We are writing to object to the Draft Local Plan concerning the development of housing at sites south of Warwick and Whitnash.
The reasons we object to these plans are:
* There is far more housing planned for than is actually required. The plan would increase the population by 20% within 15 years. This is far more than would be needed to cater for a natural increase in population in the area. A study by Warwick DCs own consultants gave a figure of 4405 new homes being required.
* The plan concentrates most of the new housing into the area south of Leamington Spa and will result in there being almost continuous housing estates between Warwick, Leamington Spa, Whitnash and Bishops Tachbrook. Much of this land is currently agricultural land. There seems to have been no consideration to providing a more equitable distribution of growth across the county.
* There will be an adverse visual impact in the area. This will change from being a pleasant, green area of the county to a large urban sprawl of housing estates making the area less attractive for the current residents and also to people thinking of moving to the area.
* There will be an increase in traffic to the north (into Leamington and Warwick) and to the south (onto the M40/A46). Traffic is already very heavy in these areas.
* The levels of air pollution are already illegally high in Warwick and the building of this large number of houses, with the increase in traffic this will also bring, can only make this worse.
* Warwick and Leamington Spa town centres will suffer from more congestion and poor air quality as a result of the massive increase in population in the area. This will make the towns less attractive to visitors and shoppers.
* There will need to be significant investment in the local infrastructure to support the influx of such a large number of people to the area. It is not clear how this will be achieved.

We were shocked and appalled to read of the development proposals to this area. We moved here recently after five years looking for somewhere to live in this area. We chose Bishops Tachbrook as it is in a beautiful location with outstanding views and beautiful countryside on our doorstep. We chose this area as it has just the right balance of amenities, housing, retail parks, two historic town centres and beautiful countryside. It seems a shame that the District Council is planning to destroy what makes the district so appealing.