1 - Economy

Supports the local plan objectives but considers that they should recognise the importance of agriculture in terms of its role in managing the environment, landscape and biodiversity, as well as providing local produce, sustainable fuel sources, and rural business opportunities.

The plan needs to consider issues of sub regional importance which have potential to impact upon the future requirements and shape of the district. In particular the District's relationship with Coventry and the impact of this on the role and function of Warwick District. It is essential that the Local Plan has a meaningful strategy towards sub regional growth in line with the requirement to cooperate with other authorities through the localism bill. The strategic relationship with Coventry is not included anywhere in the key issues report.

There is a lack of recognition of the proposed Coventry Enterprise Zone at Coventry Airport which will result in a number of issues which the Local Plan will need to address. These include the need for major revisions to the green belt boundaries to facilitate the proposals and provide suitable locations for new housing to support the economic / job creation at the EZ and provide for balanced housing / economic growth.

The 3 scenarios do not represent proper scenario options and merely relate to historic completion levels. the Council should have considered a higher level of 1,000 units and a lower level of not less than 700 units per annum. Consideration should also have been given to the need to provide housing to support the EZ at Coventry Airport and the need to build more homes in order to support the provision of more affordable homes.

The Council should give serious consideration to Objectives which support the growth role and function of Coventry City and its spatial implications for Warwick District and, secondly, the significance which the EZ will provide over the next 20 years. A balance of housing and community uses should be provided to the south of Coventry, such as at Baginton, to support the employment sites in the EZ.

The plan needs to consider issues of sub regional importance which have potential to impact upon the future requirements and shape of the district. In particular the District's relationship with Coventry and the impact of this on the role and function of Warwick District. It is essential that the Local Plan has a meaningful strategy towards sub regional growth in line with the requirement to cooperate with other authorities through the localism bill. The strategic relationship with Coventry is not included anywhere in the key issues report.

There is a lack of recognition of the proposed Coventry Enterprise Zone at Coventry Airport which will result in a number of issues which the Local Plan will need to address. These include the need for major revisions to the green belt boundaries to facilitate the proposals and provide suitable locations for new housing to support the economic / job creation at the EZ and provide for balanced housing / economic growth.

The 3 scenarios do not represent proper scenario options and merely relate to historic completion levels. the Council should have considered a higher level of 1,000 units and a lower level of not less than 700 units per annum. Consideration should also have been given to the need to provide housing to support the EZ at Coventry Airport and the need to build more homes in order to support the provision of more affordable homes.

The Council should give serious consideration to Objectives which support the growth role and function of Coventry City and its spatial implications for Warwick District and, secondly, the significance which the EZ will provide over the next 20 years. A balance of housing and community uses should be provided to the south of Coventry, such as at Baginton, to support the employment sites in the EZ.

The area of the 'Hatton Experience' (Hatton Farm Village and Hatton Shopping Village) should be allocated as a major developed site in the green belt. The local plan should include a site specific policy for the Hatton Estate as a strategic tourism site to allow for, the continued improvement of the farm park as a major rural leisure destination, consolidation of retailing outside the farm park, tourism accomodation appropriate to the scale of the visitor attraction and renewable energy primarily for use on the site. There should be a comprehensive review of the Hatton Estate to support appropriate rural business development, to identify parcels of land to accomodate residential development adjacent to Hatton Park and Hatton Station and to ensure the continued sustainable growth of rural tourist attractions.

We have no specific comments to make at this time but previous comments made in September 2009 on the Proposed Core Strategy and in March 2010 on Alternative Sites still apply.

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

The plan should build on the District's existing strengths in the science and technology sector and have a portfolio of sites of sufficient range and quality suitable to meet the requirements of this sector in terms of providing a supportive environment and culture for growth, clustering of similar users, communications, profile and branding, physical environment and strong property management and critical mass. Warwick Technology Park possesses these qualities but is completely developed and the current portfolio of sites for the district is not suitable.

Supports objective 1 to identify and maintain a varied supply of sites for employment of the right type and in the right location. Also supports the intention to support the growth of knowledge intensive industries.

The local plan should acknowledge that development at and around Coventry Airport could provide up to 10,000 jobs in B Class uses as well as resolve infrastructure problems at the A45 / A46 at Toll Bar roundabout. It should also acknowledge the relationship between employment availability in Coventry and residence in Warwick District and the need therefore to address sub regional deficiencies in job provision.

Development at the airport would also aid regeneration through the reinvestment of business rate growth and improvements to transport infrastructure including public transport. By improving highway capacity these transport improvements would also deliver benefits to other employment generating sites such as Ansty and Stoneleigh and other development land such as Ryton and Whitley.

The local plan should include a policy to recognise the role of Coventry Airport and to support it's plans for expansion both in terms of passenger services and the growth of freight and aviation services.

6: Congestion & Pollution

The policy context is described well and we support the recognition that an integrated transport network is needed, and that agencies should work towards reducing the need to travel, especially by car.

There is a need to add policies to:
actively restrict development which has a major negative impact on CO2 emissions .

We would also remind you that the Warwickshire Climate Change Strategy's aim to reduce greenhouse gas omissions may be difficult to achieve if population figures for the District are allowed to increase as has been predicted.

Objective 5.1 should read 'provide a sustainable economy'. Whilst the Districts economy is healthy changes in the type of work from industrial to more office based professions has meant less land is needed to provide a similiar number of jobs and there is little need to allocate more land for employment purposes particularly in the short term. Before encouraging people to live in the District it is important to reduce out commuting by making it easier for people to work at home or creating more jobs in the district. Policies should encourage employment development only to meet an identified local need not to encourage businesses and people to move into the district at the expense of Major Urban Areas of the region.

The suggested additional demand for retail is based on the assumption that the population will increase which is difficult to predict. In assessing demand the local authority should look at quantitative and qualitative need to ensure it will contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of existing retail centres. A threshold should be imposed to restrict the development of large scale retail outlets which would damage the town centres. Within significant areas of housing development provision should be made for local retail outlets which would avoid an increase in traffic, provide access to shopping for those without a car and encourage vibrant neighbourhood centres.

Supports aims to maintain the economic strength of the town centres and address pressures from out of town developments. Attracting investment and the right type of business, responding to congestion around key development sites. addressing areas of poverty in Warwick and Leamington and recognising and tackling threats to the environment.
The Council should consider mechanisms to support and deliver local employment and training support and opportunities as part of the development process such as pre employment training, on site construction training, local supply chain and procurement initiatives.

The creative industries will be a vital component of the districts future economy and individuals working in these professions are likely to be attracted to localities which have high quality cultural provision.

Emphasises the need to plan positively for development. The Government is committed to ensuring that it's reforms will deliver more and not less housing, and as such local authorities should be proactive in driving and supporting growth.

There are currently limitations on housing and employment growth; and the district suffers from congestion on strategic routes into Leamington and Warwick. These are important considerations that must be thoroughly addressed through the level of growth to be identified in local plan.

In relation to the level of growth and the three options the Council presents, Gallagher Estates and A.C. Lloyd Ltd support option 3 (high level growth of about 800 homes and 5 hectares of employment land per year). To revitalise the economy and in particular deliver much needed affordable homes, significant infrastructure and community projects, then higher levels of growth will be
necessary.

It is important that the serious economic difficulties currently being experienced are taken into account. The Council will need to make bold decisions to encourage investment and provide the necessary support for businesses to survive and continue to grow. The Governments has set out its committment in it's Plan for Growth (March 2011) to ensuring the planning system does everything it can to promote growth. It is noted that the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP identified stronger economic performance for Warwick District than other parts of the region however there are still key issues which could affect economic recovery such as the relationship with housing growth and congestion on strategic routes into Leamington and Warwick.

There is a requirement for the preparation of cogent evidence to objectively assess whether Scenario 3, or a higher level of growth provision is required to meet the needs for housing in the District, and the need for economic development in the District during the Plan period.

Points out a distinction between land suitable for economic development defined in paragraph 4 of PPS4 and the definition used within the consultation draft as being for B1, B2 and B8. The government expects local authorities to plan positively for new development and prepare local plans with sufficient flexibility to respond to rapid shifts in demand or other economic changes. Local authorities should identify and meet housing, business and other development needs of the area.

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.

Is concerned over the credibility of the Enterprise Zone proposals at Coventry Airport and how this might influence decisions within the New Local Plan. Experience from other similar sites such as Ansty Park suggests that progress developing the site is unlikely to happen over night. The number of jobs forecast appears very optimistic particularly since the level is higher that that stated for the recently agreed Stafford Enterprise Zone which is larger. The required road infrastructure is not easily solved particularly at the Tollbar End roundabout, the proposed solutions raise concerns for the highways authority and other businesses in the area. The EA has information on locally known landfill sites in the Baginton area. Careless development may risk contaminants finding their way into the Avon.

The underlying basis of the Local Plan consultation is fundamentally flawed as it has had regard to the proposal to abolish regional strategies.

The consultation makes no reference to objective assessments of housing need, presents inadequate information to the local community on the need for housing, or consider the requirement to accommodate development needs that may arise from neighbouring authorities.

The thrust of the document is not aligned with the Government's 'Planning for Growth' statement. This Plan should be proactive in driving and supporting growth and make every effort to identify and meet the housing, business and other development needs of the area. Only Scenario Three attempts to address this.
Authorities should work together to ensure that needs and opportunities that extend beyond, or cannot be met within their own boundaries are identified and accommodated in a sustainable way. The LEP wish to be fully engaged in the production of a Local Plan which is fit for purpose, adequately making provision for development needs, placing top priority on new investment and jobs.
A pro-growth local plan should not be viewed as inconsistent with the overarching objective for sustainable development and can still ensure adequate environmental protection.


The description of Scenario Three is not balanced.

The background papers have not established the level of need consistent with the Government's objective that development plans are 'pro-growth'.

A further consultation exercise should be undertaken providing evidence as to the need for new housing and economic development so that responses may be made on growth options that are aligned to sustainable development principles.

I am in favour of Scenario One, with development for housing being met by a combination of: District Wide small scale development.

Job growth centred on an Enterprise Zone at Coventry Airport will be good for the District but will require better transport links if sustainability criteria is to be met and large scale housing will be required in the north of the District rather than south of Warwick. Before demolishing existing office and retail space perhaps a comprehensive effort should be made to market it and seek reuse via a centralised agency to list and sell. Centralised services such as secretarial support, car parking and meeting rooms could be established and charged on a usage basis and furnished office suites provided on rolling two month contracts.

It is important to preserve the unique identity of Warwick as a small market town, full of historic buildings, small shops, public gardens. Warwick town centre is already weathering the recession better than most high streets because of the diversity of small independant shops and vibrancy of our market. Should further on existing independant book sellers, art shops and and antique dealers to foster niche markets. Larger scale development would be detrimental to the character of the town centre and better considered on one of the retail or business parks with more space and better infrastructure. Empty retail units should be made available to community groups for nominal rent or used to display items from the Warwickshire museum services. There is an opportunity to reuse the historic court complex in Warwick into a themed court visitor attraction and conference venue. There is sufficient visitor accomodation in the town centre and recent increases in capacity may cause small operators to go bust. Restaurants and cafes have proved very successful in warwick and should be encouraged - Warwick could emulate Ludlow and become a food town by combining quality dining with independent retailers and local produce. Visitors to the Castle and racecourse should be encouraged to visit the town centre via better signage, pedestrian access and voucher schemes. Events should be held to mark the 1100 anniversary of the founding of Warwick such as seeking city status and a year long festival.

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.

5. Health & Wellbeing

From the Parish Plan survey: Residents regard health & wellbeing as important, with a third of leisure journeys involving walking or cycling; footpaths are rated as important by two thirds, cycleways by nearly hald and bridleways a third. Greatest demand for activities in the village was various forms of keeping fit (1 in 5 respondents). Two thirds of respondents would like a doctor's surgery in Hatton Park.

6. Road Congestion & Air Pollution

An important issue for the parish which relies almost exlusively on the busy A4177. Just over hald of respondents consider the volume of traffic or the dangerous junctions on this road to be a problem.

Most households depend on cars, three quarters for work and half for school, shopping and leisure. A third use buses for school, but less than a tenth for shopping trips and 5% for work and leisure journeys. Half of the journeys made by bus are to Warwick and a third to Leamington. Overall this travel pattern is not conducive to sustainable development nor helpful in combating climate change.

Hatton has very few public facilities. the Ferncumbe School at Hatton Green is thriving and very popular, but probably has limited scope for expansion. There are village halls at Hatton and Hatton Park, a very small shop at Hatton Park and all weather sports area and children's playground at Hatton Park. the shop has almost closed on at least one occasion and the Hatton Park Village Hall has struggled to find volunteers to run it.

Scenario 1 with its low levels of growth would most closely match the views of Hatton residents and be most appropriate for this Parish.

The uncertain future of the economy is an issue of concern to everyone in the Parish.

Residents would wish to see economically strong, vibrant and attractive town centres given that they rely on them for many of their needs and services.