Publication Draft

Object

Representation ID: 7080

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Not convinced that District should be required to find land for 10,800 (or more) new homes. Previously argued for a reduction in the level of outmigration from the major urban areas. The projected population growth is unrealistic because it assumes continuing in-migration at the rate prevailing between 2001 and 2006 when house building was allowed greatly to exceed local needs. The towns in Warwick District will become merely part of an increasingly sprawling West Midlands Conurbation, based on growing and unsustainable car use, and destroying the qualities of the towns.

Object

Representation ID: 7081

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Requires inclusion of sustainability as a vital objective in its own right.

Object

Representation ID: 7082

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

The priority should be local need, which is, above all, for affordable housing that is sustainably sited. Greenfield urban extentions can offer the best opportunities to provide for the quantum & mix of housing necessary to meet local needs, including affordable housing. In
some of the larger villages, affordable family homes would help to keep young people near to their families.
Object to weaknesses notes weaknesses in the policies for the provision of affordable housing.

Comment

Representation ID: 7083

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

The supply of brownfield land is not unlimited and it is not clear that all brownfield development is sustainable. In the context of global warming brownfield sites can be as important as greenfield; especially gardens. Some greenfield development is acceptable, providing it is sited close to existing or planned employment opportunities with good public transport links: it reduces car use compared to alternative brownfield development: it creates sustainable rural lifestyles, e.g. reverses the trend in rural depopulation and loss of local facilities (shops, schools, etc) without creating high car use.

Comment

Representation ID: 7084

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Appraisal of infrastructure needs of each proposed site should only be carried out once the preferred option is confirmed. This cannot be right. The availability of infrastructure - transport, energy, water, sewerage, educational and for other social needs - is essential and a choice cannot be made until after their appraisal has been completed. Infrastructure planning, like sustainability, must be a vital objective in its own right rather than a qualification and, if appropriate, should be used to limit the total amount of new homes to be built.

Object

Representation ID: 7085

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

The Core Strategy largely excludes the A46 corridor and proposes development south of Coventry only if needed for Coventry's growth needs. It is unacceptable that the District should 'give' some of its land to Coventry to provide for its housing needs.

Support

Representation ID: 7086

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Development here would:
* benefit from existing infrastructure close to Coventry, including the re-opening of Kenilworth railway station;
* support the regeneration of Coventry and focus development on the core north-south corridor in the sub region (also close to the A46 and A45 transport corridors);
* allow separate identities of the four towns to be maintained by removing pressure to 'join them up' with continuous housing.
Refusal of planning permission for Coventry airport expansion and subsequent decision by the owners to put it up for sale provides an ideal opportunity to meet the housing needs of both Warwickshire and Coventry without using Greenfield land.

Comment

Representation ID: 7087

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

36. The number of homes in multiple occupancy (most commonly rented by students and young professionals) should be rerstricted when considering plans for new housing. This is a form of housing that may make big profits for landlords, but it means fewer good family homes and it's disruptive to families. Given the squeeze on university funding it would seem appropriate to site more of this type of housing on the Warwick University campus where it might also reduce travel miles.

Object

Representation ID: 7088

Received: 27/09/2009

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Object to weaknesses in the policies for the conservation of listed buildings and protected townscapes, and for the provision of affordable housing, the essential local need.