Hampton Magna

1. The increase in housing estimates from 10,800 to 12,300 is without foundation, being still subject to review against adjoining authorities (e.g. Coventry and Stratford) and being based on challengeable methods. Indeed an alternative authoritative report by Bishop's Tachbrook Parish Council suggests a likely requirement of 5,400 homes, less than half the WDC estimate. Even this number will add over 10,000 people and some 15,000 vehicles to the area, resulting in additional traffic congestion and air pollution, both already at unacceptable levels.
2. An increase from 100 to 150 new homes has been included for Hampton Magna, resulting in additional population higher than the total at this time in the adjoining village of Hampton on the Hill. Amenities for these villages are already overstretched. The single road through these villages is a "rat run" by speeding traffic to Warwick Parkway and the M40. More and urgent attention should be given to improving the existing infrastructure.
3. The alternative estimate of 5,400 homes requires no development to take place in the villages mentioned in the Plan, thereby protecting the Green Belt and the Rural nature.
4. Local MP Chris White has written to Cllr. Doody on 24 June 2013 expressing concerns about the housing estimate and urging WDC to "respect the views of local residents".
5. The selection of 20 proposed sites for Gypsies and Travellers has caused unnecessary alarm among residents. Six of the sites are within two miles of Hampton on the Hill and Hampton Magna, an area with already overstretched amenities. The 31 pitches required should be placed on the fringes of other, much larger, proposed housing developments, which will provide convenient access to better amenities.

1. The increase in housing estimates from 10,800 to 12,300 is without foundation, being still subject to review against adjoining authorities (e.g. Coventry and Stratford) and being based on challengeable methods. Indeed an alternative authoritative report by Bishop's Tachbrook Parish Council suggests a likely requirement of 5,400 homes, less than half the WDC estimate. Even this number will add over 10,000 people and some 15,000 vehicles to the area, resulting in additional traffic congestion and air pollution, both already at unacceptable levels.
2. An increase from 100 to 150 new homes has been included for Hampton Magna, resulting in additional population higher than the total at this time in the adjoining village of Hampton on the Hill. Amenities for these villages are already overstretched. The single road through these villages is a "rat run" by speeding traffic to Warwick Parkway and the M40. More and urgent attention should be given to improving the existing infrastructure.
3. The alternative estimate of 5,400 homes requires no development to take place in the villages mentioned in the Plan, thereby protecting the Green Belt and the Rural nature.
4. Local MP Chris White has written to Cllr. Doody on 24 June 2013 expressing concerns about the housing estimate and urging WDC to "respect the views of local residents".
5. The selection of 20 proposed sites for Gypsies and Travellers has caused unnecessary alarm among residents. Six of the sites are within two miles of Hampton on the Hill and Hampton Magna, an area with already overstretched amenities. The 31 pitches required should be placed on the fringes of other, much larger, proposed housing developments, which will provide convenient access to better amenities.

Revised Development Strategy.
The increase in housing estimates from 10,800 to 12,300 is excessive and needs to be challenged. A knowledgeable source has put the figure at 5,400. It is important to have the estimate done accurately taking into account the estimates of adjoining District Councils since so much of the Plan is based on this estimate.
Given the estimate is nearer the 5,400 estimate, there will be no need to consider additional homes in villages and thereby protect the Green Belt.
In the case of Hampton Magna there is a proposed increase of 100-150 homes. This will mean an increase in the population of some 300 people. The existing amenities and infrastructure could not absorb this increase. Budbrooke School is already at capacity; the single road through it and Hampton-on-the-Hill is used as a "rat run" by speeding traffic to Warwick Parkway railway station and the M40. It is essential to preserve the rural character of both villages and they should be removed from any further consideration in the Plan.
Sites for Gypsies & Travellers.
From having no sites available in the 2012 Plan, there are now twenty. The selection of sites appears haphazard and unrealistic. Kites Nest Lane (GT13)is the subject of an Inquiry the outcome of which will not be known till October 2013. Land near J15 M40/A46 (GT20) was offered to the WDC for Gypsies before Morrisons returned it to farming use. It was refused on the grounds that it was too far from essential amenities. That being the case how can it now be considered in the Plan?
Since there is to be a development for many thousand homes, consideration should be given to accommodating Gypsies & Travellers within those communities where the amenities they require will be at hand.

1. The original 2012 Local Plan identified a housing requirement of 10,800 new dwellings for the District. The LPRDS now states that the requirement has increased to 12,300 homes. This is a nearly 15% increase in forecast and we do not see a robust reasoning in the LPRDS for this significant change.

2. The proposed increase of new homes in Hampton Magna up to 150 is likely to result in some 300 additional residents to the village. We are concerned that the existing amenities and infrastructure in the villages cannot absorb this increase without significant improvement. To name just a few:

* Budbrooke Primary School is already oversubscribed;
* the single access road through Hampton Magna and Hampton on the Hill has seen increasing traffic in recent years due to the development of Warwick Parkway Station and its is often used as a "rat run" of speeding traffic to Warwick Parkway station and the motorway links;
* The sewage system is already at capacity and there are a number of areas in Hampton Magna and Hampton on the Hill which are prone to flooding.

If there is any proposal to build new housing in this area then consideration and provision must be made to improve the infrastructure first.

3. It is essential to preserve the rural character and green belt area of Hampton Magna and Hampton-on-the-Hill. This area has already been significantly affected by the development of surrounding road and motorway networks, the railway link at Warwick Parkway as well as Birmingham International Airport. The residents have long suffered increased noise pollution and traffic from these developments, and the District Council has a duty to consider carefully the impact of the proposed new housing and not to devastate this area further.

4. There is already an existing demographic division between the east and west regions of Warwick resulting in variances in schools, local amenities, social and recreational facilities and house prices etc. The Local Plan is an opportunity that the District Council should use to bring down the division and make Warwick a more integrated town. Hampton Magna and Hampton on the Hill already have a high proportion of affordable housing, and to propose a further 150 homes of which 40% are affordable housing will only serve to increase the east and west divide.

5. We understand the need to provide pitches for Gypsies & Travellers which was missing in the original Local Plan. The LPRDS now suggests twenty different sites within the District to accommodate 206 pitches. However, we are not convinced that the proposal has been well researched and thoroughly assessed - it feels more of a kneejerk reaction and a piecemeal approach, yet the locations and sizes of these sites could have long lasting impact on local communities. There are six proposed sites within two miles of Hampton-on-the-Hill amounting to 41 pitches, and some of these proposed sites are very close to main roads which we do not consider as suitable for any residential purposes no matter who they are. We would suggest that pitches should be built on brownfield sites wherever possible, or be accommodated within the development of future new housing areas where all the amenities will be at hand.

The Local Plan is a blue print for the future development of the District and we believe it is also a great opportunity for improving the infrastructure, supporting economic development, enhancing community integration and improving quality of life for the residents. We urge the Councillors and the Council officers to carefully reconsider the number of developments, their locations and the impact on local infrastructure and local community.

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