Issue and Options 2023
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New searchYes, Hill Residential support the overall Vision and Strategic Objectives for the SWLP. In order to meet the ambitious Vision, it will be important to ensure growth is located in the most sustainable locations and align with the Vision as closely as possible. It is likely that these locations will be located within the Green Belt, specifically is those locations identified along rail corridors – such as Hatton.
The South Warwickshire authorities state that “at this stage is it is difficult to identify stand out best performing options because they all perform best for different SA Objectives and rarely does one option emerge as a best overall option”. It should however be noted, that at this stage the assessment does not consider any mitigation which could have the effect of minimising any adverse impacts. Potential New Settlement Locations Figure 11, below, sets out how each of the potential new settlement locations performed within the Sustainability Appraisal (SA). The reference for Hatton is B1. Paragraph 6.16.1 of the SA provides a summary of findings for the potential new settlement locations and states that “the assessment of each indicator cannot be ‘added’ to create an overall score as this would be give a misleading indication of the level of impacts and the potential for mitigation. The summary table illustrates the worst performing indicator under each Objective.” Whilst Hill Residential support the overall approach to the SA, it is considered that the area of search identified in grey at section D.3 for Hatton is relatively small and should be increased in order to assess the correct scale of development required for a new settlement – this in turn would incorporate all land being promoted at Hatton New Community. We note that the mitigation potential for Hatton for the majority of the objectives and subsequent receptors state that mitigation is possible (M) or not required (-). The exception to this is ‘SA Objective 7: Natural Resources’ where the mitigation potential has been identified as “mitigate(M)/not possible (X)”. The proposed mitigation within the full assessment for Hatton for SA Objective 7 is generally supported and it is considered that any proposed locations for growth would score the same in relation to Agricultural Land and Mineral Safeguarding areas. Further work is now required to fully consider the potential mitigation for each of the new settlement locations and re-run the assessments. This will allow for further decisions to be made regarding the most appropriate location for a new settlement. This stage of works should be underpinned by suitable evidence-based documents and should be completed ahead of the Preferred Options consultation.
The estimation modelling has assumed that each of the new settlement option would deliver 6,000 homes and 30 hectares of employment. Whilst this assists in providing like for like conclusions, it does not provide a true picture of actual potential emissions arising from each location. The overall scale and potential to deliver key infrastructure will significantly impact the overall assessments for emissions. It is noted that some internalisation of trips have been considered as part of the 20- minute neighbourhood considerations. However it is considered that significant further analysis is required in order to fully understand how each of the options performs. Hatton New Community will be designed to keep people within the Site for purposes such as work, education, retail, leisure and socialising, rather than residents having to leave the new community– therefore reducing the number of external trips. An Internalisation and Containment Note has been prepared by Vectos (part of SLR) and is enclosed at Appendix 3. The Internalisation Note demonstrates the potential to deliver a successful and thriving new community at Hatton. Large-scale development prospers when designed in a coordinated manner, with the key placemaking and mobility features providing for truly socially inclusive communities that prosper and retain trips within the Site. In the case of Hatton New Community, local living is placed as the highest priority, followed by a movement hierarchy with convenience of single occupancy vehicular travel at the bottom. This creates an environment wherein local trips are encouraged and the effect of the development on the local highway network is minimised in terms of traffic impact. Development at Hatton New Community will enhance the existing range of shops and services and leisure facilities, and provide additional employment space, primary and secondary education along with mobility hubs, including open space. These all contribute to the internalisation of trips. The following will be provided to encourage internalisation: • Local Employment & Office space; • Home working facilities including broadband and local shops / cafés for lunches; • Co-working Hub providing access to hot-desks, Wi-Fi, and other office equipment. • Education including two primary schools, a secondary school and a Day Care; • Shopping (physical & online); • Supermarkets/Convenience Stores including home delivery; • Health: An on-site pharmacy and surgery; • Leisure: an array of leisure facilities ensuring that the first choice for the majority of recreation and sports activities will be within the village itself. • Greenspaces: parklands, attractive footpaths, jogging routes and places for dog walking; • Pub: A new local pub will be a focal point for socialising, food and entertainment; • Community Hubs / Recreational activities; • Allotments: For residents to grow their own flowers, fruit and vegetables. The south Warwickshire authorities are encouraged to progress the Emissions Estimations further prior to developing the Preferred Options consultation document for the SWLP.
Q-S5.2: New Settlements will play an important role in the overall strategy for the SWLP. New Settlements are an effective and sustainable way of meeting the challenges of delivering significant housing growth. Creating a new community can deliver significant benefits in relation to infrastructure, open space and homes for the residents of south Warwickshire. Section 3 of these representations (and the Vision Document enclosed at Appendix 1) sets out the unique opportunity of Hatton New Community, which will be able to provide benefits to future residents from day one. Q-S5.3: Hill Residential support the approach of considering Rail Corridors as a preferred approach to identifying potential new settlement locations. Building on the existing infrastructure is a logical approach and ensures that there is a sustainable mode of transport for residents from day one. As set out in our responses relating to the SA and Emissions Estimations, it is important to ensure that when considering Rail Corridors as a growth option, any assessment should be mindful that any development would be a large scale new settlement. This approach will ensure that all factors are assessed ‘in the round’. Q-S10: Hill Residential support the development distribution strategy for South Warwickshire. The SWLP is looking to develop a strategy to 2050, this would result in a significant housing requirement for the south Warwickshire authorities of over 48,000 homes (Based on trend-based housing projections set out at Table 15.1 of the Coventry and Warwickshire HEDNA (November 2022) and a plan period of 2021 to 2050). In order to deliver this scale of new development, it is important that the SWLP has a dynamic and forward looking distribution strategy. This strategy should include the allocation of at least one new settlement, in a sustainable location such as Hatton.
With regards to transport, ‘Rail Corridors’ was assessed as equal best for the reduction in car trips and equal on EV uptake. ‘Rail Corridors’ scored lower on the uptake of 20- minute neighbourhoods. Given that most of the new settlement options are located along ‘Rail Corridors’ it is not clear whether this has been correctly assessed. New settlements have a greater potential to deliver on site infrastructure and therefore 20- minutes neighbourhoods because of their scale. The South Warwickshire authorities are encouraged to progress the emissions estimations further prior to developing the Preferred Options consultation document for the SWLP.
It is agreed that boosting and diversifying the economy should be a strategic aim of the SWLP which should be underpinned by the Economic Needs Assessment and Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment. A key component is ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place to facilitate this and that enough housing is provided in the right location to support businesses, as set out in NPPF paragraph 20. Hatton could provide up 3,000 jobs (new and existing) in a range of technology-based businesses, assisting the SWLP with meeting their overall ambitions to strengthen and diversify the economy. Hatton New Community is at the heart of the ‘Innovation Region’ with great accessibility to the key centres of Warwick/Leamington, Coventry and Birmingham/Solihull. The pandemic has shown that, as well as supporting town centres, local authorities should be flexible to accommodate home-working and remote working from ‘third’ spaces so that we can reduce the need to travel unnecessarily for work. There will be times when access to higher order centres is needed, hence the adjacent Hatton station provides direct rail links to Warwick, Leamington, Birmingham and London. However, the Hatton New Community can provide workspaces and high speed broadband to enable home- and remote working to support healthy lifestyles and provide choice and flexibility.
Hill Residential generally support the proposed trend-based approach using the 2021 census data, which has resulted in an increase of 440 homes per year in comparison with the 2014-based projections. It will be important that the CWHMA authorities provide the adequate evidence and justification to support deviating from the current, and potentially future, standard method for calculating local housing need.
Hill Residential considers that there is an opportunity to increase the overall housing requirement for the plan period to help deliver a higher amount of affordable housing. Table 8.45 of the HEDNA states that WDC and SDC have a combined affordable annual need of 1,386 dwellings per year, this is a significant need and would justify a higher overall housing requirement to ensure that sufficient affordable homes are being provided throughout the plan period. Further, Warwick continues to suffer from poor housing affordability with a ratio of house price to earnings of 10.73, placing it in an area of very high demand as defined by the Letwin Review. Its affordability ratio has worsened by 42.6% since 2013, with recent delivery of 27.1%4 affordable housing against a 40% policy requirement. It is also relevant to note that constraints on the release of land for residential development, and in turn the provision of houses on that land (for sale or as affordable provision), can lead to increased house prices in an area. The Plan should therefore be focused on creating a policy environment that does not place undue constraints on sites that are allocated, thereby maintaining a supply that will in turn address issues of affordability. Affordable provision should be spread throughout any new settlement, with opportunities to deliver custom and self-build housing, and innovative methods of delivery such as community-led development. Q-H2.2: Whilst a single affordable housing policy for the SWLP should be considered as the most straightforward and universal approach, as set out at Option H2-2a, any policy requirement must allow for suitable viability testing on a site-by-site basis.
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