Q-E11: Please add any comments you wish to make about delivering South Warwickshire's economic needs

With Brexit we need our national economy to survive. South Warwickshire is an integral part of the nation and its economy should be treated seriously by the powers that be.

With a finite land supply, the only way for the local plan to deliver its sustainability objective is to implement policies to prevent population growth. This area has such a low unemployment rate that the only unemployed are likely to be people who are temporarily between jobs or people with issues that will prevent them from ever having a job. Therefore, once policies to maintain a static population are implemented, no further jobs need to be created in Warwickshire.

South Warwickshire needs balanced sustainable development. Planning policy cannot artificially suppress economic development which will lead to secondary social and environmental benefits by limiting development to only a select few types of development in a select few places. Spreading development has economic benefits, reduces congestion, air pollution issues and increases opportunity.

Care should be taken to prevent residents of South Warwickshire routinely travelling out of area for employment and the appropriate infrastructure to encourage employment generation within the area should feature in forward plans. However as the residents of much of South Warwickshire are both elderly and live in the rural areas, employment should not be the only criteria for a sustainable future.

There should be a presumption against new out-of-town retail. Retail needs to recognise that it is part of a community and cannot simply claim to fulfill its own needs. The growth in out-of-town retail has further disadvantaged those not able to travel by car and threatens to amplify issues around air quality, obesity and traffic levels given it is so focussed on the use of private cars for access, without any consideration for its neighbours.

Develop sites in and around towns. South Warwickshire does not have the infrastructure to do otherwise. New roads and bypasses are urgently needed. Workers spend too long getting to and from work - production suffers.

This of local people and existing residents needs which aren’t being met

As per earlier comments, town centres are in need of regeneration and evidence from cities that have successfully regenerated is that it starts with housing. Town centres grew up around retail, but much of this has been replaced by online. Housing is badly needed and town centres provide an ideal location. Around this service businesses will growe, not just retail. If this plan intends to cover the period to 2050 then it must take into account the changing world. People no longer go into town centres to shop

Commercial interests will dictate the economic prospects for Warwickshire. Money will follow the profit margin in a global economy, so to bring further investment to towns or general commercial business a process of reducing the costs of overhead columns would be critical. A shop, restaurant or pub needs to be economically viable for it to survive, so reducing the overheads on those business is essential. Equally in industrial business imposing extra costs of green levy's etc will drive companies away...!!!

Use empty office buildings - ie Barrack Street Warwick - Riverside House Leamington

Existing hotel accommodation in and around Leamington & Warwick is of relatively poor quality - at least one Hotel of a higher standard is desirable.

The Issues and Options document does not make it clear how the various strands it considers will be drawn together to ensure a coherent and effective economic strategy for South Warwickshire is delivered. This must be remedied in future drafts of the emerging Plan. As expressed elsewhere in these representations the evidence base inadequately expresses the need for economic development for reasons including that it does not address suppressed demand. There is some disconnect between the Spatial Growth Options, the treatment of Major Investment Sites, and the concept of the Core Opportunity Area. This is compounded by a lack of clarity around Green Belt review, and some apparent misunderstanding of how major extant permissions relate to the Green Belt. In part this is a function of the Issues and Options process which is necessarily exploratory in its nature. However, to some extent this does act to prevent a clear narrative being established in representations about the direction consultees wish the Plan to take. For clarity, it is CAL’s position that the Airport should be included as a Major Investment Site. Specific policy support should be provided for development and growth there. This should feed in to a Spatial Growth Option supportive of the economy whilst also encouraging sustainable transport, which in turn dovetails with promotion of the Core Opportunity Area. This should also include removal of the Airport from the Green Belt. Its continued Green Belt status is an anomaly, it performs no meaningful Green Belt function, and this only serves to undermine the very great potential of this site to accommodate growth and contribute significantly to meeting South Warwickshire’s development needs.

The burden of centralised taxation deters many businesses from operating in towns and cities. Specifically, business rates are set centrally. Much more lobbying must be done change this and to increase local taxation.

The consultation document creates a new 'Core Opportunity Area' (COA) in the centre of South Warwickshire. This would be the focus of internal and external investment in the area. However, this doesn't include Henley-In-Arden, despite the intention across all five Spatial Growth Options that we would be required to grow by 1,000-4,000 new homes. There seems to be a mismatch between the COA plans and the housing growth options. It also suggests the Plan and SDC/WDC are not interested in economic growth outside of the COA. The current draft South Warwickshire Economic Development Strategy states that the COA will be 'the focus for attracting strategically significant inward investment to drive forward the South Warwickshire economy' and 'Areas outside of the Core Investment Opportunities Area remain suitable for more local investment opportunities' (p24). This ignores other parts of South Warwickshire, including Henley, Shipston-on-Stour, Studley and Kingswood. The Plan shouldn't determine that we need a significant increase in housing in one area and then disconnect it from inward investment and economic opportunities. It would make more sense to build additional housing in the COA if this is where new job creation will be focused and not in or around Henley. The consultation outlines a number of Major Investment Sites. This includes WASPs. WASPs' site at Henley-In-Arden is not mentioned. There is no indication given on the potential implication of WASPs being classified as a major investment site for wider planning or for Henley in particular. Clarity is needed on the opportunities and implications of this designation. It is questionable if WASPs should be classified as a major investment site. In addition to my answer on E5. There also needs to be an appreciation of how hybrid working has changed many jobs and the need for WeWork-style hot desking options in South Warwickshire.

Maintain latest telecomms standards across the area- Broadband 5G/6G etc

Further commentary to Issue E6: We support Option E6a, to include a policy which generally protects South Warwickshire’s economic assets but such policies must always be written flexibly to allow for changes in circumstances and provide criteria for acceptable land use change. Further commentary to Issue E7: We support the inclusion of a policy that would direct employment to the Core Opportunity Area, as identified. This will help provide spatial clarity to the economic strategy and help to focus growth in the most appropriate locations

Growth seems to be used as an umbrella term for economic activity. Not all "growth" is desirable. Growth within South Warwickshire should prioritise local need and skills, with green growth at the top of the list. Growth which feeds globalisation is not appropriate. While this draft gives references to other aspects of life in South Warwickshire and introduces green issues, please think long and hard about the future for our grandchildren. 2050 is now very near, decisions made on the basis of our answers and your thinking need to be viable for 50 years not just 25. The political cycle can impose short term thinking. IT WILL NOT SERVE.

The statement in the Issues and Options document that "there are few aspects of tourism that have an effect on the spatial planning of an area" is not the case. Tourism has very significant effects in respect of spatial planning, impacting directly on economic, environmental, transport and movement, infrastructure, employment and other matters. We know from our discussions with community representatives in Henley-in-Arden that there is a desire from the community to see the town’s tourism economy grow. Forward Group and Alderley Holdings Trust’s 2050 Vision sets out how a long-term, positively planned extension to the town could provide an enhanced tourism offer to increase dwell times in the town and makes the most of Henley-in-Arden’s heritage and unique assets, such as The Mount. Tourism is important to the Local Plan area and should be more significant than it is. Strategic land use planning policy should actively support, provide for and encourage the sustainable growth and management of tourism, in all of its detail: from local part-day and day trips from within and outside the local community, through to longer visits from outside the local community. Done well, this can positively impact on employment, retail, heritage, biodiversity, culture, public transport and a diverse range of other things. Forward Group and Alderley Holdings Trust’s 2050 Vision sets out how a long-term, positively planned extension to the town could provide an enhanced tourism offer to increase dwell times in the town and makes the most of Henley-in-Arden’s heritage and unique assets, such as The Mount, providing for conservation and enhancement.

Q-E1.1: Yes, the HEDNA is an appropriate starting point for identifying future levels of employment need across South Warwickshire, although there is some concern that the methodology employed underplays the total needs. It is clear from the HEDNA that there are two types of economic need: local and strategic. The HEDNA states that at a district level in respect of Warwick District Council, there is a need for 97ha of office and general industrial need. Q-E6: We support Option E6a, to include a policy which generally protects South Warwickshire’s economic assets but such policies must always be written flexibly to allow for changes in circumstances and provide criteria for acceptable land use change. Q-E7.1: - We support the inclusion of a policy that would direct employment to the Core Opportunity Area, as identified. This will help provide spatial clarity to the economic strategy and help to focus growth in the most appropriate locations.

Policies supporting small-scale employment opportunities are particularly important. They would help the development of opportunities in rural areas which in turn would support the diversification of the rural economy, and reduce the need for people to travel for work.

Possibly too much emphasis on travel and emissions. This will change over time as electric and hydrogen vehicles are introduced. Progression in office and warehouse space as small businesses expand.

The Canal & River Trust is the charity which looks after and brings to life 2000 miles of canals & rivers. Our waterways contribute to the health and wellbeing of local communities and economies, creating attractive and connected places to live, work, volunteer and spend leisure time. These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the strategic and local green-blue infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats. By caring for our waterways and promoting their use we believe we can improve the wellbeing of our nation. The Trust is a statutory consultee in the Development Management process. Within South Warwickshire we operate of 80km of canals, comprising parts of the North Stratford, South Stratford, Oxford and Grand Union Canals. The canal network is an important visitor attraction in its own right, as well as providing links to other visitor destinations and attractions in the locality. Appropriate and sensitive development can help to enhance this role and encourage more visitors to the area by making it an attractive environment for boaters choosing to travel along this part of the canal network. Provision of facilities and links to other attractions can encourage boaters to break their journey, whether for the day or to moor their boats for overnight stays, in order to use facilities and to visit other attractions in the locality. To fully realise this potential, it is important to encourage appropriate canalside development and to make provision for boat moorings, as well as improving the connectivity between the canal and the surrounding areas. The Trust considers that this could be achieved through the inclusion of either specific canal-related policies within the Part 2 Local Plan and/or through explicit consideration of the role that the canal network can play within wider leisure, recreation and tourism policies.

There should be a presumption against new out-of-town retail. Retail needs to recognise that it is part of a community and cannot simply claim to fulfill its own needs. The growth in out-of-town retail has further disadvantaged those not able to travel by car and threatens to amplify issues around air quality, obesity and traffic levels given it is so focussed on the use of private cars for access, without any consideration for its neighbours.

There is an over reliance on Warwick University and JLR to drive the local economy. More diversity is required.

After the fanfare of the benefits of new companies coming into South Warwickshire, their tenure can be short-lived. For example where is the Rosalind Franklin lab now? How much "investment"came from local coffers? What can the council do to avoid short term durations? "Rosalind Franklin Laboratory – The UK's first testing megalab and one of the centrepieces of UK's future test and trace infrastructure. When fully staffed, the laboratory will play a key role in providing employment opportunities in the local area creating up to 1,500 jobs."

The plan should also include a policy relating to encouraging the development of the latest technological standards relating to broadband and telecoms

Note following comments in relation to Issue E1 and the HEDNA, that identified the need for a proportion of the 709 hectares of strategic B8 employment land (i.e. warehousing and distribution) identified for the wider Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region to be addressed, the subsequent supporting text for the Gaydon M40 J12 Major Investment Area does not address this issue. NWBC would raise concerns with the SWLP reference to Gaydon Area/M40 Junction 12 in relation to the comments the Plan makes (page 89) regarding the location and Logistics/B8 potential opportunity. The Issues and Options document/Plan text states as follows; “This automotive hub is home to the iconic British brands Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Lagonda. In addition to the economic activities on the Gaydon proving ground, circa 105ha of land has been allocated in the Core Strategy for employment purposes. Through the SWLP, there is an opportunity to capitalise on the existing economic base and grow this area with further automotive-related manufacturing (i.e. Use Class B2). Whilst well-located to the M40, we do not see this location as appropriate for strategic logistic uses (i.e. Use Class B8).” The Gaydon Area / M40 Junction 12 should not be excluded as a potential opportunity for strategic logistic uses. The main motorway junctions have previously been highlighted within regional strategic employment studies as having clear potential and as appropriate locations for strategic logistic uses. The site also has clear cross linkage and economic supply relationships between logistic uses and the adjoining automotive hub manufacturing and development activities at this location. Such uses should not be seen as “mutually exclusive” in policy or locational terms in these strategic locations. It is considered that the Gaydon Area / M40 Junction 12 major investment area could potentially address ‘a proportion of the 709 hectares of strategic B8 employment land (i.e. warehousing and distribution) identified for the wider Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region’ as stated in the Issues and Options document/Plan text. Similarly, other Core Opportunity Area and Major Investment Sites identified the following are also considered relevant suitable and potential areas for addressing a proportion of the 709 hectares of strategic B8 Logistics element employment land (i.e. warehousing and distribution) identified in the HEDNA for the wider Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region (to be added to main comments contained in Appendix 1 to LDF Sub-committee report) including; South of Coventry Area – particularly the area around the airport, supported by the significant transport infrastructure improvements, implemented and ongoing. Wellesbourne Area – potential for some additional strategic logistics uses could be considered and supporting B8 uses (smaller scale) accommodated, in relationship with on-site B2 and research and development activities. Long Marston Area – As noted in the supporting text to Issue E7, The Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre’s connection to the national rail network, provides a unique opportunity to act as a catalyst for growth. It is considered this growth potential should include consideration for B8 strategic logistics opportunities given the national rail network link. The opportunity for a more sustainable links with Logistics operators on this site/area at an active rail hub should be considered/referenced. Stoneleigh Area – again the links, potential future improvements to transport infrastructure noted and its location and relationship with south Coventry area, the site should not be precluded/excluded from consideration of its potential to accommodate some of the wider strategic B8 needs identified.

Policies supporting small-scale employment opportunities are particularly important. They would help the development of opportunities in rural areas which in turn would support the diversification of the rural economy, and reduce the need for people to travel for work.

Transport to town centres has a major impact on the economy of the town. A detail transport plan is required for each area, specifically Stratford-upon-Avon, which aims to increase the ease of travel into the town, but reduce the dominance of cars in the centre. This requires a combination of modes, with park and ride, active travel, inner shoppers car parks, outer long stay car parks, rail, and transport hubs to deliver seemless attractive journeys.

The document is missing a concise yet comprehensive problem statement. The Local Plan should be geared towards solving existing problems as it is to identifying new opportunity.