Publication Draft

Policy DS19 'Green Belt' which is limited to a single page in the document, does not make clear the full extent of development being proposed in the Green Belt and would benefit from much better cross-referencing with other policies and proposals in the plan (e.g. DS10, DS11, DS16, MS1, MS2, H1, H11, HE4, CT2, CT4, NE6), together with the specific references defined on the Proposals/Policy Maps. It should not really be necessary to have to read the whole document in order to try and understand all the Green Belt implications of the Plan. For example, Policy MS2 'Major Sites in the Green Belt' does not make any reference to the 'Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway' proposal, which may have significant Green Belt implications and is discussed in Policy DS16, but not cross-referenced in Policy DS19. The potential 'cumulative impact' on the Green Belt from possible major development and associated transport infrastructure is also not mentioned, e.g. Coventry & Warwickshire Gateway; HS2; coal gasification; and housing development.

The policy should make it clear that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not override Green Belt policy. This is confirmed in a letter from the Rt Hon Mr David Cameron MP, the Prime Minister, to Mr Crispin Blunt MP dated 19th March 2013.

We welcome this policy as a whole and in particular the inclusion of the identification of local areas of tranquillity.

Policy NE6 'High Speed Rail 2 (HS2)' could be strengthened to seek a 'net biodiversity gain' rather than just 'minimise the impact' in order to align with the Government's own aim to 'improve the quality and increase the value of the natural environment across England'. Again, there is no Green Belt reference, or policy seeking to minimise its potential impact on the Green Belt.