I write to support the Revised Development Strategy

I am pleased that the Council has recognised that the Exceptional
Circumstances to develop the Green Belt to the North of Leamington do not
exist and that as a consequence the risks of the Local Plan being found
unsound at public enquiry are reduced. It is vital to preserve the limited
green space between Leamington and Kenilworth, otherwise there is a real
risk that Leamington and Warwick will merge with the West Midlands
conurbation.

The Revised Development Strategy proposes that a substantial proportion of
the new development is located close to where there are employment
opportunities (to the South of Leamington & Warwick) providing an
opportunity for people to live close to their place of work. Furthermore
there is almost unlimited green space to the south of Leamington where the
nearest town is Banbury.

The Revised Development Strategy removes the proposal to build 2000 houses
on the North Leamington Green Belt. Through the better use of Brownfield
sites only 325 further houses are proposed on Greenfield land than was
proposed in the Preferred Options for the Local Plan published last year.

The Revised Development Strategy provides improvements to the road network
South of Leamington to relieve the existing congestion and to cater for the
new development. It is important that these road improvements are carried
out as part of a coordinated plan. Traffic surveys show that road
improvements can cope with the planned new development and that locating
the majority of the development South of Leamington will reduce traffic
movements, ease congestion and reduce pollution.

The Revised Development Strategy provides for the necessary schools and
other infra-structure to support the new development.

The Revised Development Strategy has a fair distribution of new housing
across the District. 16% of the new houses will be in the Green Belt North
of Leamington, at Thickthorn and Lillington. 15% of the proposed
development will be in Warwickshire Villages.

I do not wish to challenge the number of new houses included in the Revised
Development Strategy, which I understand has been estimated in accordance
with guidance issued by the coalition Government, but I ask the Council to
keep the housing requirement to a minimum. Should more houses be required
because of the Joint Strategic Housing Needs Analysis being performed with
Coventry City Council, I believe that there is sufficient non Green Belt
land to accommodate this additional development