Object

Representation ID: 67461

Received: 12/12/2014

Respondent: Warwickshire County Council [Physical Assets Business Unit]

Agent: Savills

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Supports proposal to increase the quantum of housing within the 'Land West of Europa Way' greenfield site allocation (H01), to reflect the removal of employment allocation E1. However the proposed increase in the housing capacity of the allocation from 1,190 dwellings to only 1,300 dwellings is not considered to be properly justified. No land area figures are quoted for the increase in the education land allocation or for the size of the sports stadium allocation. However, on the basis of the boundaries drawn on the amended Policies Map 2, we estimate there to be an overall net gain in residential land at H01 of c.6.5ha. This in itself would be expected to deliver an increase of c.160-180 dwellings. Therefore a housing allocation for H01 of at least 1,350 dwellings is considered to be more appropriate. Supports deletion of employment land and considers that the allocation of land at Stratford Road for employment uses would represent a more appropriate alternative, which is positively prepared, justified, effective. Acknowledges the potential for accommodating a community stadium however it is not currently supported by a sufficient evidence base to assess whether there are alternative locations for accommodating the stadium, or to demonstrate that the proposals are technically feasible within the demarked area on amended Policies Map 2, or whether sufficient funding is available to viably deliver the facility, or even whether Leamington Town FC (who will have responsibility for the stadium) is fully supportive of the relocation site. On this basis the proposed community stadium element of the allocation is not currently considered to be justified or positively-prepared and therefore not sound. WCC understands that work is underway to address these concerns and WCC accordingly wishes to reserve the right to comment further as and when the various outcomes become available. As an additional minor point, WDC needs to adopt consistent terminology within the Local Plan. PMA2 refers to "Community Stadium and other uses", PMA3 refers to "Community Stadium and associated uses" and PMA7 refers to "Sports stadium and associated facilities". Without consistency in referencing and without clarity being expressed as to what WDC is seeking and how this can be applied in practice, then the Local Plan is not considered to be effective in this regard.