Object

Representation ID: 65859

Received: 27/06/2014

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council Physical Assets Business Unit

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

WDC have not fully justified the need for, size of and delivery mechanism for a Country Park to the north side of Tach Brook. WCC questions whether the apparant existing deficiencies in accessibility to natural greenspace sites of
over 2ha in the area south of Warwick, Leamington and Whitnash identified in the Green Infrastructure Study 2010 is a sufficient justification for a 62.5ha Country Park. A proportion of existing development in the areas of deficiency is employment and much of the new development being brought forward will provide onsite green space which will be available to existing and new residents. A transparent evidence base is needed to clarify whether a Country Park of this size is necessary or nice to have. Concern is also expressed over the intention to deliver it via Section 106 contributions. Questions whether this approach is able to meet the legal tests for planning obligations set out in the CIL regulations as it is not clear why the delivery of the Country Park is needed to make development acceptable especially as some of the justification is to rectify existing deficiencies. The combined need taking account of all of the proposed housing allocations south of Warwick and Leamington would be 16.6ha, this may be a more appropriate starting point for considering the need for and payment of a country park. Questions why the Park is required for flood alleviation and whether habitat creation and buffering can be acheived via a smaller area. It is unclear how WDC moved from the £1.5million 20 ha peri-urban park. It should be noted that WCC does not object to the principle of providing a Country Park, subject to appropriate justification being provided for a facility of this size through a robust evidence base.