Comment

Helping Shape the District

Representation ID: 46094

Received: 09/08/2011

Respondent: Mr Andy Thomas

Representation Summary:

I would suggest that very little development is actually NEEDED. There are many shops, offices and industrial units empty at the moment and I would like to know of the plan for these to be utilised before other developments are undertaken. I realise that the plan is to look ahead for 15 years, but none of us has a crystal ball and my worry is that things will be planned for in case they are needed and not because they are needed.
Where is the evidence of the need for more housing, shops, offices, industry etc?

Full text:

I would suggest that very little development is actually NEEDED. There are many shops, offices and industrial units empty at the moment and I would like to know of the plan for these to be utilised before other developments are undertaken. Leamington town centre has several empty shops and student accommodation is being built on the site of the old bus station and this alone will free up dozens of houses currently being used by students of Warwick and Birmingham Universities.
I realise that the plan is to look ahead for 15 years, but none of us has a crystal ball and my worry is that things will be planned for in case they are needed and not because they are needed.
Where is the evidence of the need for more housing, shops, offices, industry etc?

I feel we would all too easily be caught in a spiral, as more housing requires more places of work and more places of work requires more housing. Added to that, there is no way that the two will correlate either. Whatever workplaces are developed, offices, workshops etc they will always bring workers with them, who will need to travel to get to work. Houses built will be bought by people who travel out of the area to get to work.