The exceptional circumstances required by the National Planning Policy Framework have not been demonstrated by Warwick District Council for the removal of land North of Milverton from the Green Belt.
The proposed development is to support Coventry City Council's housing need. There are sustainable sites closer to Coventry that should be used in preference to the land North of Milverton to reduce unnecessary commuting, inevitable congestion and further road construction.
In practice it is unlikely that people who want to live and work in Coventry will buy houses on land North of Milverton and therefore this development proposal will not support Coventry's housing need.
Precedents for releasing land from the Green Belt require the 'value' to the Green Belt of potential sites to be taken into account, and those with least value to be removed from the Green Belt first. WDC, in cooperation with Coventry City Council, has assessed sites on the edge of Coventry as being of lower Green Belt value. Even if development at Old Milverton were acceptable as a sustainable location for development, there are sites with a lower Green Belt value that should be used in preference to the land north of Milverton.
The "green lung" between Leamington and Kenilworth will be reduced to less than 1.5 miles.
The picturesque northern approach to the historic regency town of Royal Leamington Spa will be destroyed.
Highly productive farm land will be lost, together with long established wildlife habitat.
The residents of local towns will be deprived of an area which is highly valued and sustainable for walking, running, cycling, riding, and bird watching, and is also used by local schools for educational walks.