MS2
Object
Publication Draft Local Plan: Focused Consultation
Representation ID: 67491
Received: 12/12/2014
Respondent: Jaguar Land Rover
Agent: Gerald Eve LLP
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Not specified
Jaguar Land Rover welcome the identification of the Former Honiley Airfield as a key employment site in the District which plays an important role in the local, sub-regional and national economy.
Draft Policy MS2 sets out that in the case of the Former Honiley Airfield there may be very special circumstances to justify further development. Furthermore, the policy states that the range of uses will be restricted to the automotive and motorsport industries and employment associated with these industries.
Within the policy, the Council has acknowledged that the site has an important role in delivering the aims of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), in relation to the growth of manufacturing, particularly in the long term through the implementation of the planning permission.
Within the explanation text of the policy, paragraph 3.153 sets out that some small scale development will
be necessary adjacent to the test track to assist in operations, but that the Council will ensure that the
openness of the Green Belt is maintained.
An automotive and research related employment site such as Fen End needs to ensure that it can adapt quickly to external forces such as technological advances and changes in market demand. It is crucial that the site is expanded to create confidence to attract investment. This employment site has the potential to contribute to the aims and objectives of the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP. It is considered that the Council as a minimum re-examines the
boundary of the MDS to include the test track as part of the overall site. It would be more appropriate, however, to go further than this and seek to remove the entire site out of the Green Belt to ensure that the site's future use is secured and that future development of employment
generating uses are not restricted by the Green Belt or MDS allocation
see attached