Scenario two

The Town Council's preferred scenario for development of Leamington Spa during the period of the New District Plan is Scenario Two, namely average levels of new development and investment with the potential to deal with the important issues in relation to providing more jobs, homes and investment in town centres.

The allocation of future development should respect and preserve the area of Green Belt to the north of Leamington which provides an important barrier to the coalescence of Leamington with Kenilworth, Warwick and the parish of Old Milverton.

The future provision for affordable housing should be no less than that provided for in the current Local Plan.

The Local Plan should aim to encourage future investment in a diverse range of employment opportunities.

Of the three scenarios presented in the consultation document, it is considered that only the scale of development envisaged in Scenario 3 would begin to address the evidenced need for housing growth and development in the district. It is considered that Scenarios 1 and 2 are discordant features within the Consultation document, at odds with the Government‟s Plan for Growth and its „call to action on growth‟, and the thrust of up to date and emerging planning policy (PPS3, PPS4, NPPF).

It is pointed out that in the Plan for Growth and recent ministerial statements the Government is committed to reforming the planning system to ensure it does everything it can to support growth and rebuild the economy. Local authorities should be proactive in driving and supporting growth and identify the housing, business and other development needs of the area. Local authorities should also plan positively for new development and prepare local plans with sufficient flexibility to respond to rapid shifts in demand or other economic changes. The plan as presented in the consultation document would not acheive this.

Of the three scenarios presented in the consultation document, it is considered that only the scale of development envisaged in Scenario 3 would begin to address the evidenced need for housing growth and development in the district. It is considered that Scenarios 1 and 2 are discordant features within the Consultation document, at odds with the Government‟s Plan for Growth and its „call to action on growth‟, and the thrust of up to date and emerging planning policy (PPS3, PPS4, NPPF).

It is pointed out that in the Plan for Growth and recent ministerial statements the Government is committed to reforming the planning system to ensure it does everything it can to support growth and rebuild the economy. Local authorities should be proactive in driving and supporting growth and identify the housing, business and other development needs of the area. Local authorities should also plan positively for new development and prepare local plans with sufficient flexibility to respond to rapid shifts in demand or other economic changes. The plan as presented in the consultation document would not acheive this.

Of the three scenarios presented in the consultation document, it is considered that only the scale of development envisaged in Scenario 3 would begin to address the evidenced need for housing growth and development in the district. It is considered that Scenarios 1 and 2 are discordant features within the Consultation document, at odds with the Government‟s Plan for Growth and its „call to action on growth‟, and the thrust of up to date and emerging planning policy (PPS3, PPS4, NPPF).

It is pointed out that in the Plan for Growth and recent ministerial statements the Government is committed to reforming the planning system to ensure it does everything it can to support growth and rebuild the economy. Local authorities should be proactive in driving and supporting growth and identify the housing, business and other development needs of the area. Local authorities should also plan positively for new development and prepare local plans with sufficient flexibility to respond to rapid shifts in demand or other economic changes. The plan as presented in the consultation document would not acheive this.

The City Council generally supports a medium level of growth as proposed by Option Two, as this is in line with the RSS Phase Two submission which includes a reasonable allowance for migration from Birmingham to Warwickshire.

Option one providing a localised need could result in an increase in housing need and pressure for growth in Birmingham beyond its capacity on brownfield sites.

Option three could lead to out-migration from the City

The Town Council's preferred scenario for development of Leamington Spa is scenario two, namely average levels of new development and investment with the potential to deal with the important issues in relation to providing more jobs, homes and investment.

The future provision for affordable housing should be no less than that provided for in the current District Local Plan.

The evidence within the technical paper supports Scenario 3.

Object to scenarios 1 and 2 as they are not based on sound evidence.

The timescale of the Plan should be from 2013 to 2028, or possibly even 2013.

The Plan should take into account the influence of travel to work links with adjoining Districts, in particular, Coventry.

The only sound Scenario for Growth is Scenario 3. Scenario 1 is based on recent trends and could deliver no development. Scenario 2 is purely notional, being a mid-point between Scenarios 2 and 3. Therefore Scenario 3 is supported.