Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Local, national, international and oddball news stories

Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby dutchman » Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:28 pm

Thousands of homes are set to be built on green belt land in Coventry after the city council announced moves to relax planning restrictions.

Image

Labour council leader Ann Lucas revealed this afternoon that the authority planned to allow development on green belt land in the coming years.

Campaigners have previously staged mass protests over plans to build on green belt land in Keresley and Finham.

Specific areas under threat will be revealed in September when the ‘City Plan’ - which will outline suggested areas for housing and other development in the city - is published by the council.

The decision goes back on a policy of protecting the green belt from house building.

The authority has been forced to produce a new City Plan after it previously underestimated the amount of housing it would need to build.

A previous target of 11,000 new houses in Coventry by 2031 was dismissed by a government planning inspector, and a joint study of housing need by Coventry and Warwickshire councils showed up to 24,000 homes could be required.

Coun Lucas told a full council meeting today: “We will grow the city creating homes for all.

“Those brownfield sites that just a few years ago might have been used for housing are now being used for business.

“We need to find new locations for homes if Coventry is going to prosper. That means we are going to have to look at some sites previously designated as greenbelt land but have the potential for growth. Everyone in Coventry will benefit from growth.”

Earlier, Tory leader Coun John Blundell had questioned the judgment of potentially selling off greenbelt land at King’s Hill, near Finham, to Warwick District Council for housing.

Coun Lucas said: “Times are changing. You know it, I know it, and we can dance around it all you like, but there is nobody in this chamber who doesn’t know that whoever is in charge after the next election will make big changes to planning and housing numbers.

“What we are doing is ensuring that, if they so desire, Warwick District Council have the option to consider King’s Hill in their local plan.”

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50289
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby dutchman » Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:34 pm

Plans to build homes on Coventry's green belt slammed by Keresley community leader

Image

A leading green belt campaigner fears moves to relax planning laws in the city could lead to Coventry becoming part of Birmingham.

Sandra Camwell, of Keresley Parish Council, was responding to an announcement from Labour council leader Ann Lucas that the authority would open up areas of green belt land in the city to developers.

Greenbelt land in Keresley has been earmarked for development in the past as the city council sought to meet government housing targets - prompting fierce protests in the area.

Mrs Camwell said the announcement left many feeling betrayed as it went back on a promise from former Labour leader John Mutton who stated the council would not allow building on greenbelt.

“I am not happy at all. The council has sold us down the river,” she said. “We were promised by a Labour leader that the green belt would be sacrosanct.

“They say one thing to get votes and once they are there they do whatever they like. I think Coventrians feel cheated”

She added: “If they start building on greenbelt we will end up as a metropolitan borough of Birmingham. Developers want to build in phases all the way up to Birmingham airport.

“Maybe Coventry City Council will be no more.”

Mrs Camwell also said the residents of Keresley were ready to protest at the drop of a hat - but added some had grown tired of the battle and had decided to leave the area.

The council says it needs to open up greenbelt to meet housing targets. Areas under threat will be revealed in September when the authority’s ‘City Plan’ - highlighting sites for development - is published.

The new City Plan has been drawn up after a previous version underestimated the amount of housing it would need to build before 2031. A previous target of 11,000 new houses was dismissed by a government planning inspector and up to 24,000 homes could be required.

In Finham, a new parish council could be formed to oppose building on greenbelt land in the area.

The council will spend £4,000 to review whether a parish council in the ward could be viable.

It has been announced the city council could sell off land at King’s Hill, near Finham, to Warwick District Council so the neighbouring authority could include the area in its own plans for additional housing.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50289
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby rebbonk » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:28 pm

Building more homes is not the answer. The country is over crowded.

But politicians won't act for two reasons...

1) They are sh*t scared of being called racists for attempting to stem immigration.

2) The illusion of the UK recovery and GDP is based on the housing market. If that fails, the whole big lie is exposed.
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
User avatar
rebbonk
 
Posts: 65579
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:01 am

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby dutchman » Thu Jul 03, 2014 11:44 am

Council defends controversial decision to build on Coventry's green belt

Image

Council leaders have defended their decision to open up the city’s greenbelt to developers - arguing it was the only way to stop Coventry becoming a commuter city.

Coun Kevin Maton, the city’s head of business, and Martin Yardley, the council’s planning officer, said the city had no other option.

They added the city would be forced to accommodate 24,000 new homes by central government before 2031 if it didn’t find a way of accommodating them itself.

Mr Yardley suggested Coventry also had to act to allow larger houses to be built as the city’s population became more affluent and moved away from traditional manufacturing roles.

He said: “The city’s strategy for many years has been geared around job creation.

“You only have to look at they types of jobs being created in the city now to understand the housing needs of the city’s workers have changed.

“When we are trying to attract new companies, the housing stock is important. They want large houses where employees and their families can live.

“The housing ladder in Coventry is triangular - 71 per cent of houses in the city are in council tax bands A and B - but there aren’t enough of the bigger properties at the top.

“We are in competition with other areas and if we don’t act the jobs and houses will go to those areas and we will condemn Coventry to becoming a commuter city.”

Council statistics already suggest the city is on that route, revealing that the city’s population grows by 5.2 per cent during the working day - with the vast majority of those commuters classed as high earners.

Coun Maton said all of the city’s green belt and green land would be opened up to developers, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t continue to push for development on Brownfield sites.

He also dismissed concerns Coventry could become part of Birmingham, pointing out the city would have to more than double in size to get anywhere near the neighbouring city’s boundary.

He said: “We can have green lungs that extend for miles, but that is condemning people who live on brownfield sites to less green space.

“We are not going to allow the population density to increase in brown field sites - because quality of life deteriorates.

“Why should the people of Keresley and Bablake have more right to green space than those living in populated areas?”

The council's plan has come under fire from residents in Keresley and Finham who have already fought campaigns to save green belt land near their homes.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50289
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby dutchman » Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:22 am

Tories: Green belt land near Finham could become "social dumping ground"

A Tory councillor has said land bordering Finham could become a “social dumping ground” for neighbouring Warwick.

Coun Gary Crookes made the statement during a full meeting of Coventry City Council this afternoon as the Labour-led council’s decision to allow development on Coventry’s green belt land, in order to meet housing demands, was debated.

It came as Conservative colleagues attacked the decision of Labour to allow Warwick District Council to purchase land in King’s Hill, on the edge of Finham in Coventry, with a view to building up to 5,000 homes on the site as part of their local plan.

The plan is backed by Labour Coun Lynnette Kelly who will stand as the party’s Parliamentary candidate in Leamington and Warwick – where King’s Hill sits – next year.

Tory councillors pointed out Labour candidates and senior party figures had campaigned in the area, during the local elections, on the basis that they would not allow building on King’s Hill – but now the party has abandoned that position.

Coun Crookes said: “We want housing for all but this doesn’t help Coventry. King’s Hill will become the land for someone else to use as their social dumping ground.”

Conservative Coun Tim Sawdon went further, accusing Labour of a deliberate cover-up to further Coun Kelly’s career. He said: “Most of us realise that this was to bail out Coun Kelly from suffering humiliation in the general election.

“They fibbed to the electorate and then told them the truth afterwards.”

Deputy leader, Coun Phil Townshend, dismissed the suggestion, saying: “I’m a great believer in playing the ball not the man. I think it’s unattractive to suggest Coun Kelly has exercised tremendous influence over this policy.”

Coun Ann Lucas responded to Coun Sawdon by saying: “It is mean minded and mean spirited to speak in the way you did.”

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50289
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby dutchman » Mon Jul 21, 2014 3:53 pm

Green Belt campaigner launches tractor tour in protest at Coventry housing plan

Image

A campaigner is hitting the road on his trusty tractor to raise funds to challenge a council decision to allow building on Coventry’s green belt.

Tony Middleton, from Keresley, will be touring the Coventry area in his Massey Ferguson Tractor called “Fergie” in a bid to raise £250,000.

He believes that sum is needed to mount a legal challenge of Coventry City Council’s intention to relax planning restrictions and open up all green belt land in the city to developers.

The council says the decision is necessary to meet central government housing targets and meet a demand for larger homes in the city.

But green belt campaigners are furious at the council - accusing Labour councillors and election candidates of going back on a pledge to protect the countryside.

Mr Middleton said: “We would like to get a judicial review, but I’m not sure we will get enough money.

“I’m going to take it everywhere; Meriden, King’s Hill, agriculture and garden shows.

“If 250,000 people donate one pound each, then that’s £250,000. People have been offering more, so that shows they are willing to support the campaign, but you can’t be greedy when collecting money.

“There has been a good reaction so far, lots of people are donating because of the tractor. I think I could raise the money myself!”

A recent application to build 800 homes on green belt land in Keresley has prompted an angry reaction from residents who say it will cause traffic chaos and lead to the loss of countryside for future generations. Protest marches are planned and a petition has attracted thousands of signatures.

Developers, Lioncourt Homes, insist the infrastructure will be put in place to support the development which would double the size of Coventry.

Allan Owens, a parish councillor who left the Labour party in disgust at the group’s u-turn on the green belt, said: “Most people are upset about the fact Labour changed their policy even though they campaigned on the basis they would protect the green belt at the last election.

“We are planning to tackle them at the election next year. Coun David Kershaw is one of our targets.”

He added: “It is about restoring pride in politics. People are saying they will never vote Labour again and that they are liars.

“People are starting to lose faith in Coventry City Council.”

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50289
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby rebbonk » Mon Jul 21, 2014 4:39 pm

The country is over crowded as it is.

The basic infrastructure can't cope, look at the road congestion; we haven't got the capacity to meet the existing energy demands after the next couple of years, this is plain madness. - But that wont stop the greedy making a few bob!
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
User avatar
rebbonk
 
Posts: 65579
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:01 am

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby dutchman » Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:40 pm

MP attacks Coventry City Council over plan to sell off green belt for houses

Image

A Labour MP has criticised a Coventry City Council decision to sell off green belt land for development.

Coventry South MP Jim Cunningham has spoken out to oppose plans by the Labour controlled council to sell off greenbelt land at King’s Hill, near Finham, to Warwick District Council for up to 5,000 homes.

The plan seems to have caused internal wrangling within party ranks as the King’s Hill proposal is heavily backed by fellow Labour parliamentary candidate Lynnette Kelly - who will stand for MP in Leamington and Warwick at the next general election.

Coun Kelly wants Warwick to use the site to meet its own housing targets in a scheme she has branded the ‘Kelly Plan’.

Mr Cunningham said: “I have consistently campaigned for the protection of the green belt at King’s Hill. I am therefore very uncomfortable about these proposals.

“I appreciate that the council needs to look at all options for the large number of houses that need to be built to address the country’s housing shortage.

“However, we need to be convinced that there are no more brown field options and all possibilities have been exhausted before we even consider our precious green belt.

“The council needs to persuade us that there are no alternatives before we can accept the development of our green belt.

“King’s Hill is a truly beautiful spot, and is an important natural habitat for local wildlife. I would be very sorry to see it built upon. I have written to Warwickshire District Council to raise my concerns and learn of their plans for the site.”

Mr Cunningham’s comments come after Coventry’s council announced all of the city’s green belt is set to be opened up to developers as it aims to meet central government targets of 24,000 new homes by 2031.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50289
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby rebbonk » Thu Jul 31, 2014 4:56 pm

MP attacks Coventry City Council over plan to sell off green belt for houses


Well done that man! - It is sheer lunacy to continue building the way we are doing. Once the land is gone, that is it. There are other options, but the root cause is that as a country, we are full! The first politician that has the gonads to grasp that particular nettle is going to do very well.
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
User avatar
rebbonk
 
Posts: 65579
Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:01 am

Re: Council clears the way for homes to be built on green belt

Postby dutchman » Fri Aug 22, 2014 3:26 pm

Council's plans for Coventry greenbelt development revealed

Image
Graphic showing areas of green belt land in Coventry targeted for development

Huge swathes of greenbelt land in Coventry have been identified as potential locations for tens of thousands of homes to be built during the next 20 years.

Newly released council documents show areas pinpointed for potential development as the city looks to accommodate 36,220 new homes by 2031.

The details have been revealed as work continues on Coventry’s ‘Local Plan’, which sets out how the city council hopes to develop physically and economically over the next two decades. It follows the decision by the council to open up all green land to developers as it strives to meet housing targets driven by central government.

By far the biggest stretch of greenbelt land identified for potential housing is in the north west of the city, covering areas such as Keresley and Coundon.

There are also smaller patches identified in Canley, Tile Hill, Finham, Ernesford Grange, Walsgrave and Alderman’s Green.

But Coventry City Council officials say 16,000 new homes will be built on brownfield sites and that only 10 per cent of the existing greenbelt within the city’s boundary will be built on as part of the proposals.

They also say studies will be carried out to identify the “least sensitive” greenbelt land around the city.

Coun Kevin Maton, cabinet member for business, enterprise and employment, said residents should not think all of the green belt identified would disappear.

He said: “90 per cent of the land identified will be protected. If any of that land does go for housing we have to ensure the appropriate infrastructure is provided and it’s sustainable.

“We can’t make the situation for people living there worse than it already is in terms of congestion, flooding and so on.

“The fact that the map is skewed towards the north west is possibly because other areas like Westwood and Allesley have had recent development.”

The proposals mean up to 1,811 new homes a year will need to be built and Coun Maton said he believed that target was realistic.

He said: “We have managed that in the past. In the first few years it will be more difficult to achieve because it takes a while to make land available and people will, quite rightly, want to have a say if that land is close to their particular area.

“But we have 20 years to implement this. Coventry wants to become a top ten city again. Jobs and economic success are returning here. But in order to ensure this is sustainable we need to build more homes.

“This plan is really the blueprint for the future of Coventry if we want it to bring more jobs here, grow, prosper and develop some really high quality green spaces and city centre places that everyone can be really proud of.”

Coun Maton said the city would also look to trade off areas of land close to the city’s boundary with neighbouring local authorities as other councils looked to cooperate in order to meet their own housing targets.

“We need to mash our different plans together and find sites close to Coventry in Warwickshire that will be able to accommodate houses,” he said.

“It would be wrong to say where as it’s still in their jurisdiction, but this duty to cooperate is important.”

Councillors will discuss the Local Plan at a cabinet meeting on September 2 and then at a full council meeting on September 9 before a seven-week public engagement period.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50289
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Next

Return to News

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], rebbonk and 10 guests

  • Ads