Campaigners fight appeal over Weddington housing plans

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Campaigners fighting a housing development on farmland in Nuneaton have been told “it would be a very attractive place to live”.


St James Church, Weddington

The statement was made by a design expert responsible for drawing up the master plan to put 326 homes on a green field site next to St James Parish Church in Weddington.

Philip Rech, who works for Derby-based architectural consultants FPCR, was the first witness at a public inquiry which opened on Tuesday at Nuneaton Town Hall.

Mr Rech was appearing on behalf of Hallam Land Management, from Sheffield, who are appealing against a decision by the borough council to reject their application to build the estate, off Weddington Road.

He outlined what is envisaged for the estate, which includes houses and bungalows, plus a doctor’s surgery and a country park.

“We have adopted a ground-up approach to the scheme with the church being surrounded by green space, adjacent to a bridle path, with access to existing countryside,” he said.

“All trees will be preserved. The area to the south west links to the Anker Valley, to provide a very positive piece of high-quality green space.

The contained site would provide much-needed housing growth, which will not compromise the countryside around Weddington.

"It would be a very attractive place to live.”

Despite rejecting the proposal the council’s planning committee has since done a U-turn on legal advice because of flawed housing target figures, leaving Hallam to face opposition from members of local action group SWORD (Save Weddington; Oppose Residential Development) and Nuneaton Friends of the Earth.

However, officers from the council are sitting in on the inquiry, which could last three days, and are also due to present a statement outlining reasons for not fighting the appeal.

Government planning inspector David Hollis said: “This is an unusual case” and added that the local authority and Hallam were “if you like, on the same side now”.

Barrister Thomas Hill is representing the developers at the inquiry and said the borough council had “revisited the planning application” following a similar appeal over a development in Keresley.

He added: “The figures show a significant shortfall in housing targets and, therefore, this appeal should be allowed.”

Dr Alan Srbljanin, chairman of SWORD, and Keith Kondakor, from the Friends of the Earth, are challenging the Hallam appeal.

They are being supported by residents in the public gallery and will call several witnesses, including Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones, Nuneaton Civic Society chairman Peter Lee and borough councillor Jeff Clarke.

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Councillors accused over Weddington housing plan

COUNCILLORS have “let down” residents who have mounted a David versus Goliath battle against plans to build 326 homes on farmland in Nuneaton.

The accusations was made by town MP Marcus Jones when he spoke out against the controversial application during a three-day public inquiry last week.

Developers Hallam Land Management lodged an appeal after planning committee members on the Labour-run borough council refused to give the go-ahead for the housing estate, on a site next to St James Church, Weddington.

That decision was later reversed on legal advice over flawed housing target figures – leaving members of two action groups, SWORD (Save Weddington; Oppose Rural Development) and the local Friends of the Earth to oppose the appeal.

Mr Jones, a former council leader and now a Tory MP, travelled from Westminster specially to support the campaigners.

He said: “The biggest challenge has been that lay people have come up against a professional QC and a team of experts representing.

“It has been like a David Vs Goliath encounter. This is where support from the council could have proved invaluable. Instead, this has been found wanting – and the council has let down the residents.

“The fact that 3,500 people living in Weddington signed a petition against the plans has been ignored by Hallam.

"The councillors have abdicated their responsibility, which could end up having dire consequences.”

The council’s legal director Philip Richardson, along with head of planning policy Kelly Ford and principal planning officer Claire Hill, sat in on the inquiry as observers, while a statement outlining the reasons for not challenging the appeal was presented to the government inspector.

Alan Srbljanin, chairman of SWORD, also hit out at the lack of support from the council.

He said: “Overall, the process has been like a football match in which the home team players – our council – have refused to play, leaving the spectators to take to the field.

"The whole system has been against us. The councillors and the officers have let us down.”

The inspector, David Hollis, made a site visit on Friday.

A final decision is expected within two months.

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Weddington homes plans to go-ahead after appeal u-turn


Weddington Fields

A huge housing development on Nuneaton green belt in Weddington has been given the go-ahead on appeal.

Campaigners are furious after a government planning inspector yesterday overturned a decision to stop 326 houses being built on Weddington Fields.

Planning Inspector David Hollis reversed Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s earlier decision as it had not made sufficient housing provision available elsewhere.

The council does not have a Local Plan of housing targets for the next five years so developers Hallams successfully argued in favour of the new estate on farmland next to Weddington Parish Church.

John Brookes, of Save Weddington Oppose the Residential Development (SWORD), said: “We have only lost a battle - not the war.

“SWORD will be using our limited funds and resources to see what other avenues may be open to us to challenge this decision.

“Although we must at this stage be realistic about what we can now achieve.”

The appeal comes after Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council withdrew their opposition to the housing estate on a point of law.

The planning inspector’s report stated the borough council had to earmark a five year supply of deliverable sites for 2,225 dwellings to meet national targets.

The fight against Hallams had gained huge support and regular meetings have been held to discuss how the borough’s green spaces can now be preserved.

Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones and the local branch of Friends of the Earth have also spoken out against the development.

A petition of 3,783 signatures was handed in at a packed council meeting when it denied planning permission last August.

SWORD claims the council has “abandoned their electorate by deciding not to oppose this appeal”.

Mr Brookes said: “Our own council should have been alongside us at this inquiry, fighting on behalf of residents’ wishes.

“Even the inspector stated that the local authority and Hallams were ‘on the same side’ now.”

“There is something wrong with our local democracy if developers are allowed to bully our council into deciding what gets built.”

He added: “This is not the end.

“Nuneaton and Bedworth is still without a Local Plan, leaving the whole borough vulnerable to development threats.

“We are keen to use the fantastic support w’ve gained so far to push for residents to work with the council to develop a housing strategy that meets the needs of the public - not out-of-town developers.”

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Campaigners vow to protect land



Campaigners in north Warwickshire say they will fight plans to build more than 300 homes - by turning the area into a village green.

Members of Save Weddington: Oppose the Residential Development (Sword) said the area in Nuneaton is not suitable.

Planning permission was granted on Wednesday after a public inquiry.

John Brookes, from Sword, said: "There are some areas in which we can challenge the outcome of the inquiry."

He said they have already had a positive response from residents in the area to the idea of getting the land declared a village green by the council.

Mr Brookes said: "A certain space can be registered as a village green if we can prove it's been used for recreation without hindrance for the last 20 years.

"There's a bridleway across it and access gates, people living around want to protect it.

"If we can register it, it is illegal to tamper with the land even if planning permission has been granted."

Developers Hallam Land Management propose to build 326 homes on the site.

An application for the development on green space in Weddington, Nuneaton, was narrowly rejected by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council last year.

Mr Brookes said Sword plans to apply to the council for the space to be declared a village green next month.

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Legendary Nuneaton-born film-maker Ken Loach has added his support to the battle to save countryside where he played as a boy.



Campaigners fighting to prevent hundreds of homes being built on Weddington Fields want the ancient farmland to be re-classified as a `village green.’

Ken Loach, one of the most admired and respected film directors of his generation, has spoken out in favour of the eleventh hour rescue bid.

The man whose screen successes include `Kes,’ `Poor Cow,’ `Looking for Eric’ and `The Wind that Shakes the Barley,’ said: “I think it is entirely appropriate that these fields should be designated as a village green.

“As a former resident of Nuneaton with a good memory of Weddington, I can recall the fields being used for recreation by people of all ages.

“We certainly played there as children and, in retrospect, valued the green space that was accessible, safe and close to homes.”

He added: “To close this land would be a serious loss to the local community and would have a detrimental effect on people’s quality of life.

“We must all ensure that these fields with their historic connections are protected for future generations.”

A government planning inspector has ruled that Hallam Developments can create a new estate of 326 homes on Weddington Fields, despite a storm of protest.

SWORD (Save Weddington: Oppose the Development), has launched a last ditch attempt to prevent the houses being built by putting in an application to have it classed as ‘Village Green’.

John Brookes, a spokesman for SWORD, said: “We need people to support us by filling in an `evidence form’ to support our application to Warwickshire County Council.”

But he added: “We need to act quickly because the government may change the law soon and the developers will be pressing ahead as quickly as they can.”

The forms can be downloaded from the SWORD website, but the campaigners are also asking for volunteers to deliver the forms to 1,000 households.

Once land is officially designated as `Village Green.’ it is protected from being developed, even if permission has already been granted.

The borough council originally refused the planning application, but withdrew its opposition after being advised that it was `flawed’ because it could not be shown that local authority could meet its housing needs for the next five years.

An `evidence form’ proving the land is used by the local community can be downloaded from http://www.saveweddington.org.uk and photographs and documents can be scanned and emailed to info@saveweddington.org.uk.

The forms should be printed out and signed and returned to SWORD c/o 67, Church Lane, Weddington, CV10 0EY.

Residents of Weddington, people from the wider borough who regularly use the area and past residents of Weddington can fill in the forms.

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400 more new homes shock

A LEADING local political figure has admitted he is ‘appalled’ at the stunning prospect of more precious acres of Nuneaton countryside being swallowed up by developers.

County councillor Alan Farnell has written to Hallam Land Management to demand they ‘come clean’ about plans to build 400 new homes in Weddington.

The proposed new homes are in addition to the 326 homes in Weddington Church Fields which protesters want designating as Village Green.

The result of a Public Inquiry into their bid to save the fields is due to be announced early in the New year.

Cllr Farnell represents Weddington at Shire Hall where he is also the most influential political voice as leader of Warwickshire County Council.

He said: “I am appalled at the prospect of a further 400 homes being built on greenfield land in Weddington seemingly without consultation with local people and I would urge residents concerned about this possible development to give me their views.”

Cllr Farnell said the Labour-controlled borough council gave permission to the same developer to build the 326 new homes, despite strong opposition from local residents which forced the Public Inquiry.

He has now written to Hallam Land Developments to request information about their new plans .

“Yet again, there is a lack of information coming from the developer and the borough council so I have written to the developers to ask that they provide me with information about their plans as soon as possible.”

He is being supported by Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones who has again called for the borough council to consult residents on the development of a Borough Plan, the lack of which, he says, could lead to ‘development by default’ on greenfield land.

Marcus Jones said: “The leader of the borough council needs to begin consulting with the public about a Borough Plan urgently, or this type of potential development on greenfield land could continue without local people having any say.”

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Weddington homes row: Campaigners apply for village green status



Campaigners in north Warwickshire have applied to turn an area earmarked for more than 300 homes into a village green in a bid to stop the development.

Members of Save Weddington: Oppose the Residential Development (Sword) said the area in Nuneaton is not suitable.

Planning permission for the proposal by Hallam Land Management was granted last year after a public inquiry.

Sword will be successful if it can prove the green space has been used by residents for 20 years.

An application for the development of 326 homes on green space in Weddington was narrowly rejected by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in 2011.

The latest application is due to be considered by Warwickshire County Council next month.

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Weddington homes row: Village green status bid refused

Campaigners in Warwickshire have said they will continue to fight plans for 300 new homes, despite losing a bid to get the site declared a village green.

Members of Save Weddington: Oppose the Residential Development (Sword) said the green space in Nuneaton is not suitable for development.

A government inspector recommended refusal of the village green application following a public inquiry.

Warwickshire County Council will make a final decision on the plan on Tuesday.

Planning permission for the proposal by Hallam Land Management to build 326 homes on land next to Weddington Parish Church was granted last year.

Colin Burrows, from Sword, said: "We're devastated by the outcome of the inspector's report because we believe we've fulfilled all the criteria necessary for the fields to be classified as a village green."

"The fight goes on, we're putting pressure on the council and local MPs to support us because it could still be overturned.

"The council meet on Tuesday, we will have opportunities to make arguments on that particular day, and hopefully they'll see the need to support the local community rather than developers."

Warwickshire County Council said it had noted the recommendation of the inspector and it was looking at her report before making a final decision.

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'No support' for 400 homes plan in Weddington

The leader of Warwickshire County Council says there is "no support whatsoever" for further development in an area where 400 homes are proposed.

Hallam Land Management is to consult with residents over plans for new homes in Weddington.

County council leader Alan Farnell urged the area's planning authority, Nuneaton and Bedworth Council, to designate the land as green belt.

The borough council said it had not yet received a planning application.

"It is a pre-application consultation with the local community so we can't comment," a spokesman for the Labour-run borough council said.

He said the council "was aware" of the proposal for Lower Farm, off Weddington Road, but would make a decision if and when a planning application was received.

Hallam Land Management is also set to build about 320 homes on a separate site in Weddington.

Previous petition

Campaign group Sword said 4,000 people had signed a petition against the original plans. It then fought to stop the development by having the site declared a village green.

But this was turned down by the Conservative-run county council after being recommended for refusal following a public inquiry.

Mr Farnell said the borough council needed to "immediately adopt a Core Strategy to prevent any future opportunistic development" in the borough.

"Until the borough council has a plan in place, these opportunistic developers will be swirling all over the fields of Weddington looking to build houses on them," he said.

"We are desperate now to get a borough plan in place so the residents know exactly where they stand."

Hallam Land Management said the latest planning application was for up to 400 homes, including affordable homes, and a new primary school on land north of Weddington Road.

A spokesman said it would be the subject of a public consultation exhibition at Weddington Church Hall between 07:00 and 14:00 GMT on 19 March.

He said a planning application would be "submitted in due course" but would not comment further.

The borough council has yet to respond to Mr Farnell's comments.