Publication Draft

Object

Representation ID: 65747

Received: 25/06/2014

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The population projections on which the plan is based are out of date. The 2012 ONS projections show a lower population growth. This is also true for most neighbouring districts with the exception of Coventry. If WDC continue with their plans to build homes, this will mean the homes are built in the wrong place.

Projections in population growth in Coventry are uncertain due to volatile inward migration from abroad. The ONS figures for Coventry represent 1.2% increase per year which implausibly large in comparison with national picture and other cities. This should not therefore be used to justify building homes in Warwick.

The latest ONs projections provide the best basis for the Local Plan, however these demonstrate that the Plan is unsound as they indicate the population is projected to be over 6000 fewer than those on which the Plan is based.
The need for additional homes is sensitive to average household size. The Plan assumes 2.181 by 2029 on the basis that the trend will decrease. However the are conflicting possible trends and this trend is not supported by the 2001 and 2011 census data.
12,860 is therefore an excessive figure and even if the ave. household size is 2.181 this is 2760 more dwellings than are needed.

Object

Representation ID: 66365

Received: 25/06/2014

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The population projections on which the plan is based are out of date. The 2012 ONS projections show a lower population growth. This is also true for most neighbouring districts with the exception of Coventry. If WDC continue with their plans to build homes, this will mean the homes are built in the wrong place.

Projections in population growth in Coventry are uncertain due to volatile inward migration from abroad. The ONS figures for Coventry represent 1.2% increase per year which implausibly large in comparison with national picture and other cities. This should not therefore be used to justify building homes in Warwick.

The latest ONs projections provide the best basis for the Local Plan, however these demonstrate that the Plan is unsound as they indicate the population is projected to be over 6000 fewer than those on which the Plan is based.
The need for additional homes is sensitive to average household size. The Plan assumes 2.181 by 2029 on the basis that the trend will decrease. However the are conflicting possible trends and this trend is not supported by the 2001 and 2011 census data.
12,860 is therefore an excessive figure and even if the ave. household size is 2.181 this is 2760 more dwellings than are needed.

Object

Representation ID: 66369

Received: 25/06/2014

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

This policy is based on a housing target that is not justified. Much of the allocation is on land to the south of Warwick and Leamington. The implications for transport and other infrastructure are severe, damaging and expensive. If fewer houses were planned for the a large proportion of the need could be provided for on brownfield sites as required by the NPPF.

Object

Representation ID: 66372

Received: 25/06/2014

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Various policies refer to sustainable communities and lifestyles (DS3, DS5, BE1, TR1, TR2, HS1, HS6 etc). The intentions of these policies are good but the plan fails to follow these through and fails to set effective priorities and policies to achieve these aims. Instead it recommends low density urban sprawl which will be dependent on motor vehicles and will not deliver sustainable lifestyles. It therefore represents and unsound strategy. Whilst the plan seeks to encourage walking and cycling, this will not be achieved as wider, busier roads will intimidate and discourage pedestrians and cyclists. The low density suburbs do not provide a sound basis for supporting an effective bus service.

Object

Representation ID: 66374

Received: 25/06/2014

Respondent: The Leamington Society

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The Plan is not supported by properly devloped and costed infrastructure proposals. The IDP expresses wishes and hopes rather than commitments.

The development sites present real transport difficulties. The mitigation relies on widening and upgrading junction capacity involving considerable expense.This will lead to worsening air quality and health outcomes.
Alternative and lower carbon modes of transport have not been addressed through policies and only a tiny proportion of the budget looks at this area. This is not consistent with the NPPF.