Revised Development Strategy

Object

Representation ID: 55417

Received: 26/07/2013

Respondent: La Salle Investments

Agent: Harris Lamb

Stoneleigh Park: RDS does not cover the full range of topics that will be included in the Local Plan when it is complete and it does not cover all the topics that were included and consulted on in the Preferred Options document produced in 2012. Previous representations sought the inclusion of a policy to guide the future development of Stoneleigh Park but RDS does not include it. This is inappropriate and a specific Stoneleigh Park policy is required.

Stoneleigh Park recognised in previous Local Plan (Policy SSP3). This policy is now out of date and there is a requirement for a new policy to guide the development of the park. It is effectively superseded by planning permission W/12/0766 which put in place a Masterplan led planning permission which confirms the principle of a range of uses. A policy should be included in the plan that reflects the approved uses as follows: "the following range of uses will be permitted: Showground; Rural business innovation centre; National equine Centre; Other equine uses; Livestock facilities; Education and Learning; Research; Sustainability and energy; Hotel and conference facilities; Business centre; Camping facilities; Ancillary leisure, retail and catering; Activities and infrastructure to provide support for the facilities of the epark.

A plan should be included that identifies the extent of Stoneleigh Park to which the above policy applies. Appropriate for Stoneleigh Park to be identified as a rural business park where there is a recognition that development can take place in accordance with the approved outline Masterplan.

Stoneleigh Park is the most significant rural employment site in Warwick. It has ambitions to grow creating additional jobs in rural based businesses. It has the potential to become a world class rural science park based around agricultural, equine activities and sustainability. There should be a specific bullet point including in Paragraph 3.5 advising that the local authority supports the sustainable growth of Stoneleigh Park in a similar fashion to the bullet point which confirms the Council's commitment to the delivery of a sub regional employment site in the vicinity of Coventry airport.

Support the recognition that Stoneleigh Park is an important location for science, research and development activities associated with agriculture. However, in order to assist in its growth a specific policy is required in the plan to guide its future development.

Economy: support recognition that more socially and environmentally deprived rural areas should be regenerated through new development but this requirement does not go far enough. NPPF advises that planning policies should support economic growth in rural areas in order to create jobs and prosperity by taking a positive approach to sustainable development. The Council's rural economic regeneration policies should not just be focused on the deprived areas but the rural area as a whole.

Local plans should support the sustainable growth expansion of all types of businesses and enterprises in rural areas both through the conversion of existing buildings and well designed new buildings.

They should promote development and diversification of agriculture and other land based rural businesses.

Support should be given to sustainable rural tourism and leisure developments that benefit business in rural areas provided that they respect the character of the countryside.