BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 106632

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire Property and Development Group

Asiant : Framptons

Yes, we broadly support the proposals in the introduction but have some concerns relating to what is currently proposed under a two-part Local Plan and its implications for housing delivery in the early years of the Plan period.
Given the scale of the housing and employment requirement for the two Councils, and a recognition that strategic urban extensions and /or new settlements are likely to form the main element of the spatial development strategy in the SWLP, WPDG support the preparation of a plan period extending to 2050. This approach is also broadly consistent with NPPF paragraph 22, that advises: ‘Where larger scale developments such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns form part of the strategy for the area, policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery.’
Rather than have a single comprehensive joint Local Plan, we note the Councils intention that the plan will be broken down into separate parts. Whilst we have no objection in principle to the preparation of a two-part Local Plan, we do not support the Councils proposals in their current form in which only strategic sites (i.e. strategic allocations for new settlements and large scale urban extensions) are to be included in the Part 1 SWLP.
According to the Reg18 SWLP this consultation sets out the "Preferred Options" identified by both Councils for meeting the future development needs of South Warwickshire over the period to 2050 (Para 1.3). Whilst it is common for local planning authorities to consult on a few options at this stage in the local plan process, with a clearly defined preferred option being presented, we are concerned that having 24 Strategic Growth Locations (SGL's) and 12 potential new settlement locations in the Reg18 SWLP, not only does this result in a level of development far in excess of the requirements of South Warwickshire but means that the document in part reads more like an Issues and Options document. This is a cause for concern as we believe it will be difficult to move forward to a Pre-Submission version of the SWLP with details of specific sites for development and associated infrastructure requirements.
While we recognise the importance of ensuring that there is no further slippage in the programme for bringing the SWLP forward, within the above context there is a risk that the Plan when submitted will not be found sound. Therefore, unless the Councils have confidence that they can bring forward a Pre-Submission Local Plan (Part 1) with a clear spatial development strategy that includes an appropriate mix of site allocations best able to meet the housing needs of South Warwickshire over the whole plan period i.e. in the immediate and longer term, consideration, it should consider undertaking a further focused Reg18 consultation exercise on a more focused series of spatial development options ahead of the Reg19 Pre-Submission.