The Council states that the Local Plan "must" provide employment opportunities in locations to meet the needs of new housing, and that "...the selection of sites is guided by those identified for housing" (para 8.27). While it remains a national policy to seek to reduce the need to travel (by means other than the private car) and that achieving a balance between employment and housing growth is an important element in planning for a sustainable pattern of development, the Council's stated approach to determine the most appropriate location for new employment land within the District appears neither robust nor rigorous. By proposing that strategic sites allocated for housing should also include an allocation of employment land, we believe the Council has failed to recognise that not all proposed strategic site allocations are the same.

Land north of Gallows Hills/west of Europa Way is surrounded by existing employment opportunities, and within walking distance of major committed employment sites (Warwick Gates and the Leamington Gateway/former Ford Foundry site). Furthermore, the District has an existing healthy supply of employment sites which, given existing levels of demand, is unlikely to be taken up in Phase 1 of the Plan period nor possibly in Phase 2 if the Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway scheme comes forward.

The Europa Way Consortium and Warwickshire County Council are, in line with Policy PO4, committed to bring forward land north of Gallows Hills/west of Europa Way in Phases 1 and 2, and consider that it is preferable to bring forward much needed housing on this site rather than have part of the site sat undeveloped awaiting take-up by employment development market.