Concerns raised over dropped plans for 2,400 'garden village' near Coventry

[dutchman]

Plans for a 2,400 home 'garden village' on the edge of Coventry have been dismissed by Rugby Borough Council.



Local business leaders have now expressed concern over the borough council's decision to shun the building of Walsgrave Hill Farm for an alternative scheme, due to green belt considerations.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has written to the Government with a number of concerns regarding development and is urging it to intervene so “common sense can prevail”.

The chamber wants the Government to address the region’s shortage of employment land as a matter of priority.

The Walsgrave Hill Farm scheme is comprised of 2,400 new homes that would complement the expansion of the Ansty Business Park and Rolls Royce site. It would help maximise the environmental benefits of Coombe Country Park to the wider public.

Launching a consultation exercise on its draft local plan towards the end of 2016, Rugby Borough Council proposed a new garden village at an alternative site, Lodge Farm, to the south west of the A45 opposite Onley prison. This was of particular concern to locals.

It added: “This site has been included following an earlier call for sites and, now it has been proposed by a developer, has to replace a previous proposal for a new village at Walsgrave Hill Farm, which is in the green belt.”

The chamber has written to Gavin Barwell, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, saying it backs ambitious plans for 88,000 new homes in the sub-region in the period between 2011 and 2031.

But the chamber says the plans for more employment sites fall way short of meeting the needs of the growing population’s ability to be self-sustained when it comes to jobs.

It added that, due to the ‘welcome pace’ of economic growth, the 714 hectare target across the 20-year period amounts to just two-and-a-half years’ provision and will hinder the area’s potential of landing major inward investors.

According to the chamber, that will be a severe restriction on ambitious and essential growth plans for the regional economy and its ability to provide employment to a growing population over the next 15 years.