Object

Representation ID: 6614

Received: 24/09/2009

Respondent: James Mackay

Object to objectives and content of preferred options:
Underlying theme of strategy is rapid development of employment, retailing, tourism and housing. Sustainability is seen only as a qualification.
Completely different strategic objectives and detailed proposals, directed towards sustainability, should replace existing Core Strategy.
Population 'projections' which lead to development proposals are not forecasts with any realistic basis - assumes continuing in-migration at rate between 2001 and 2006 when house building was allowed to greatly exceed local needs. Demonstrates false and circular arguement that population growth was driven by house-building not the other way round. Should be based on local needs otherwise Warwick and other towns in the district will become part of increasingly sprawling West Midlands Conurbation, based on growing and unsustainable car use and destroying qualities of County's towns.
Above all, local need is for affordable housing, sustainably sited. Extensive greenfield development necessitating high car use would not permit either affordable or sustainable life styles.
Requires local employment, retail, education, health and leisure provision. Strategic objective for rapid growth in retailing floorspace in Leamington conflicts, leading to weaker Warwick Town Centre and greater reliance on transport to meet shopping needs.
10,800 new homes is excessive and proposed distribution is unsatisfactory. Forecast for brownfield site development is too low based on those previously achieved. A reappraisal of availability is needed leading to substantial upward change to brownfield forecast. This would reduce number of houses required on greenfield sites.
Strongest objection to excessive house-building on greenfield land south east of Warwick, between it, Leamington, Whitnash and Bishops Tachbrook - would severely damage both town's setting and through traffic generation.
Strongest concern for town's setting from 1,250 houses on land between Europa Way, Gallows Hill and Myton Road - classified as Area of Restraint in 1995 local plan. Given extent of development on greenfield sites since then, this is even more important. Each of urban areas has its own identity and loss of green open space would result in single, characterless sprawl.
This land and other sites further south would be heavily car-dependent with requirements of a flexible job market, two-income households, choice of school places, increasing concentration of retailing competing major centres, many out of town and the desire to enjoy a range of far-spread leisure activities. Suggestion that houses will be close to work so that people will walk to work, unrealistic.
Assertion that infrastructure needs could only be assessed once preferred option confirmed is ludicrous. Limitations of transport infrastructure serving sites is implacably worsened by geography: the Avon crossed only at Castle Bridge, Warwick and Prices Drive, Leamington is absolute barrier and already saturated by traffic. Availability of infrastructure - transport, energy, water, sewerage, educational and social needs is essential and choice cannot be made until after their appraisal is completed. Concerned at absence of such an appraisal, the damaging impact of development of these sites on Warwick Town Centre through the generation of traffic will be overlooked. Development would increase total load on already congested urban and main road network so that journeys from and to new developments will be diverted in search for least congested route adding to traffic in Warwick Town Centre where it is confirmed that the impact of traffic must be reduced. Town centre roads already form part of Air Quality Management Area where pollution exceeds legal threshold and Air Quality Action Plan requires reduction in traffic for health of residents.
Europa Way site is proposed for early development. This would be unsatisfactory, enabling development here to precede that in Coventry and inhibiting brownfield site development in Warwick District. Any greenfield site development should be at the end of the plan period when development of brownfield sites is exhausted.
Weaknesses in policies for conservation of listed buildings and protected townscapes and for the provision of affordable housing. Object to these weakenesses and concerned that the existing local plan policies covering them may become unenforceable after 2011.
Withdraw this preferred option, reconsider policy objectives and content and prepare revised option taking account of objections.