Yes

ID sylw: 107516

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We recognise that the SWLP is to meet a range of needs across different sectors. Gypsies, travellers, travelling show people and boat dwellers are an important components to overall needs.
The Councils should consider the strategy for delivering such needs. Specific sites could be identified for these needs, as an alternative or in combination with delivery such needs on spatial growth sites. If spatial growth sites are intended to assist in delivering these needs, site size thresholds require careful consideration, we question whether the as drafted site size threshold of 500 units is appropriate and whether a higher threshold is justified. Effects on deliverability caused by a housing allocation being constructed alongside a site for this need will also need consideration, as this is not a use class normally delivered by housebuilders on large scale predominantly residential housing developments and could slow the planned delivery in line with the trajectory.

Yes

ID sylw: 107517

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We support the approach to the Core Opportunity Area, as a focus for investment in and creation of significant quantities of economic activity.
We note that Stratford town is a key part of the Core Opportunity Area, which we consider is entirely justified given its role as the financial administrative retail and leisure centre of the plan area. Consequently, we consider that Stratford should operate as the key location for housing in the SWLP, so as to co-locate housing and economic activity which is an inherently sustainable approach to land use. This is in addition to the significant role housing building plays in delivering economic activity in and of itself, at both construction and operational stages.

Yes

ID sylw: 107518

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We broadly support this policy direction. Existing cultural, tourist and leisure facilities should be protected and wherever enhanced. These cover a wide range of assets, including both built form and recreational sites such as the Welcombe Hills.
Co-locating new development in proximity to such assets has significant advantages, since new patronage supports the role of the asset and furthers people’s recognition of, and value placed in the asset. Co location also provides the opportunity for assets to be integrated into a strategic scale masterplan for an area, and in so doing justifies consideration being given to asset enhancement via financial contributions to upgraded facilities therein, or the provision of new facilities upon a new development to serve the existing asset.
Clopton Quarter is located adjacent to the Welcombe Hills Park. Davidsons Homes propose to enhance the connectivity of this area of Stratford into the Park through the provision of additional links.

No

ID sylw: 107519

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We wish to place a holding objection in relation to this policy direction, absent of having a full understanding as to how realistic this policy direction is and whether it should be scaled back to align with the current Building Regulations. Whilst the policy could support proposals that meet the net zero carbon standard and additional planning weight may be given to such proposals by the decision maker, to require all new buildings to meet this standard at this time could be undeliverable. Our concern is that the products do not exist given that Building Regulations do not require this higher target as standard. We would wish to work with the Councils in developing this element of the SWLP further.

Yes

ID sylw: 107520

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We broadly support the application of Design Codes, in varying degrees of detail, consistent with the nature of the code itself - be it area wide or site specific.
Design Codes should however be prepared in consultation with promoters as key stakeholders, to ensure the code is proportionate and appropriate. Codes should support promoter’s objectives, where one site might be being delivered with a focus on GI and lower density development whereas another site might be being delivered at a higher density and seeking to support an off-site cultural asset.
A skeletal Design Code could form part of a Statement of Common ground prepared between the Councils and site promoters, applying the approach we have set out in responding to Policy Direction 5.
In all cases Design Codes should have regard to NDMP’s introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

Yes

ID sylw: 107521

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We support the SWLP approach to prioritising access to public transport, walking and cycling routes.
Policy Direction 31 should also reference park and ride options as contributing to sustainable transport accessibility.
The provisions of Policy Direction 31 illustrate the objections we have made in respect of applying a sequential approach to Green Belt release and delivering brownfield land before considering green field release – our underlying objection is that broader sustainability considerations must outweigh any notion of sequential site release. An inherently sustainable approach is to minimise reliance on the private car, rather than determining development strategy by reference to a policy designation (Green Belt) which itself is for review as part of the SWLP.
Applying the provisions of Policy Direction 31 it is clear that focussing development on the main towns, and locations at the main towns which have good connections including in relation to park and ride facilities, is a sound and justifiable approach.

Yes

ID sylw: 107522

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We support the provisions of Policy Direction 43c, specifically in relation to the need for new development to deliver new open spaces. However, the guidance for new open spaces should be provided now, to enable GI strategies to be applied to Design Codes and a broader site by site assessment as to infrastructure delivery, site yield and overall site viability and thus deliverability.
We support a broad range approach to open space typologies, including in relation to food production via community orchards and allotments and access to existing footpath links to wider existing open space such as the Welcombe Hills.

Yes

ID sylw: 107523

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We support the provisions of Policy Direction 43c, specifically in relation to the need for new development to deliver new open spaces. However, the guidance for new open spaces should be provided now, to enable GI strategies to be applied to Design Codes and a broader site by site assessment as to infrastructure delivery, site yield and overall site viability and thus deliverability.
We support a broad range approach to open space typologies, including in relation to food production via community orchards and allotments and access to existing footpath links to wider existing open space such as the Welcombe Hills.

No

ID sylw: 107524

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We support the requirement that all new development should comply with the NDSS.
However, we make detailed objections to the provisions of Policy A.
It should not be a requirement that all 1 and 2 bedroom affordable homes be built with bedrooms capable of accommodating 2 occupiers in each bedroom. The NDSS expressly provides for a 2 bedroom 3 person home. From experience, 1 bedroom properties are largely taken up by single occupants.
Furthermore, we object to 100% of all new open market housing achieving M4(2) standards. This is a disproportionate requirement, it is not evidenced as being a requirement of the SWLP, and as a result we would suggest a maximum of 50% of all new affordable housing being required to achieve this standard.

No

ID sylw: 107525

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Davidsons Homes

Asiant : Cerda Planning Ltd

We object in principle to this policy.
Self-build plots meets a specific need within the SWLP area, and it is appropriate to plan for the delivery of self-build properties, however the provision of 5% of all sites of 100 houses or more is a wholly unacceptable approach to delivering on need.
Self-build plots set within spatial growth sites will result in sites becoming piecemeal, it will be more challenging to first development and then implement Design Coding, our experience is that self-build demand is low where such plots are set within a much larger strategic scale development, the servicing of individual plots becomes problematic, and given the inherent risk associated with the set aside and delivery of self-build plots it makes the commitment to infrastructure and delivery of homes in accordance with the trajectory more difficult.
The alternative approach is for the SWLP to expressly allocate sites specifically for the delivery of self-build plots and no other purposes. In this way Design Codes can be prepared reflective of the specifics of the delivery of self-build plots, planning permissions can be granted with site specific conditions and obligations which are bespoke to the nature of self-building, and infrastructure requirements and delivery triggers drafted in a manner reflective of the timing issues around self-build delivery.