I am writing to object to the current proposals in the Warwick District Council Local Plan Revised Development Strategy and to support an alternative strategy. This is not based on purely emotional reaction or "nimbyism" but on acknowledged planning considerations, a concern for the future of Warwick and its suburbs, and some relevant legal implications. In particular I have grave concerns about the ability of the future transport infrastructure to cope with the District Council's proposals and the disastrous effect that those proposals will have on the quality of life in the town and its suburbs.
Although the thought of any major new housing development affecting Warwick is profoundly worrying, I accept the District Council's view that the economic arguments justify a reasonable level of development in the area covered by the Local Plan. However, the proposal to allow 12,300 houses by 2029 is far too extensive and must call into question whether district councillors, especially those representing constituencies outside Warwick, are genuinely concerned about the future of the County Town. I understand that in response to the consultation, evidence will be put forward by acknowledged local experts in planning, legal and conservation matters. I believe that these representations will justify a substantially reduced proposal for housing development in the area.
Transport infrastructure
It must be patently obvious to anyone who lives or travels through the area that Castle Bridge, Myton Road and Prince's Drive are struggling to cope with the existing level of traffic, especially at peak hours. The modifications to the road system following the opening of the Morrisons and Aldi supermarkets are not solving these difficulties. The tiny modifications in the above three areas proposed in the Local Plan documents will only tinker with the problem. The impact of 3,195 new houses with access to the existing traffic bottlenecks of Myton Road and the Shires and the old Ford Foundry roundabouts will lead to more extensive gridlock and pollution in the whole area between Castle Bridge, the Ford Foundry roundabout and Warwick New Road. Even if one accepts that the Local Plan is not intended to improve the existing traffic and environmental pollution, it should not be allowed to exacerbate gravely an already barely acceptable situation.
Environmental Pollution
I understand that the level of pollution in Warwick town centre is already above legal limits and that the District Council will be receiving submissions about this during the consultation. I urge the Council to give full consideration to this evidence.
Level of Housing Development
At a recent meeting the audience was given to understand on planning grounds that to meet the existing needs of the area only 5,400 (not 12,300) houses are required. This could be achieved without using the vast swathe of greenfield land south of Warwick, Leamington and Whitnash, by relying on the much less invasive and intrusive 5,678 homes already completed or allocated in the Local Plan. Any significant increase above the 5,678 would appear to give grounds to those who suspect that the Council is more concerned to attract people from outside the District than to support its existing population, and to attract lucrative planning proposals from developers. There appears to be no current evidence of a demand for employment development schemes. The lack of interest in office development on the area allocated on the Morrisons site speaks volumes in this regard. This feeds the frequently made suggestion that the Local Plan is really aimed at attracting new home owners to the Warwick area who will not work there. This may be more lucrative for the Council, but commuter traffic would therefore increase, further exacerbating the problems of transport infrastructure and environmental pollution outlined above.
On a further important point, it is very worrying that Stratford-on-Avon District Council is consulting about the possible provision of some 4,500 houses in Gaydon and Lighthorne Heath, not many miles from the main development area proposed by Warwick District Council. It is very likely that many such home owners would look to Warwick for employment and services, again further exacerbating the problems outlined above.
Conclusion
If Warwick District Council is genuinely concerned to implement a Local Plan that is "strongly based on evidence and takes account of representations made by interested individuals and organisations", then I believe that it should modify its proposals and allow only the 5,700 or so houses on sites already completed or allocated.
This would be in keeping with the Council's strategic vision of making Warwick "a great place to live, work and visit". Please do not betray that vision by subjugating what has until now always been a great place to live to the voracious demands of excessive housing development that would ruin the nature of Warwick and its suburbs forever.