Policy DS2
Mod 1
Strategic Policy

Reasons
Requirement to add significant new housing should be opportunity for major improvement in policies to
- minimise urban sprawl
- achieve housing mix objectives
- ensure maximum sustainability.

Warwick has built only 25% of affordable housing needs in recent years. Land costs are high. So policy should increase density to 50+ per ha in line with best low-carbon urban practice. Encourage move to underground parking/storage and balconies/conservatories in mid-rise buildings.

(Coventry's current assumptions on density also needs challenging)

Changes
Change housing density and design policies for developers to 50-70 per ha and require improved non-car transport plans.

Policy DS4
Mod 3
Spatial Strategy
Reasons
This should be modified to include the specific objective of minimising urban sprawl and seeking optimum sustainability through encouraging the design of low-carbon community housing at densities at or above 50 per ha.
A low-emission transport strategy should form an integral part of this modified Plan including ample provision for safe cycling and walking routes - railway,rivers and canal bottlenecks are important constraints at present and not fully addressed in the Plan.

Changes
Change the housing density requirement to 50-70 per ha and add a credible low-emission transport strategy

Policy DS10
Mod 8
Broad Location of Allocated Housing Sites

Reasons
This should be adjusted to deliver adequate sustainability as detailed in the suggested changes section.

Changes
Modify policy to reflect:
a. Higher low-carbon urban housing densities
b. Accelerated development on two new sites on the edge of Coventry in order to better co-locate homes with jobs.
c. Elimination of Greenbelt and greenfield sites of urban sprawl made superfluous by adjustments a. and b.

Policy DS15
Comprehensive Development of Strategic Sites
Mod no 14 Mod Policies Map no 44

Reasons
Development of land in the Green Belt north of Milverton should be deleted from the Plan because:
1. It is assessed as of high quality, with significant amenity value and should therefore be the lowest priority for housing development
2. It would encroach on a narrow belt of open land between Kenilworth and Leamington
3. There is a more sustainable solution by co-locating more dwellings closer to Coventry's jobs.
4. Land at Kings Hill and Westwood Heath could be developed faster than planned, but above all as low-carbon urban communities at much higher dwelling densities (50+ per ha) than indicated.

Changes
Remove north of Milverton site from the Plan as well as any other Greenbelt/greenfield sites found to be unnecessary sprawl once sustainable density and deisgn policies are adopted (see comments on Policies DS2, DS4 & DS10)

Policy DS19
Mod 16
Reasons
Adjustments on housing density and speed of development on sites adjacent to Coventry proposed in commments under DS10 and DS15 to be carried into this policy.

Changes
Make adjustments as required by policy changes

Policy DS NEW 1
Mods 20, 21
Reasons
Reflect proposed changes submitted under DS2, DS4 & DS10
Changes
Modify as required by changes in other policies