Other

ID sylw: 107664

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Draft Policy Direction 39 – Environmental Net Gain
Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 39 –Environmental Net Gain?
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: 107665

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala is generally supportive of the requirement for development proposals to achieve a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, but suggests any higher target beyond the minimum provision must be clearly justified.
Cala however raises concern over the following statement: “As work on the SWLP progresses we will explore evidence to see a higher percentage of BNG above the statutory 10% requirement to achieve greater biodiversity benefits.” Planning Practice Guidance (PPG ID: 74-006) explicitly states that, “Plan-makers should not seek a higher percentage than the statutory objective of 10% biodiversity net gain, either on an area-wide basis or for specific allocations for development unless justified.
Whilst Cala is supportive of a policy that advocates for a minimum of 10% net gain, allowing potential for sites to achieve a higher BNG where this is feasible, Cala would like to see clear justification, backed up by appropriate evidence, including that the approach taken will be viable, before the Council considers introducing any higher mandatory targets.

Other

ID sylw: 107666

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

Yes

ID sylw: 107667

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Yes, Cala broadly supports the aims of Draft Policy Direction 25 to deliver safe, attractive places where people want to live, with emphasis given to the need for these places to respond to climate change and have regard to environmental sustainability. Cala also recognises the importance of achieving an appropriate mix of development to provide for local need and a range of densities, ensuring that any densities are appropriate to their specific location and account for the need to maximise densities where possible.
It is noted that the policy direction includes an objective to integrate the “20- minute neighbourhood” concept when considering factors such as street design and how settlements are laid out, and the impact this will have on people’s travel choices. Cala supports the incorporation of the 20-minute neighbourhood principles into the design of new settlements, where feasible. This is important to help maximise opportunities for active travel and will ensure that parcels of development are appropriately designed to ensure active travel across new settlements with links to opportunities such as employment on site.
The concept of a 20-minute neighbourhood needs to be considered at the outset in designing any new settlements to ensure that a joined-up approach is followed. It is a concept that Cala recognises is important in delivering integrated development across its Long Marston Airfield Garden Village (LMAGV) site to help ensure that the appropriate mix of development, house types, local services and both cycle and pedestrian networks can be provided for.

Other

ID sylw: 107668

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Cala supports the overall direction of the Draft Policy Direction 22 to reduce carbon footprint and the general measures to achieve this such as air tightness and ventilation, renewables, compact building form, cool and green roofs etc. Cala commits to providing high quality, sustainable and energy-efficient developments.
However, due the financial and practical constraints to achieve net zero carbon on some sites, there may be cases where meeting zero carbon in new development is unviable. This needs to be balanced against the policy aspirations. It is noted that the last sentence of the draft policy direction states, “It should be noted that where full compliance is not feasible or viable the applicant needs to submit robust evidence along with the energy statement setting out clearly the reasons for non-compliance.” It is not fully clear however whether this relates to Part A (residential buildings) and Part B (non-residential buildings) or just to Part B. This needs to be clarified.
The NPPF, para 72, is clear that planning policies should have regard to the economic viability of sites and that policies which seek contributions from development should not undermine the deliverability of the Local Plan (Para 35). To this extent, Cala considers that as part of any viability assessment that is undertaken by South Warwickshire to support the SWLP, this must include the impact of Net Zero Carbon requirements on deliverability of sites and the ability to meet the policies set within the Local Plan.

Other

ID sylw: 107669

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Yes, Cala broadly agrees with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 2.
Cala welcomes the identification of twelve potential new settlement locations and in particular supports the assessment of Location “E1 - Long Marston Airfield” as a “More Suitable” location in its categorisation of suitability of each of the new settlements.
Cala continues to support the delivery of new settlements as this is in line with its continued commitment to the delivery of new homes at Long Marston Airfield Garden Village (LMAGV).
The New Settlements Assessment (November 2024) states that potential new settlement location E1 – Long Marston Airfield has capacity for c.9,850 dwellings and that this comprises numerous, different land ownerships which have been promoted. It would be helpful to identify exactly which promoted sites this includes and the potential number of dwellings which each could deliver. It is important that the potential new settlement carefully considers connectivity with the existing, allocated LMAGV, appropriate mix of uses, infrastructure requirements, and opportunities for complementary design through character areas etc to ensure delivery of a sustainable, well-connected community.

Other

ID sylw: 107670

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.” 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.

Other

ID sylw: 107671

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Yes, Cala agrees with the general approach of Draft Policy Direction 10. Cala agrees that it is vital for new homes to meet the needs of both current and future occupiers to ensure that there is a wide range of tenures and types of homes that cater to the needs of the wider population of South Warwickshire.
Cala supports the council’s approach to have regard to the latest evidence in drafting policies relating to housing tenure and type but recommends that flexibility is factored into policy to account for new evidence, changing needs and site-specific characteristics to ensure the delivery of different tenures and types of homes reflects up to date needs.
Cala recommends that it is critical for South Warwickshire to test a variety of different affordable housing levels through Viability Assessment to ensure that the deliverability of the proposed SWLP is not undermined.