Eastern Green masterplan reveals plan for thousands of homes and primary school near A45

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The outline proposals are for land north of Eastern Green



More than two and a half thousand homes could be built on land just north of Eastern Green.

The project forms part of Coventry City Council's Local Plan, which sets out how the council plans for the city to expand between now and 2031.

The plans include 2,625 homes, a new primary school, allotments, sports facilities and play areas.

It could also house a new supermarket, retail spaces and the potential for a pub.

The 142 hectare area of land is to the north of Eastern Green and to the west of Allesley Green on the western edge of Coventry.

The outline proposals are for approximately 2,625 homes on land north of Eastern Green, Coventry, which would become a new mixed-use community.

As well as providing a mix of much-needed new housing, the inclusion of the employment land and a new district centre means the proposed development would also create new jobs.

There would be areas of green open space including a new park as well as play areas, sports facilities, and allotments for new and existing residents to enjoy.

The current draft illustrative masterplan for the site includes proposals for:

• Approximately 2,625 new homes, including up to 25% affordable housing and provision for the elderly
  
• Publicly accessible green corridors along the Pickford Brook and tributaries along with green open spaces, play areas, allotments and sports facilities
  
• A new two form entry primary school
  
• Provision for neighbourhood shopping facilities and a community hall in the local centre on site
  
• District centre to provide retail and other facilities for the new and wider community
  
• 10 hectares of employment to the north of the site closest to the A45. There will also be additional employment opportunities in the school, as well as both the local and district centres
  
• The provision of a grade separated junction on the A45, which has received provisional government funding to assist in the early delivery of this large infrastructure item
  
• Connecting the site to the existing public transport service and cycle/pedestrian access
  
• Betterment of local drainage conditions designed to deal with existing overland flows and surface water disposal from the development itself
  
• Sensitive habitats on the site will be protected and enhanced, including through retention of the majority of existing trees hedgerows, and the creation of new habitats on-site.

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Coventry residents slam developers over 'sham consultation' and broken promises



FURIOUS Allesley Green residents have accused a developer of a ‘sham consultation’ and going back on its promises to implement greenbelt development sensitively.

Plans for over 2,600 homes, new roads and infrastructure and retail developments on an area to the west of Allesley Green have worried local greenbelt campaigners.

Peterborough based Hallam Land Management, revealed the ‘Eastern Green Master Plan’ last month.

Woodland ward councillors have pledged their support to residents who have called for a ‘green buffer zone’ to maintain space between existing houses and new developments with many concerned they will be ‘overlooked’.

Campaigners also want clear and up-to-date measures to minimise air pollution, congestion and traffic risks in accident prone areas.

The plan is part of Coventry City Council’s local plan – a blueprint for which areas of the city will be used for housing, employment and other uses up to 2031.

Residents are concerned traffic will be directed towards the accident ‘black spot’ Hockley Lane.

Resident campaigner Peter Maddock claimed the housing allocation has increased from when plans were first outlined.

“We don’t understand how more houses can be contemplated when the increase was not considered during the modelling for the effects on traffic or pollution,” he said.

“The developers haven’t buffered the edge of the site that goes up to Parkhill Drive and Appledore Drive.

“Furthermore, it was too short a consultation period with no response to the questions that were asked.”

Woodlands ward councillor Pete Male said: “Right from the start we’ve warned this plan was a developer’s charter with no benefit to local people. We fought hard to protect the greenbelt however we accept the decision has now been made.

“They’ve planned for even more houses, created more (traffic) access points and ignored pleas from residents to maintain a buffer zone.”

The proposal was first announced in January 2016 and was opposed by Conservative councillors.

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Fears have been raised over plans to build up to 2,625 homes on former green belt land in Eastern Green



A consultation deadline is due to expire on December 13 but local Conservative councillors have demanded an extension to the deadline, fearing it does not give residents enough time to have their say.

Cllr Peter Male said: "We've said from day one that we need a Local Plan for local people and not this developer's charter.

"Just like the Local Plan itself this application is being rushed through and it's just not good enough.

"This is a complex and detailed planning application and we all need time to properly respond.

"If anyone is to have a shred of confidence in this process the people's petition must be heard."

Cllr Gary Ridley, leader the Conservative group, has concerns over the scale of the development.

He said: "We already have concerns that the developers have sought to cram hundreds of additional homes onto this site than previously anticipated.

"What impact will this have on the final development? Will it be able to cope with additional traffic? Will there be a green buffer between existing homes and new development?

"These questions keep coming and three weeks just isn't long enough to bottom out these issues."

Independent Cllr Glenn Williams said he has also asked for an extension to the deadline.

He added: "This area is part of Allesley Parish and the ancient Arden.

"To have in excess of 2,600 houses here plus a whole number of warehouses does not respect the rural nature of this area.

"There is a real lack of care for our people and that has been demonstrated through the whole Local Plan process."

Coventry council said residents have already had a chance to comment on the plans during meetings with the developer, and added comments will be accepted beyond the consultation deadline.

Tracy Miller, the council's head of planning and regulation, said: "My own team have always been clear with people that although there is a set three week period, we always take comments, objections and support right up to the day of decision.

"I'm sure there will be lots of interest in this application. Anyone that comments in the three-week period will automatically be written to, to see if they also wish to speak if the application goes to planning committee. We can also use our discretion to allow late speakers - and we do this when necessary."

[Melisandre]

Before long if its left to CCC we won't have any greenbelt. Marvelous that for scores of years Coventry people have been denied to be able to build one house or buildings on the green belt but CCC soon declassify our green belt for developers to house others .

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Council chiefs refuse to extend public consultation on plans for 2,700 homes on Coventry green land

COUNCIL chiefs have refused to extend a public consultation on controversial plans to build 2,700 homes on green land in Coventry after criticism from hundreds of residents.

The council has allowed only a three-week formal consultation period which ends on December 13.

Nearly 250 residents signed a petition demanding an extension.

Today, the council told us it will not extend the consultation phase but will consider every written response from between now and and the application’s expected decision date on March 16 next year, which is standard procedure.

Conservative Woodlands councillors accused the Labour-controlled council of rushing plans through with not all residents given the chance to voice concerns.

The council’s head of planning Tracy Miller praised the work the developer has done consulting with residents. It includes conducting drop-in sessions and meetings with residents’ groups.

She added that although there is still a three-week period, it is customary for planners to “take comments, objections and support right up to the day of decision”.

Anyone who comments within the three-week period will automatically be asked if they wish to speak if the application goes to planning committee.

A chief requirement for opposition Conservatives – who support a brownfield first housing policy – is the formation of a green buffer separating the new development and existing houses.

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Ancient Coventry landscape at risk from "urban sprawl"

A lack of clarity on planning guidance issued to developers in Coventry’s Ancient Arden could lead to an “urban sprawl”, it has been warned.

Under the Local Plan, 3,100 homes have been allocated for development in Keresley, with a further 2,250 at Eastern Green.

Coventry City Council is updating its planning guidance in relation to this as its current information has not been updated since 1995.

Part the guidance includes buffer zones between developments and the ancient woodlands, which could include trees, shrubs or open land.

While the government state this must be at least 15 metres, the Forestry Commission and The Woodland Trust recommend a buffer of up to 50m, while National England request up 100m.

Coventry’s plan does not state any guidance – meaning developers only need to apply the bare minimum issued by the government.

The Arden area includes much of Warwickshire and part of Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and is traditionally regarded as extending from the River Avon to the River Tame.

It was once heavily wooded, giving rise to the name Forest of Arden.

At a housing cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Roger Bailey (Con) said: “This is open to interpretation. I do have a concern with that.

“This is a very ancient landscape dating five to six thousand years old.”

Cllr Marcus Lapsa (Con) added: “It is the terminology. How far could they get before it is considered urban sprawl?”

The council’s planning and housing policy manager Mark Andrews said: “It is purely down to the fact that we are dealing with a large area.

“If you were to say it has to be a certain buffer between all new and existing developments, it might be appropriate on the eastern boundary but not the west.”

Cllr Glenn Williams (Ind) said one developer, Bellway Homes, has already submitted a plan for 550 homes in Keresley with a 15m buffer.

He added: “Residents are not happy about that.

“When we have meetings with the developers they say these are our designs, but if these do not comply with the Ancient Arden then this is a waste of time.”

Mr Andrews added: “That is something we will have to look at as the planning process evolves.”

[Melisandre]

I do not understand why all these houses need to be built every one I know now knowing what this city has become want to leave Coventry.

[rebbonk]

We are a very small country and we are overcrowded. - That in itself brings well documented problems.

Continuing with our ludicrous immigration policies (because some greedy b@st@rd can make a few bob) is obscene.

We can't cope as we are, carrying on the way the imbecilic politicians want to is going to sink us.

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Fresh concerns raised over plans to build 2,625 homes as NHS warns of strain on services



NATIONAL watchdogs have raised fresh concerns over controversial plans to build more than 2,600 homes in Coventry – while the NHS fears more pressure on already stretched services.

But the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust outlined concerns about the development in a report to the council.

It stated: “The trust is currently operating at full capacity.

“The development directly affects the ability to provide the health service required to those who live in the development and the community at large.

“The population increase associated with this proposed development will significantly impact on the performance of the trust.”

Highways England is also seeking further clarification from the developers about increased traffic concerns.

It says future traffic predictions were based on original plans for 2,250 houses rather than the extra 375 now proposed.

A Highways England report said: “We consider the potential impact of this development has not been adequately assessed.

“Depending on the amount of development traffic using the A45/A46 corridors, additional junction modelling may also be required at key junctions along the A46 corridors, in particular Stoneleigh, Thickthorn and Toll Bar junctions.”

Further concerns have been raised by the Environment Agency (EA) about the risk of flooding.

An EA letter to council officer Mary Ann-Jones states: “In the absence of an acceptable flood risk assessment we object to this application and recommend that planning permission is refused.”

It claimed the flood risk assessment did not adequately assess the potential risks in accordance with national planning laws.

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Massive housing development could include extra 1,000 homes



A controversial development on former greenbelt land at Eastern Green could include almost an extra thousand homes than thought, the council has admitted.

The site, south of the A45, was allocated for 2,250 houses in the council’s Local Plan after it was removed from the green belt in December 2017.

Hallam Land Management has submitted an outline planning application for up to 2,625 dwellings, a new primary school, retail centre and business units.

But the developer’s transport assessment states it could comprise of 3,495 houses – a staggering 55 per cent increase on what was originally planned.

Highways England has criticised the lack of detail and urged for clarification, adding the impact on roads “has not been adequately assessed”.

When asked, a council spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the 2,250 allocation was always meant to be a “minimum”.

Calls have now been made by Conservative ward councillors in Woodlands and Bablake asking the Planning Inspector to intervene.

Cllr Peter Male said: “It’s clear the council has no intention of honouring its own Local Plan.

“Make no mistake, once the greenbelt is gone it’s gone forever and cramming an extra 1,000 houses on Eastern Green would be a disaster for this community.

“Residents have been lied to at every stage of this process but this final act of betrayal will take a long time to be forgotten.”

Leader of the opposition Cllr Gary Ridley added: “Residents were given assurances about the scale of the development and their ability to influence the final design.

“That appears to be another broken promise from this failing Labour administration.”

A council spokesman said all responses will be taken into consideration when making their decision.

She added: “Our Local Plan identified 2,250 new homes at Eastern Green. This was a guide number and it's true the developer has come back with a plan for more than this.

“The independent inspector that approved our Local Plan was very clear that the number needed to be a minimum number – because we cannot fit all of our required houses inside our own boundary.

“Any additional homes that can work on the Eastern Green site or any other site in the city will reduce reliance on our neighbours to deliver homes for the city.

“But, as with all applications, the applicant will need to clearly demonstrate that the numbers work from a design, infrastructure and housing needs perspective.”