises rural and semi-rural areas and these have fostered the growth of small businesses and enterprises. Many of these have grown and thrived.

In the plan areas smaller towns and villages have fostered new growth and expansion of small businesses and start-ups often initially from private homes. The recognition and
further support of this activity is welcomed. In addition, the recognition in this Policy Direction of the importance of encouraging diversification schemes in agricultural and rural holdings is welcomed. Opportunities for
diversification and in particular the repurposing of former agricultural buildings must be encouraged to promote the sustainability of modern farming operations.

Yes

ID sylw: 107040

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

The CWCC strongly welcomes this Policy Direction 19 and the recognition of the need to maintain a balanced supply of employment premises throughout the plan area. Moreover, it also supports the idea of undertaking further work to encourage the provision of “affordable” business space. The operation of the property market currently means that most new employment allocations are targeted at the upper end of the rental and sales property markets. While this provides additional space and assists the overall market operations it often leaves local shortages at the lower end of the market. This, as is recognised may hamper the growth and expansion of existing
businesses.

The CWCC welcomes the policy initiative here to encourage an element of smaller units
and “affordable” commercial space as part of much larger employment allocations. At the same time, it recognises that such units cannot be provided in all instances on the
larger employment schemes. The proposed research and additional work could look in more detail at the viability issues that underpin the provision of larger schemes.
There may be merit in further consideration of the potential “repurposing” of surplus and empty retail units in town and village centres. The plan makers might, for example, consider the inclusion of a specific provision to encourage the diversification and repurposing of former retail units which because of their location or because of
changing retail trends mean that the buildings become redundant as retail space. This could in some circumstances provide relatively low cost accommodation for small businesses . In the right locations this would not undermine the overall retail function of an area.