Object

Representation ID: 63442

Received: 29/07/2013

Respondent: Martin & Kim Drew & Barnes

-As made clear above, environmental and aesthetic considerations are not quantifiable. To a large extent these define the quality of life in an area. Protection of the rural environment is a prime factor when considering development and local residents should have a major voice according to the NPPF.
-Large areas in the south of the district are considered uniquely beautiful and it is not necessarily right that this should be lost.
-The Planning Inspector who reviewed the current local plan in 2006 stated that Woodside Farm should not be developed on. In 2009 WDC's own landscape consultant Richard Morrish recommended that land south of Gallows Hill should not to be considered for urban expansion so why is it being considered now.
-The development would encroach the urban fringe into a parish. The proposed housing on rolling countryside will make it highly visible and the country park will be ineffective. The existing fields provide an excellent country park. In addition, much of the land south of Harbury Lane is high-grade agricultural land capable of growing multiple crops per year.
-The development would be a major step towards coalescence of the settlements which is contrary to the decision of the Government Inspector's 2006 Local Plan report which specifically stated that the existing rural area South of Harbury Lane to Bishop's Tachbrook should be maintained with no development. If development were to go ahead on Oakley Wood Road, the separation between the 2 settlements would be reduced to about 0.5 km. Because of the sloping nature of the land South of Harbury Lane, the development would be visible from over 2km.
-Despite the intention of maintaining the 'country park' the new housing would set a precedent for further development that would merge Bishop's Tachbrook with Leamington and Whitnash.
-The sheer size of the development would create a significant water run off problem. It is debateable whether the envisaged attenuation measures will stop flooding.
-The built environment of the new development will increase the water flow into the Tach Brook and its feed into the Avon. This huge increase in water volume could cause considerable flooding problems in Stratford and neighbouring counties. If 5400 new homes were selected they could be dispersed around the district and would prevent flooding problems.