The plan at the moment appears to place unrealistic emphasis on sites which are close to the railway line with resultant likelihood of only attracting particularly low cost housing with questionable potential uptake. This raises questions re WDC support for local parishes and local industry as well as recognizing the reality of the closeness of Warwick Parkway links to London and the housing needs which that link alone creates.

There is however a need to consider that current Shrewley or indeed Rowington residents with either large or difficult to maintain homes (perhaps older properties or homes with large gardens) do not necessarily wish to move to small two bedroom homes or to new village developments.

Shrewley parish like Rowington parish is quietly dying due to a lack of new middle age residents because of the lack of suitable new housing. Parish council, village hall and various clubs are all losing and failing to generate new members with membership profiles becoming generally older. This is despite the desirability of the area to potential buyers seeking homes in the area.

WDC need to fully consider the actual needs of the parish rather than simply fulfilling numbers of new homes with disregard to residents objections and needs.

Meanwhile management and employees of high growth companies such as Jaguar Land Rover fail to find suitable homes in the very same area.

Shrewley and Rowington parishes are quite centrally located re the various sites of some of these companies including JLR and its suppliers (main sites at Gaydon, Solihull, Coventry and Birmingham). Key management drawn from all parts of Europe are not seeking starter homes.

In many instances such employees are forced to live at places such as Rugby, Northamptonshire, Oxforshire, Worcestershire and even Wiltshire.

The only key planned preferred sites within the current local plan are unlikely to meet the needs of many current residents or indeed provide housing opportunity for potential younger middle age / middle class families.
Without such stimulus communities such as Shrewley will continue to die re lack of younger, vibrant participants in village activities who often come from management style roles.

The current proposal has failed to take heed of opportunities re sites which were suggested (at Pinley) which would modestly help this current imbalance. There is a need for greater distribution of housing to include smaller sites.
There are other and greater opportunities to create modest housing sites by very slight modification of parish boundaries.

A proposal was made re a site at Pinley (Grid reference Easting 04208335 / Northing 02664706).

This site has to date been regarded as being within Shrewley and has to date been subsequently dismissed due to not being fully adjacent to current development within Shrewley but with modification of perimeter of unused land at Coley Irons has the potential to create a mid range level of housing which local residents will confirm is much needed.


With very minor perimeter change this total rather than partial site could be fully accommodated within Shrewley parish.

Apart from having potential good access onto the main B road the nominated site is on the edge of a development which is within realistic walking distance of the local school, a nursery, doctors surgery two churches and the shops, pubs and post offices of two villages (Shrewley and Claverdon) as well as the Ardencote manor leisure facilities.

Hatton and Claverdon railway stations are both accessible by foot.
The site additionally provides quick and easy access to the village halls of four local villages ie Claverdon, Shrewley, Hatton and Lowsonford not to mention Rowington. A bus route passes the door and the local collection point for school buses re children is circa 100 yards away.

This site is discreet and virtually unseen from the roadway and surrounding area being shrouded by trees on all sides with a variety of further trees growing to the frontage to help provide additional screening. It is additionally not in a potential flood area unlike some of the proposals currently being focused upon by WDC which are drawing considerable public opposition.

The site in question has been used domestically for 15 years and is currently under appeal re Lawful Development Certificate.