Yes

ID sylw: 107350

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Vision – the National Trust supports the vision of South Warwickshire as a flourishing, healthy and vibrant place where people will want to live, work and visit. We consider that many of the places that the National Trust care for in South Warwickshire make a significant contribution to the successful achievement of this vision, particularly in respect of a well-designed and beautiful South Warwickshire, creating spaces where people want to be, which respect and reflect the existing beauty and heritage of the area and a biodiverse and environmentally resilient South Warwickshire – strengthening green and blue infrastructure and achieving a net increase in biodiversity across South Warwickshire.
We are especially supportive of Strategic Objective 9: Enriching the tourism potential which seeks to enrich the quality of the visitor experience through the wealth of cultural, heritage and countryside assets that the area has to offer. The places the National Trust care for are some of the most important historic sites in the region which present enormous opportunities for tourism potential.

Other

ID sylw: 107353

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Green Belt – We note the changing position in terms of Green Belt as set out in the revised NPPF (December 2024), which has opened up the consideration of land within the Green Belt as grey belt and being suitable for development where such land meets the “golden rules”. We understand that a Call for Sites and there is the intention to review villages washed over by the Green Belt designation to identify whether they would be appropriate for infilling. The National Trust are supportive of a plan-led system and accordingly are pleased to hear that further consideration of the Green Belt is going to be taking place, and that a sequential approach is likely to be taken forwards.
The Regional Park concept that the National Trust is developing in the north west Stratford on Avon area and covering Bromsgrove and south west Solihull lies in the Green Belt. We consider that the regional park presents the opportunity to enhance Green Belt policy by promoting the multi-functional purpose of the Green Belt in terms of outdoor recreation which can be enhanced through improved access to open space in the regional park area but also requiring any development which takes place in the Green Belt to secure the highest quality green infrastructure that would connect into the regional park and hold developers to greater account in respect of how development can contribute to the regional park within the area, and the prevailing character of the area, which will also deliver public benefits beyond addressing the housing needs of the Housing Market Area.
We would be keen to discuss the contribution that the Regional Park could make towards achieving a number of objectives set out within the South Warwickshire Local Plan Preferred Options consultation with Officers, including relating to Green Belt, open space, biodiversity, health and wellbeing, and equitable access to nature.
In terms of our specific land interests within South Warwickshire, Packwood House, Baddesley Clinton and Coughton Court are all located in the Green Belt. The designation of Green Belt at these locations contributes towards the preservation of the special character of the places we care for however we are mindful of our visitor business at these properties, with the need to ensure that our visitor facilities are fit for purpose and able to preserve and enhance the heritage assets we are responsible for. We therefore seek to ensure that any development that is proposed on site accords with national Green Belt policy.

Other

ID sylw: 107354

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Airfields – Charlecote Park is in close proximity to Wellesbourne Airfield, located approximately 1 mile to the north west of the airfield. We are aware of the current outline planning application and have both engaged with the developer and responding to Stratford-on-Avon’s statutory consultation. Whilst we do not object to airfield development at this location in principle, we have expressed significant concern with regards to flood risk and highway impact from the employment element of the development. A copy of our consultation response to the outline planning application is attached for information.

Yes

ID sylw: 107355

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Supporting rural employment and diversification - The National Trust are supportive of the Local Plan’s definition of rural employment whereby the rural economy encompasses all businesses operating in rural locations; not just those engaged in agricultural or land-based activities such as farming, food production or tourism. The National Trust is a significant employer in the Local Plan area given the number of properties that we operate and open to visitors.
We are pleased to note that development that contributes to a prosperous rural economy will be supported in principle, including the diversification of agricultural businesses and the expansion of existing rural businesses. It is our view however that this assessment must be balanced against compliance with other emerging policies regarding landscape character, the Green Belt and protecting and enhancing the historic environment to ensure that the support of such opportunities would not compromise the setting of the special places that the National Trust cares for.

Other

ID sylw: 107356

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Arts and culture – Draft Policy Direction 21 sets out that cultural, tourist and leisure facilities within South Warwickshire will, wherever possible, be protected, enhanced and expanded (where appropriate) in partnership with key delivery partners and stakeholders. The National Trust are supportive of this policy on the basis that the properties that we operate in the Local Plan area would cover all dimensions of cultural, tourist and leisure facilities in the context of built heritage. We are pleased that an “agent of change” approach would be taken towards new development in the context of the impact that such could have upon the successful ongoing operation of an adjacent cultural facility.

Other

ID sylw: 107357

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

The places that the National Trust care for in the South Warwickshire Local Plan area are very historic and heating and cooling systems have often been retrofitted in the intervening years between the National Trust taking on the property from the historic owner. There are often proposals to remediate this retrofitting with the intention to introduce low or zero carbon measures to generate or use energy. We would therefore recommend that any consideration of low or zero carbon development in historic environments is assessed appropriately, in the context of the high constraints present. This approach would also apply in respect of reducing energy consumption in existing historic buildings.

Other

ID sylw: 107358

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Energy related policies – The National Trust are taking a proactive approach towards future proofing the places that we care for in terms of energy use, carbon emissions and climate resilience and adaptation. This has incorporated the installation and operation of biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps elsewhere in the Midlands.
The National Trust are supportive of renewable energy generation, given the benefits that this could deliver in respect of reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change through the removal of the use of fossil fuels. We recognise the scale and complexity of the challenge to the nation of transitioning to renewable energy and acknowledge that any impacts upon the
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setting and significance of special places across the country will need to be considered in light of the pressing need to deliver clean energy, alongside a balance of the public benefits. Nevertheless, we believe delivering renewable energy projects sensitively with respect for the setting and significance of places is possible and all such proposals should aim to do so. We would therefore recommend that any proposal for renewable energy is assessed in the context of the special places that the National Trust care for and seek appropriate mitigation where necessary.

Other

ID sylw: 107359

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Reducing flood risk – The National Trust has experienced extensive instances of flooding at Charlecote Park since late 2023 and as a flood plain site located within Flood Zone 3, this is anticipated in situations of extreme weather conditions and climate change. Concern is raised however with regards to Charlecote Park’s location at the confluence of the River Avon and the River Dene and the impact that increased surface run off upstream development sites in the vicinity of Charlecote Park could have upon the capacity of the existing watercourses.
We are supportive that the South Warwickshire Plan acknowledges that the anticipated implications of climate change will only increase the area's vulnerability to such events and it is important therefore to appraise, manage and reduce the risk of flooding, directing development away from areas at risk of flooding wherever possible and to encourage developments to work with and to harmonise with the natural environment and surroundings.
We are supportive of the proposed policy J in respect of seeking to ensure that development does not place itself or others at increased risk of flooding, making sure that new development takes full account of flood risk, both current risk and future forecast risk, applying both the sequential test to flood risk and the surface water hierarchy for addressing issues of surface water management

Yes

ID sylw: 107360

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Design codes – Given the unique nature of the special places that the National Trust care for in South Warwickshire, we are supportive of the introduction of Design Codes in order to improve the design and quality of new development within an area, ensuring it is reflective of local character and preferences.

Yes

ID sylw: 107361

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Protecting and Enhancing Heritage Assets/ the Historic Environment – As set out above, the National Trust care for many valuable heritage assets across the South Warwickshire area. we are pleased that the Local Plan acknowledges that these all contribute to the sense of place that is valued by those who live, work and visit the area. We agree that it is important
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that these heritage assets are preserved and where possible enhanced so that residents, and visitors can continue to enjoy their inherent value.
The National Trust are supportive of draft policy direction 27, particularly in respect of the support provided towards proposals that positively and proactively, conserve and enhance the historic environment, including proposals to safeguard assets and supporting appropriate, viable and sustainable uses that conserve their significance.
The places we care for are very special and often their setting makes a considerable contribution towards the heritage asset. We are therefore pleased that the policy will seek to prevent development if it results in substantial harm to or total loss of the significance of a designated heritage asset, unless it is demonstrated that the substantial harm or loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss