Yes

ID sylw: 108944

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC fully support this policy.

Yes

ID sylw: 108945

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC supports this approach.

Yes

ID sylw: 108946

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

Warwickshire’s residents and businesses require high speed reliable broadband
provision and mobile network connectivity which are essential foundations for
economic growth and prosperity.

Development proposals will be expected to provide the infrastructure for broadband
and mobile communications as essential utilities.
Broadband Provision

Residential and commercial developments including change of use or conversion
of existing buildings will be expected to deliver:
• Gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure using 'fibre to the premises' from a minimum of two fixed broadband providers, one of which is required to be a wholesale passive broadband provider.
• Alternative gigabit-capable technologies, where justified, for reasons including viability, distance from the network or other constraints preventing 'fibre to the premises'.

Mobile and Fixed Wireless Network Provisions

Residential and commercial developments will be expected to:
• Maintain and improve connectivity to mobile voice and data communications networks.
• Assign provision of land, in conjunction with lead authority and mobile network operators, on new settlement sites specifically for the development of new mobile infrastructure.
• Ensure that new mobile and fixed wireless network equipment is appropriately located and sympathetically designed to reduce their visual impacts on the surrounding area.
• Ensure that where technical evidence justifies the provision of new installations for mobile and fixed wireless infrastructure, the new infrastructure will be of appropriate scale and capacity for current and future mobile generations (2G, 4G, 5G, 6G and beyond).
• Demonstrate that new mobile installations or adaptations (including the addition of network apparatus) will safeguard public health in relation to the individual effects of the new proposal and the cumulative effects of all network facilities in that location.

Delivering high quality, digital infrastructure that meets the needs of businesses and communities is a key priority within Warwickshire's Economic Growth Strategy. This recognises that the provision of the best available digital connectivity is also an essential utility for businesses and communities. The intention is to ensure that mobile connectivity and broadband provision across Warwickshire meets the needs of employers and residents, in how they choose to work and live. Ultimately reducing the carbon footprint of residents and businesses across Warwickshire.

Connectivity is an essential utility and should be provided to communities as a means to support their quality of life, to facilitate social inclusion and to reduce the need to travel to access work, services and leisure opportunities. This connectivity should now be provided as an integral component of new development to secure the long-term social and economic vitality and viability of Warwickshire's communities. Warwickshire County Council recognises the need to balance the delivery of the best available connectivity to high-quality communications infrastructure with the viability of new development proposals within any relevant 'cost cap' per dwelling for connection to electronic communication, network connections

The provision of new digital infrastructure and gigabit-capable access will support agile working, a reduction in commuting and the growth of smart home technology to enable businesses and communities to contribute towards a cleaner and healthier environment and a reduction of their 'carbon footprint'

Other

ID sylw: 108947

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC supports the Draft Policy Direction noting the wider Protected Sites Hierarchy and Green Infrastructure assets, albethey not referenced as such and thereby the supporting text will need to be clear on what these are. It is also suggested that species safeguarding has it only section either a policy or part of a wider Natural Environment Policy. There is a reference to LBAP species but not habitats, yet it should be noted that these are to be refined within the LNRS process. Similarly, the LNRS may identify species or habitats of particular importance to South Warwickshire, which could be referenced within the policy to assist with their safeguarding.

Other

ID sylw: 108948

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC supports this direction, see above Policy Direction 36. As Supporting Authorities but WDC and SDC are having meaningful discussions into its preparation and this should include how to represent 'Wildbelts' or similar into the mapping and subsequent policies or supporting text.

Other

ID sylw: 108949

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC supports this policy direction noting that the spatial offsetting hierarchy as laid out in the Green Infrastructure Annex A (to be consulted upon post LNRS discussion) has a finer nuance at each level relating to strategic areas, however, the broad approach is correct. It is also noted that a greater BNG percentage is being explored and would suggest that this is explored in context with the Environmental Net Gain policy direction 39. Should the ENG policy proceed at pace then the in combination affect of a BNG policy with Nature market compensation approaches will deliver wider environmental benefits greater than the BNG 10% statutory requirement.

Other

ID sylw: 108950

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC supports this approach and will work with WDC and SDC to develop these markets. A number of Nature Markets are currently in development and will be consulted upon in Annex A of the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Yes

ID sylw: 108951

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC supports this policy direction and glad welcomes the use of the sub-regional Green Infrastructure Strategy and the evidence base, if not a SPD in its own right.

Other

ID sylw: 108952

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

Carbon Sinks and Sequestration can only be limited at this stage due to the extent of its early-stage development. However, there are some key points to consider when developing this policy:

Not all sinks are equal in their capacity to store carbon and their speed of storage. Enhancing carbon sinks should take account of options that favour capacity and speed alongside storage permanence.

There is the danger that an enhanced focus on sequestration leads to increasing monoculture and reductions in biodiversity. Harmonised solutions need to be found.
Alternatives to nature-based solutions are available and should be considered as part of a suite of options with high permanence cost effective engineered solutions being optimal.

WCC Supports this policy approach although is presently unsure how it will be enacted in combination with other policy directions.

Other

ID sylw: 108953

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

WCC is supportive of the planting of new trees on future developments. This will not only support habitats but they will also support flood mitigation.

WCC Ecology supports the approach a laid out, however, it is not clear in the approach what compensation (if any) will be required should a development not meet the policy requirements.