The Town Council welcomes the introduction of the additional sites to the equation of development within the preferred options of the Core Strategy, for if considered with the amber sites and those promulgated by the District, there is a very real opportunity for development to be allocation throughout the District, to meet local needs and provide residents with genuine options in respect of where they might choose to live.
The District Council is well aware, and hopefully will address the very strong dissatisfaction to the Core Strategy proposals revealed by the consultation, which indicated in excess of 90% opposition to the sites proposed by the District.
In particular with regard to those sites south of the river there was almost universal objection to the proposal to develop the land at Europa Way, which if developed would have the effect of creating a massed urban sprawl and the loss of the green space the distinguished and separates Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick and Whitnash.
The additional sites now give the District the opportunity to reflect the electorate's wishes and exclude the land at Europa Way from development despite identifying that site as a preferred option in the face of previously stated objections.
Further positive advantages, to development being located throughout the District, would be to minimised the effect of mass development on existing communities and reduced the major investment in infrastructure which will result from the Districts current proposals, which mass development and create a disproportionate impact on particular communities and residents.
Resulting from the previous consultation there has been nothing to indicate that the District are prepared to recognise that the proposals within the Core Strategy are not acceptable but to repeat this latest consultation regarding other sites, does not give that opportunity.
The Town Council therefore recommend that:
i. The District Council concede the Core Strategy proposals are not acceptable to the community
ii. Review the Core Strategy by giving greater priority to the earlier development of 'brown field' sites
iii. Seek to direct development across the District to provide real housing choice and avoid the creation of continuous urban sprawl, which would result from the implementation of the proposals contained in the Core Strategy. Additionally, this option would ease the problems of infrastructure requirements relating to transport, traffic and roads, schools and education and health provision.
iv. Recognise the traditional separation of the historic town's which make up much of the District, whilst not impinging on rural areas.
v. Reduce the need to take in more green field sites, by the concentrating development on 'brown field' sites.
Finally, and this remains an issue which the District fail to address, is to give details of why the District Council considers that GOWM population projections are 'unrealistic' and make a clear statement on the District Council's projected population growth for the period covered by the 'Core Strategy'.
It would therefore follow that the District Council would then be able to develop a residential strategy, which would reflect real anticipated growth, and support the wishes of the community, demonstrated in the replies to the consultation on the Core Strategy.