Plan for 165 new homes in Southam is approved

Stratford District Council’s planning committee voted in line with planning officers’ recommendation that they give their consent to Taylor Wimpey’s application to build up to 165 houses on 8.6 hectares of land to the west of Coventry Road.

In its application, the firm stated that the homes would be a mix of two, three and four-bed housing as well as some one-bed flats, with 35 per cent of the homes classed as ‘affordable’.

On its website dedicated to the development (www.westofcoventryroad.co.uk), it states: “Taylor Wimpey understands the importance of creating a development that is appropriate to its setting. A local context appraisal has been undertaken to gain an understanding of the site’s setting and so that the design of the site is sensitive to its surroundings.

“It is essential that the site is linked to local services – both within Southam and beyond - and there are excellent links to public transport, road and footpath networks.”

The district council received only two letters of objection to the proposal, which stated that the scale of the development would put pressure on the town’s infrastructure. One of the letter-writers threatened legal action unless a large physical screen is placed to the back of the estate.

But Southam Town Council stated its support for the scheme, although it asked to be consulted on the design and construction of the recreational facilities at the site. Town councillor Jennie Ellard spoke at Wednesday’s meeting, urging those on the committee to vote in favour of it.

In their report to councillors on the planning committee, the district council’s planning officers had written: “The benefits of the scheme are significant and include the sustainable delivery of open market and affordable housing in a high quality development.

“The development will also provide much-needed affordable housing - a significant planning benefit in favour of the proposals due to historic significant under-delivery.”