Other

ID sylw: 107362

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Waterways – The River Avon and the River Dene converge in the grounds of Charlecote Park. At present the waterway that falls within the park is not navigable. The National Trust are concerned that draft policy direction 28 seeks to increase access and use of canals and waterways. We would consider that the extent of the waterways within Charlecote Park would not be appropriate to be unlocked to introduce navigation, due to the historic nature of the waterway at this location and the sensitive natural environment of the deer park and heronry.
Whilst the National Trust appreciate the vision in respect of this policy, we feel that this should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the unique environmental factors of the specific waterway.

Yes

ID sylw: 107363

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Protection of Sites, Habitats and Species – The National Trust take a keen interest in the realisation of a “Biodiverse and Environmentally Resilient South Warwickshire” given the unique habitats that are found in the land that we care for. We are supportive of the need for a policy for the protection of sites, habitats and species, and we are especially supportive of the ambition for the policy to secure the enhancement of internationally, nationally, and locally important biodiversity and geodiversity sites and assets, both designated and non-designated, using the evidence-based documents such as the emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and the findings of the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) as a guide.

Yes

ID sylw: 107364

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Local Nature Recovery Strategy – The National Trust are supportive of LNRS and consider that we have a role and responsibility to ensure that the habitats that we care for are in as good a condition as possible and enhanced where possible. We are supportive that the policy will seek for development proposals to support the principles of LNRS and demonstrate that a positive contribution will be made to the regional nature recovery network by maintaining and enhancing local ecological networks through habitat creation, protection, enhancement, restoration and/or management.

Yes

ID sylw: 107365

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Biodiversity Net Gain – As set out above, the National Trust are highly conscious of the poor conditions much of South Warwickshire’s natural environment are experiencing. We are supportive of the policy direction for BNG, with 10% required to be delivered as part of new development.

Yes

ID sylw: 107366

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Green and Blue infrastructure – Many of the National Trust’s places are integral to South Warwickshire’s green and blue infrastructure (GBI) network, particularly the extensive walks across countryside between Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton, across Charlecote Park and the extensive parkland of Farnborough Hall. The National Trust are supportive of the acknowledgement by the Local Plan that GBI provides multiple benefits, including providing habitats for wildlife, enhancing health and wellbeing outcomes in an area by providing space for recreation, and building resilience to a changing climate including flood control and preventing urban heat islands.
We are pleased that the Local Plan identifies the risks that new development presents for GBI, particularly in respect of increased numbers of residents in an area as a result of housing growth, which can exacerbate pressures on existing areas of green space. This can reduce tranquillity and availability of space, weakening its recreational value, and it can have negative impacts on on-site biodiversity due to increased levels of disturbance and disruption to habitat connectivity. We therefore would expect new development to incorporate proposals for open space and green infrastructure within the development site to ensure that this contributes towards the existing GBI network but also protect existing open space and recreational sites from excessive use and the associated recreational impact that would result from it.
In respect of the regional park proposals, whilst we thoroughly support the measures to maintain and enhance the green infrastructure network, we would recommend that the 8 Hills Regional Park is referenced in this policy and designated on the Policies Map as land to the north west of Forshaw Heath Lane. We consider that this would both strengthen South Warwickshire’s green infrastructure network and present an opportunity to enter into a partnership with a governance structure for the Regional Park and engage in a cross-boundary relationship when it comes to truly integrated green infrastructure for the benefit of people and nature across the West Midlands conurbation and beyond.
We are supportive of policy direction 40 and consider that many policy directions set out within the draft Local Plan (preferred options consultation) will contribute towards the successful achievement of a strong GBI network, including LNRS, BNG and the protection of habitats and species.

Yes

ID sylw: 107367

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Trees, hedges and woodland – The National Trust care for vast numbers of trees, hedges, and areas of woodland within South Warwickshire and they hold significant value in respect of visual amenity, landscape character, habitats, and clean air, and are crucial to tacking climate change. We are supportive of the Local Plan’s policy direction to promote the retention of existing trees, woodlands, and hedgerows in the first instance as these take many decades to mature and realise their full benefits. It will also require the enhancement of sites with new tree planting as part of all development proposals. We are supportive that any proposed loss of trees in areas of historic significance (conservation areas, ancient woodlands, traditional orchards) must be based upon arboricultural evidence.

Yes

ID sylw: 107368

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Registered parks and gardens – The National Trust places in South Warwickshire all comprise an element of registered park and gardens. We are supportive of policy direction 43b which seeks to protect and where possible enhance registered parks and gardens, and provides support to efforts to reinstate landscape or built features which contribute positively to the historic interest of the park or garden.

Yes

ID sylw: 107369

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Special landscape areas – The National Trust properties located in Stratford-on-Avon District Council area are located within many of the designated special landscape areas which seek to protect, enhance, and facilitate better management of the best of the area's landscapes outside the Cotswolds National Landscape. The policy does this by resisting development proposals that would have a harmful effect on the distinctive character and appearance of the relevant SLA. Many of the National Trust properties in the South Warwickshire Local Plan area are integral to the character of such special landscapes and the special landscapes that they are found within contribute towards the special nature of these places.
The National Trust consider that there would be enormous benefit of the existing policy being applied to the whole of the South Warwickshire Local Plan area and would deliver considerable enhancements to the special landscape areas.

Other

ID sylw: 107370

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Protecting and enhancing landscape character – As set out above, the National Trust cares for places which are located within extraordinary landscapes, which contribute significantly to the setting of the heritage assets and the historic parks and gardens. The combination of the places within these landscapes delivers enormous public benefit in terms of visual amenity and health and wellbeing for our visitors. It is therefore essential that the landscape character is sought to be protected and enhanced. The National Trust are supportive of the establishment of Landscape Description Units (LDUs) which represent the landscape type in a specific location, for example soil, tree cover character, geology, topography, land use and settlement pattern. The LDUs refine the identification of special qualities of a landscape character area, and it is considered that these would be useful in considering development at National Trust properties, or development which may impact these places.
Whilst we are supportive of draft policy direction 48, which sets out that development will avoid detrimental effects on the landscape setting and on features which make a significant contribution to the character and setting of an asset, settlement or area, we do express some concern in respect of the criteria whereby development that could cause harm to landscape setting could be considered appropriate where there are over-riding benefits of the development, for instance to meet an evidenced local housing need. We note the requirement for major development to require a full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) to be undertaken to assess the impact of the development however we consider that due regard must be given to heritage impact assessment, and where minor development is proposed within close proximity of significant heritage assets, it may be appropriate that an LVIA would also be required to demonstrate that there would be no impact on the landscape character, or that the impact would be acceptable when appropriately mitigated.

We would request that the South Warwickshire Local Plan incorporates this amendment to ensure that nuance is applied to the assessment of developments within close proximity to highly designated place.

Other

ID sylw: 107371

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Trust

Agricultural land – The National Trust cares for agricultural land in some of our historic estates. With South Warwickshire being very rural in places, the agricultural nature is also considered characteristic of the landscape in many places. Draft policy direction 49 sets out that best and most versatile agricultural land should be protected from development. The National Trust support this policy, however, would consider that such an assessment should be required to be balanced against the criteria of the LNRS and BNG, as set out elsewhere in this response.