Issue and Options 2023

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Issue B8: Agricultural Land QB8.1: Do you agree that the plan should include a policy avoiding development on the best and most versatile agricultural land, unless it can be demonstrated that the harm to agricultural land is clearly outweighed by the benefit of development? The Church Commissioners recognises the need to retain the highest quality agricultural land. However, this must be balanced against other needs across South Warwickshire, including the need to provide sufficient market and affordable homes. 9.4 Any policy should therefore seek to retain Grade 1 Excellent Quality agricultural land, whilst development on all other agricultural qualities should be taken on a case by case basis, dependent on the merits of the proposal.

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Q-P1.1: Do you agree with the proposed broad content of the Part 1 Plan? 10.1 The Church Commissioners broadly supports the broad content of the Part 1 Plan, however reiterates that there remains a large amount of evidence required to understand all the topics listed. Furthermore, it is important that the content is clear in terms of what is deemed as a strategic policy at this level. Those identified strategic policies also need to be reflective and appropriate for future allocations that may be identified within the Part 2 Local Plan.

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Q-P1.3: Do you agree with the selection of policies to be addressed in the Part 1 Plan? 10.2 The wording in Tables 20 and 21 is too brief, especially considering the associated explanation listed in Table 19 states that it could mean adjusting or re-working a policy, or creating a new policy on the same subject. The Church Commissioners is concerned Table 20 has been generated based on the evidence conducted to date, greater information and evidence base should be generated to underpin the Part 1 Local Plan. In addition, all policies should be viability tested, to ensure they are deliverable and achievable. In addition, those policies stated as some elements to be addressed in Part 1, with the remaining be Part 2, it is unclear which elements are to be addressed where and why. 10.3 The Church Commissioners reiterates that the Part 1 Local Plan should be based upon strategic policies only, to set out where and how much development should take place across South Warwickshire, with detailed policies to follow within Part 2.