Object

Representation ID: 59311

Received: 12/08/2013

Respondent: Mr Stuart Oldham

22.5 ha's allocated in the RDS for new employment development; seems the Council is obsessed with economic and employment growth, to the detriment of other planning objectives, in a District with a buoyant local economy and substantial commuter flows.

Recent proposal to develop 308 has (all Green Belt land) near Coventry Airport, already approved by both the Council and Coventry City Council, is forecast to generate up to 10,000 jobs, many of which could be taken by District residents.

The Council seeks to justify the scale of its employment land allocation to meet the future needs arising from its housing growth target, yet the eventual development of that land is beyond its control, and reliant on future market forces and inward investment. The larger the allocation, the greater the chance that it will remain undeveloped, other things being equal.

Objects to the RDS employment land allocation on the following grounds: It is excessive and dependent on a flawed and excessive housing target; The case for the allocation is not adequately made in terms of both policy and evidence base; It fails to take into proper account the possible future employment impact of the Coventry Gateway proposals; It risks sterilising a large proportion of scarce development land within the Plan period which might be beneficially re-allocated to other uses.