Issue and Options 2023

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.

The modelling demonstrates that the most appropriate spatial growth option for the SWLP is to focus on the growth of existing settlements with a railway station and with scope to provide for the types of employment and housing growth that will help to sustain South Warwickshire in the future. Henley-in-Arden comprises one such settlement with a significant landholding under a single ownership that can meet not only Henley-in-Arden’s but Stratford’s economic and social needs for the next decade and beyond.

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Yes

It is noted that an Addendum has been published clarifying the potential for a "New Settlement" near Tamworth in Arden. This is an inappropriate isolated location for a new settlement and compares poorly to the potential at Henley-in-Arden, as below. Henley-in-Arden is an existing settlement, where there should be sustainable growth to help sustain a thriving community. This should be in the form of a sustainable extension, that is not the same thing as a "New Settlement." It is essential (see response to V3 and see Henley-in-Arden Vision document) that rail corridors form the preferred approach to identifying potential locations for development. However - it is also essential that new development takes place close to (say within 20 minutes walking distance) of an existing railway station. It is unrealistic to base new development around the creation of a new railway station - a new railway station is highly unlikely to be developed within the plan period. This is one of many reasons why a new settlement - isolated from any existing settlement - represents an inappropriate development strategy. The 2050 Vision by Forward Group and Alderley Holdings Trust demonstrates how a long-term approach to the delivery of sustainable growth on land under a single ownership can meet not only Henley-in-Arden’s but Stratford’s economic and social needs for the next decade and beyond.

Whilst the intelligent regeneration of brownfield land must form part of any forward-looking land use plan, care is required to ensure that brownfield land does not become an inappropriate reference point to prevent sustainable development from coming forward. The idea of “intensification” areas of development outlined in S2 is an example of where a lack of clarity can result in poor planning outcomes. Waves of urban intensification have seen major decline in living conditions – including through reduced privacy, increased overlooking, harm to outlook, increased noise and disturbance, increased congestion, reduced greenery, a loss of heritage, open space, harm to attractive uniformity – an almost endless list, whereby previously beautiful urban areas have been inappropriately intensified, to the harm of occupiers. Building houses in gardens and cramming flats into tight sites does not result in the best planning outcomes. At the same time, there are swathes of land of little biodiversity quality that could provide for beautiful development. Unfortunately, the clamour from existing communities to “protect green fields” often leads to poor planning outcomes that despoil urban areas under the guise of protecting something that doesn’t exist (some kind of emotive “green paradise”). This approach inevitably leads to planning by appeal, resulting in the development of lowest common denominator of speculative unplanned estates of housing that – because they are unplanned - fail to bring with them necessary infrastructure etc. Plan-making needs to look forward, not backwards. This requires making good use of appropriate brownfield land, but more importantly, it requires the boldness of vision to plan for genuinely sustainable development. It would be refreshing to see a SWLP that actively plans for the future by balancing sensitive green field release for sustainable development alongside appropriate brownfield development.

The SWLP should focus on the ability to enhance existing transport infrastructure, with an emphasis on rail and good access. The reality is that, by the end of the plan period, the majority of journeys will be made by a mix of private electric vehicles and public transport. Railways and stations provide a pre-existing HUB, normally within an active service centre, where public and private transport most effectively and efficiently meet. Pre-existing transport infrastructure underpins viability and deliverability and sustainable growth should occur around transport hubs. This then has multi-benefits. Take the example of Henley-in-Arden - sustainable growth will revitalise a declining settlement, reinvigorating services, facilities and providing for major investment into infrastructure, notably active movement, environment, heritage, community etc, thus providing for an upward spiral of re-investment. Henley-in-Arden's existing public transport infrastructure would be greatly enhanced, providing for sustainable movement patterns locally, regionally and nationally. As major transport (and other) infrastructure is in place and the settlement is well-located with excellent access, investment can focus on enhancement, thus providing for greater viability. It is for this reason that we strongly support the spatial strategy set-out in the SWLP Issues and Options documentation, which identified Henley-in-Arden’s five spatial growth options under consideration.Further, the availability of significant tracts of land for biodiversity net gain, heritage enhancement, employment, development, infrastructure improvements etc, all within a single ownership with a willing landowner, focused on legacy development, provides for deliverability. Viability and deliverability are essential plan-making requirements (Para 16 NPPF) and the example of Henley-in-Arden demonstrates how the SWLP's approach can successfully achieve viable and deliverable infrastructure within the context of sustainable development.

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No

A Vision should be bold and aspirational. Given the content and aims set out in the supporting information published, the Vision should not mince words, but be clear in stating that the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP): "Will achieve net zero across the Local Plan area." That is a Vision. Anything less is a compromise. Simply referring to how development should "take every opportunity" represents a hesitant approach. It does not require the achievement of net zero but rather, it attempts to deal with climate change whilst increasing the scope for failing to actually do so. This is unfortunate, as it is clear that the SWLP is being prepared with the best intentions and that it does want to plan for positive change. Also, in reality, truly innovative and Visionary projects are already looking to go beyond net zero – whether through carbon sequestration or other methods. By the end of the plan period, simply achieving zero carbon could be seen as a missed opportunity. Across the country, there are a number of landowners and developers actively looking to take the lead in achieving and going beyond net zero. Landowners who are rooted in and who invest in their communities – with a focus on building beautifully, thinking in generational terms and providing long-lasting legacy development. One example is the Forward Group and Alderley Holdings Trust which has set-out a long-term vision to create a thriving and sustainable community at Henley-in-Arden (see separate vision document). This is the way to achieve sustainable development and the SWLP should set out a Vision that seeks to not only provide for this, but to ensure that all development achieves something better, through truly sustainable development. Given this, there is a real opportunity for the SWLP to grasp the nettle and to set out a genuine Vision. The SWLP goes on to identify the potential for aspirational approaches aimed at achieving better development outcomes. The Vision needs to reflect this by stepping up and setting out a much bolder approach.

Yes

Henley-in-Arden Please see the related "Henley-in-Arden Vision." This sets out how and why Henley-in-Arden provides for sustainable growth; and why the growth of Henley-in-Arden should form part of the overall strategy of the SWLP. Please note re: settlement analysis, the former golf course area is incorrectly labelled as "green infrastructure" - this area relates to a former private golf course and buildings, incorporating brownfield land. Effectively the golf course area provides an important resource for the delivery of sustainable development within 10 minutes of Henley town centre and railway station. As per the Henley-in-Arden Vision, the development of this area of land provides for the creation of new areas for biodiversity, recreation, leisure and green and blue infrastructure, as part of a comprehensive and wholistic approach to sustainable development.

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Yes

The SWLP should co-operate with neighbours and help to meet the needs of Birmingham and the Black Country. Doing so will bring significant economic, environmental and social benefits to the area. Not doing so will be to the disbenefit of South Warwickshire, Birmingham and the Black Country.

The shortfalls should be met as part of the approach to Spatial Growth - most appropriately in extensions of up to 2500 homes to the most sustainable existing settlements in the area. These are the settlements in accessible locations with railway stations and with scope to expand employment provision alongside enhancements to biodiversity, heritage, community and so on. The Henley-in-Arden Vision document demonstrates how this can be achieved in an appropriate manner.