Interim Sustainability Appraisal

Object

Representation ID: 57022

Received: 29/07/2013

Respondent: Gleeson Developlments Ltd and Sundial Group

Agent: Savills (L&P) Ltd

The consideration of the Options for the Distribution of Sites for Housing refer to the potential impact on heritage to the east of Kenilworth.

However, in the options with less development at Kenilworth the SA report states that the impact on the heritage assets will be less. This is not necessarily the case and will depend on the layout and location of the proposed housing not just the quantum.

Paragraph 4.58 of the SA Report refers to Thickthorn and confirms the potential long term negative impact on Thickthorn Manor and Stables which are Grade II listed buildings. Parts to the north-east of the site are also within a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The document identifies the need for buffer strips around the woodland and along the edge of the A46.

Paragraphs 4.107 - 4.109 refer to sites K18 and K19. The SA should refer more precisely to sites K17 and K19 which is in the control of Gleeson and the Sundial Group and is available for development.

Land at Crewe Gardens Farm is not being actively promoted. As set out in the above representations, sites K17 and K19 should be assessed in the SA report as an extension to the land at Thickthorn and not as an alternative to it. The current SA wrongly appraises the land.

In addition, concerns are raised regarding statement re visibility at the existing entrance to and from the site. Client's highways report has demonstrated that good visibility can be provided to a number of access solutions to the land to serve a development scheme. The site should not been marked down for having poor visibility at an existing access point when this will be resolved in any new layout.

Draft masterplan layouts for the site that have been circulated to Officers and Members clearly demonstrate that the site can be developed without any impact on the Scheduled Ancient Monument or its setting.

Table 4.1 in the SA Report rejects Glasshouse Lane/Crewe Lane on the basis of "updated landscape and transport evidence suggests more development could be delivered to the south of the district on non-Green Belt Land."

The site has not therefore been rejected on any site specific grounds. If it is shown that further housing growth is required at Kenilworth either now or in the next plan period the land should be taken out of the Green Belt now and safeguarded in accordance with the advice in the NPPF.

Comments on the site assessments have been made elsewhere.