Object
Proposed Modifications January 2016
Representation ID: 68272
Received: 15/04/2016
Respondent: Jane Marshall
Legally compliant? Yes
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Yes
WDC have not met the test of EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES to remove the land North of Milverton from the Green Belt.
The extra housing need is Coventry City's and though WDC has a duty to cooperate, the two councils have agreed there is land of lower Green Belt value on the edge of Coventry. This should be used first. It is also a more sustainable solution for people to live closer to their employment.
The proposed park and ride should not be built in valuable Green Belt when there is a less sensitive site with greater potential close to the A46 roundabout.
I believe that the plan is unsound because Warwick District Council has not demonstated that there are EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES to justify taking the land North of Milverton out of the Green Belt.
The New Local Plan states that Coventry City Council is "unable to meet its housing need." And therefore suggests removing land North of Milverton from the Green Belt to support Coventry's need. Yet WDC in consultation with Coventry City Council has already identitfied land of lower Green Belt value on the edge of Coventry. Precedence for releasing land from the Green Belt requires the value of potential sites to be taken into account with land of lower value being first. This plan ignores that precedent.
In addition to this an important planning consideration is to build new housing "close to areas of employment." Building houses for Coventry based workers in Leamington is not sustainabale, it is simply too far away and will increase commuting and congestion on already congested roads.
If the land North of Milverton is taken out of the Green Belt, the valuable "green lung" between Leamingon and Kenilworth will be reduced to less than 1.5 miles. The land North of Milverton is a rural amenity used by countless residents of the town for jogging, walking, cycling and birdwatching. It is also used by local schools. As it is so close to the centre of Leamington it can be accessed on foot without the need to get into a car to go for a walk.
If the land on the approach road to Leamington is developed the picturesque northern gateway to the historic Regency town of Royal Leamington Spa will be destroyed.
The proposed park and ride scheme North of Milverton is unsustainable because there will be no dedicated buses, so users will have to time visits to coincide with the bus timetable.
Much of the traffic using the A452 crosses to the south of Leamington where the major employers are situated.
The site is too far from Kenilworth and would be better focussed on the A46 roundabout where Kenilworth could also benefit but also potentially Warwick, Warwick University and Coventry if it were properly thought through and developed into a truly useful hub.