Other Scenarios

Having regard to information on housing need and demand, it is evident the District Council needs to plan for a quantum of growth significantly higher than proposed under the three growth options. A failure to plan for a sufficient level of housing will only serve to perpetuate an already pressing need for more affordable homes. The Consortium does not support any of the growth options.

It considers a more sustainable and deliverable housing target should be taken forward in the Local Plan, and recommend 900 dpa as a robust and achievable target to apply.

The absence of any forecast of population growth and the reasons for it is a severe weakness of the draft, and makes invalid the assertion (page 17, para4) that scenario three would 'meet forecasts ... and projections ... based on population and household growth'. Rather, it seems to base its argument for maximum development on 'supporting the economy', overlooking the circularity of the argument.

While development should be led by other policy objectives, not be an end in itself, we consider that the level of housing development should be lower than that proposed in scenario 2. It should meet local needs for more housing and, most importantly, needs for affordable housing and housing for the elderly. It should not enable population migration from other local authorities' areas which makes the condition of Warwick District worse for its existing inhabitants

Suggests that growth may not be the appropriate objective for Warwick town centre, conservation, or change, are more significant. Are very concerned that Background Paper 11 (page 104, first three paras) focuses only on retailing and leisure as town centre activities. It omits mention of residential use and office employment, which are the two largest economic activities in Warwick town centre. It prejudges work that has not yet been started on the Town Centre Plan (AAP) in considering services to play the 'anchor function'. It is essential for both sustainability and community cohesion that the centre of the county town has a broader economic base than this, and that daytime retail activity is strengthened, not the 'evening economy'. This objective must be considered further alongside the town centre plan work, and must not constrain the outcome of that.

The objectives should have been debated and agreed before any scenarios were developed and analysed failure to do this is a major weakness of the draft.

Draft objectives 1 and 2 promote balance between economic growth and housing growth, as though each justifies the other when it is actually a circular argument. The argument for housing is unsupported in terms of level, tenure, type of location therefore without evidence the objective has no meaning.

Strongly support objective 4 on the sustainable siting of development and objective 7 on their location and design improving (not just maintaining) the built and natural environments, especially historic areas and buildings. Draws attention to the importance of green space in separating and maintaining the identity of Warwick from Leamington, Whitnash and Bishops Tachbrook. Has concern over the meaning of objective 10 which as worded suggests primacy is given to the needs of the economy rather than conservation. The objectives to improve social, transport and and service infrastructure are noted however it is suggested that achieving this and correcting present deficiencies is likely to be more difficult in the higher growth scenario, as the impact of high growth on the District's infrastructure would be greater than any additional funding resulting from it could resolve.

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 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.

The Offchurch Plan data showed that the village is divided between those who would support low housing growth (Scenario 1) and those who would like some new housing to respond to a need for both the young and the elderly to be able to stay in the village.