Q-S5.2: Do you think new settlements should be part of the overall strategy?
No answer given
QS5.2 It is felt that without a significant change to the approach to funding infrastructure none of the options will be adequate. The document correctly identifies that provision of the correct infrastructure must underpin this plan. The plan identifies the importance of effective communications, especially transport. The provision of adequate utility and Internet services is also deemed essential, as are the public services of health, education and welfare. And community facilities and open space? There is nowhere in the document that outlines the way improvements in all of these things are to be undertaken, and whether as part of the SWLP Part 2 the authorities will be approaching the statutory providers and the key private sector agencies involved in public services to ensure that they will guarantee the investment necessary. QS5.4 The Parish Council agrees that the South Warwickshire Local Plan identifies connectivity/transport/communication as the single most important criterion in choosing preferred options. This is not reflected in the analysis within the body of the document. The quality of transport infrastructure is not given sufficient attention in the consultation document. There should be a much more detailed analysis of the quality and usage of the road system and rail and bus services within the corridors. No option can be chosen without an assessment of the quality of the services and if and how improvements in those services can be realigned under the growth proposals. Present Local transport corridors do not provide an adequate alternative for people wishing to use public transport as opposed to driving cars. It should be a condition of larger developments that provision of buses is subsidised by the developer.
We are only supportive of new settlements in sustainable locations and the classification for sustainable should include more than rail/ transport connectivity. A new settlement needs to be sustainable considering water availability, flooding resilience and wastewater management, amongst other drivers. For example, if a new settlement is located a long way from a watercourse of sufficient size and environmental capacity to take treated effluent within the means of technically achievable limits, then wastewater may be required to be pumped long distances in perpetuity, ultimately having significant embodied and operational carbon impacts as well as significant capital and maintenance costs. This could outweigh the benefits of location close to a train station.
We support the principle of new settlements being part of the overall strategy, as long as the proposed developments comply with the principles of the “20-minute neighbourhood”.
Q-S5.2: NWBC Response –This is an issue specific to South Warwickshire Plan but should be a consideration as part of the plan process. No further comment.
Q-S5.2 - New Settlements: I feel that it is wholly unacceptable to consider the development of a new settlement within greenbelt land. There are not exceptional circumstances to doing so. It is unacceptable that despite the NPPF principles, multiple new settlement locations are illustratively suggested in the current consultation document. If a new settlement is to be considered, this should only be in non-greenbelt land. There are ample non-greenbelt options for new settlements. A new settlement in non-greenbelt land should r any other development options in greenbelt land. New infrastructure can be developed to support such a non-greenbelt site.
Yes, South Warwickshire has some unique opportunities to deliver meaningful levels of sustainable development in the vicinity of some of its existing train stations. The better stations have other infrastructure in place, such as bus services, that will provide sustainable additionality to the development. The council should support those locations that offer additionality such as access to other means of sustainable transport (i.e. bus services, pedestrian footpaths, cycle routes).