Regenerate our urban areas

Urban regeneration – Why is this being overlooked? Of course people living in Bishops Tachbrook and Warwick and Whitnash are relieved at last week’s decision by the planning committee to refuse Lloyd’s application to build on Grove Farm. But we hope residents across the district will welcome the decision too.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Oct 2013, 08:17 BST

Swamping one specific part of our district with new housing is not necessary or wise and the RDS has had the effect of dividing the interest of the north and south part of our district. Of course we all need some new housing and scope for economic growth - but 12,300 is an absurd target. In the last 20 years the district delivered 40 per cent more homes than the national average and the RDS sets out housing numbers at more than 100 per cent more than is needed for the predicated change in the local population including a substantial allowance for growth.

Our calculations show that 5,400 new homes would be more than enough to look after the needs of our population and a figure that would still allow for economic growth. And even this more modest figure would still swell the population of the district by a further 10% over the plan period.

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It seems that when it comes to new housing, Warwick District Council are dancing to the Government’s tune rather than responding to the wishes and hopes of the community. How is it that £100,000 was quickly found to fight the government on HS2, but no resistance has been put up against housing numbers which will be at least as damaging to all of us as the discredited Regional Spatial Strategy?

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It was encouraging to see Conservative and Independent councillors from all parts of the district coming together to reach this decision. We live in hope that Lib Dems and Labour groups will review their unstinting support for new housing development on green field land. The towns of Warwick and Leamington will be massive losers, suffering from increasing pollution and traffic congestion if the district’s current plans are carried through - this isn’t just about protecting open countryside, important though that is.

We’d like to see much more effort going into regeneration in urban areas. This would benefit people living near our four town centres, giving a direct boost to their local economy. Perhaps all our elected representatives should insist that our planners spend their time on this opportunity rather than in discussion with developers who are hell bent on maximising their own profits through pursuing the soft option, building on farmland?

Sean Deely, Chairman , Bishop’s Tachbrook Parish Council

Related topics:GovernmentWarwick District CouncilHS2