Object

Preferred Options

Representation ID: 47052

Received: 26/07/2012

Respondent: Mr A Beswick

Representation Summary:

There is no case for economic growth in Leamington, and no justification for growth at the irrevocable expense of the Green Belt. Housing does not create economic growth in the town. The consultation is flawed if we are lead to comment on a list of potential housing numbers which does not include zero. Affordable housing should not be funded by developer's profits earned at the expense of the Green Belt

Full text:

I understand the Council's obligation to put in place a plan to manage physical growth, in support of a nationwide desire for economic growth.

I do not accept that physical expansion of the town to facilitate economic growth will ever be justifiable in one of the UK's wealthiest towns, where economic growth itself is hardly needed - compared for example to Coventry. With economic growth itself hard to justify, there can never be a justification for expanding the town at the expense of the Green Belt.

I further object to the PO1 choice of 555 homes/year from options stated by the Council as 250/500/800 because I do not accept that the Council must plan to build any new homes. I am not satisfied that there is valid evidence of demand for new homes other than from Developers with established land Options. I do not accept a consultation process which asks for comments on a choice of house numbers without the choice including zero.

I do not consider appropriate or sound the Council's policy of creating affordable housing through land development deals: creating private housing at the expense of the Green Belt and the consequent roads, schools and employment zones is an indictment of the Councils inability to fund affordable housing directly.