Yes

ID sylw: 106208

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala generally agrees with Draft Policy Direction 10. This reflects NPPF paragraph 63 and it is important that the needs of current and future occupiers in respect of tenure and types of homes are catered for. Cala supports the approach of having regard to the latest evidence but recommends flexibility in policy to account for new evidence, changing needs and site-specific characteristics.

There is no specific target level set in the document. This is critical for determining the viability of schemes. NPPF Paragraph 35 states that Plans should set out contributions and Paragraph 72 states that policies should have regards to viability. Cala supports the approach of undertaking a viability assessment prior to Regulation 19 stage and it is important to test different affordable housing levels as part of this.

Other

ID sylw: 106209

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Draft Policy Direction 14 (Major Investment Sites (MIS) states that at MIS.2 – Long Marston Airfield the “existing allocation Proposal LMA: Long Marston Airfield remains an important part of Stratford-on-Avon’s employment land supply.” The DPD also states it is expected that the SWLP may revise what is delivered on the site and it is not proposed that the allocation is rolled forward in its existing form.

Whilst Cala supports the “existing allocation Proposal LMA: Long Marston Airfield,” it requests that any additional capacity – for employment, housing and/or other uses at LMA is considered in terms of the existing allocation and current applications. The existing settlement has been tested through the Local plan previously and concluded to be sound. It must be ensured that any changes to the existing allocation do not compromise or create uncertainty for delivery of the existing allocation.

Yes

ID sylw: 106210

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala broadly agrees with Draft Policy Direction 2, which is in line with NPPF paragraph 77, and welcomes identification of twelve potential new settlement locations. In particular, Cala supports assessment of Location “E1 - Long Marston Airfield” as a “More Suitable” location.

This site is important to meet strategic housing and employment needs. Phased development is underway on the Garden Village site and it is important that the existing allocation adopted through the Core Strategy is not undermined. Future allocations should seek to maximise densities within the Garden Village and across the whole E1 settlement. Changes to the allocation must not compromise or create uncertainty for delivery of the existing allocation.

Cala notes the New Settlements Assessment and the indicative capacity for 9,850 dwellings. A variety of land ownerships have been promoted and it would be helpful to identify how this figure is spread across the promoted areas. The potential new settlement will need to consider connectivity with the existing allocated Garden Village, as well as infrastructure, design, character areas, and the mix of uses.

Other

ID sylw: 106211

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala supports the overall direction of this draft policy direction and commits to providing high quality, sustainable and energy-efficient developments. However, there may be some sites where meeting zero-carbon will be unviable. It is unclear whether the last sentence of this draft policy direction relates to Part A (residential buildings) and Part B (non-residential buildings) or just to Part B. This needs to be clarified. NPPF Paragraph 72 states that policies should have regard to economic viability and Paragraph 35 states that contributions should not undermine deliverability of the Local Plan. The impact of Net Zero Carbon requirements on deliverability should therefore be tested as part of viability assessments of the SWLP.

Yes

ID sylw: 106212

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala broadly supports the aims of Draft Policy Direction 25. Cala recognises the importance of achieving an appropriate mix of development to provide for local need and a range of
densities, ensuring these are appropriate to the specific location and accounting for the need to maximise densities where possible.

Cala supports incorporating 20-minute neighbourhood principles into the design of new settlements where feasible. This helps maximise opportunities for active travel and ensures that parcels are appropriately designed for active travel across new settlements with links to opportunities such as employment. The concept needs to be considered at the outset of designing new settlements and a joined-up approach is required. Cala recognises the importance of this principle in delivering integrated development across Long Marston Airfield Garden Village to help ensure the appropriate mix of development, house types, local services, cycle and pedestrian networks can be provided for.

Yes

ID sylw: 106213

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala supports the general approach to set principles for new development in an area. Cala recognises the provision for a series of design codes to cover a range of geographical areas with varying levels of detail. Cala considers the proposals to introduce design codes of varying detail e.g. more detail for smaller sites and more general design guidelines for larger, strategic sites appears to be a sensible approach.

It is important the design codes factor in a degree of flexibility for large sites, to ensure there is the ability to encourage innovative and high-quality designs, which can respond to different character areas. This is an approach that is being followed at Cala’s Long Marston Airfield Garden Village (LMAGV), where a specific LMAGV adopted Masterplan SPD has set a series of guiding design principles that are being developed in further detail as detailed planning applications come forward across the settlement.

Other

ID sylw: 106214

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala supports the requirement for development proposals to achieve a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain as determined by the DEFRA statutory biodiversity metric. This aligns with Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and NPPF paragraphs 187(d) and 192. Cala does not support the statement that the SWLP will explore evidence to go above the statutory 10% requirement. This is against PPG ID 74-006. Clear justification and detailed evidence on viability would be required to deviate away from the PPG. Sites are facing increasing build costs which is impacting viability of many sites. BNG policy needs to ensure that it does not limit ability of developments to come forward and flexibility must be provided in all circumstances.

Other

ID sylw: 106215

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala supports the general approach of Draft Policy Direction 39 but recognises that it will be important to develop this policy further, with further background evidence to justify the aspirations set out within any future detailed policy. A comprehensive framework that is able to fairly and accurately assess what Environmental Net Gain (ENG) should cover, and the level of ENG which developments would need to achieve, will be important. Whilst Cala recognises the potential benefits of ENG, given its broader scope to consider wider environmental issues beyond biodiversity net gain alone, (e.g. air quality, water quality and climate resilience) - Cala believes, as per its comments on BNG, that careful consideration should be given to potential
impact on viability to ensure that forthcoming developments are not hindered.

Other

ID sylw: 106216

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala broadly agrees with the approach in Draft Policy Direction 4 and welcomes the statement in Paragraph 4.4 with regards to the Duty to Cooperate. However, the Local Plan should make reference to a realistic level of need based on discussions and evidence to date with neighbouring authorities. The evidence base should be updated to account for expected changes from the latest standard method calculation which will significantly increasing housing needs. The recent withdrawal of the Solihull Local Plan Review following the Inspector's findings of a significant deficit in housing land supply made reference to not only meeting Solihull's own local need in full but also to contribute approximately 2,000 homes to unmet need arising from Birmingham by 2030/31. This highlights that this issue is an important consideration for the South Warwickshire Local Plan.

Other

ID sylw: 106217

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala agrees with the general approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 5 but recommends further work is undertaken to clarify the items and amounts required across the districts. This includes the new proposed settlements. Cala generally supports the transport hierarchy in the IDP. However, even with an emphasis on active travel and public transport there will still need to be significant investment in improving the road network to accommodate future housing and ensure communities are well-connected across the districts. The IDP must set out specific requirements and expected levels to avoid unexpected items rendering a development unviable.

Cala welcomes the commitment to carry forward existing safeguarding measures, which will ensure the option to deliver the SWRR is not prejudiced by other development along the route. While supporting a larger proposed settlement at E1 Cala notes the importance of ensuring transport capacity requirements can be met with requisite infrastructure. As delivery of the Garden Village has commenced it is important that additional development does not compromise the ability of the existing allocation to be delivered. Whilst the SWRR is a key piece of infrastructure for a potential new settlement at LMA and undeed the full extent of Cala’s existing allocation of c.3,100 remaining homes, delivery of such infrastructure should not impede upon delivery of interim phases at LMA, and where viable, measures to speed up the delivery of much needed-housing should be explored.