Plans for 25,000 homes will change of city shape
SCHEME SIGNED OFF BY THE GOVERNMENT WILL LEAD TO LOSS OF 10% OF GREEN BELT
PLANS for 25,000 new homes, which will completely reshape Coventry and affect almost every area of the city, have been labelled as “great news”.
Labour’s Cllr Linda Bigham, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for community development, said she was pleased the city’s Local Plan – which will also see the loss of 10 per cent of the city’s green belt – had been signed off by the government.
But Gary Ridley, the leader of the Conservative opposition on the city council, said the plans, which set out how the city plans to expand between now and 2031, amounted to a “developers’ charter” and would result in the loss of important green spaces forever.
The council says the Local Plan allows the authority to retain some control over where houses are built, suggesting failure to produce a local plan would have resulted in a free for all.
It has been drawn up to show how the local authority expects to be able to deal with forecast population growth over the next 15 years. However, councillors have previously said that not all of the houses on the plan would be built if the city’s population does not increase in line with estimates.
Cllr Bigham said: “I’m really pleased that the local plan has been approved. This is great news as it’s really important for the city to have an approved plan for growth and development that balances our ambitious plans for Coventry alongside protecting our most sensitive green spaces. It means that we have a robust document to work with alongside developers and investors to get the best for Coventry. “The approval is the culmination of years of hard work from our teams and some brilliant partnership working with our neighbouring authorities to ensure that the plan benefits everyone living in the area. “Not having an approved plan is not an option as it would mean house builders could submit plans for land anywhere in the city.” Cllr Ridley said his Tory group believed that brownfield sites should be developed before any green belt land is released. The group has also raised questions over the accuracy of population growth estimates.
I’m really pleased that the local plan has been approved. This is great news as it’s really important for the city’s growth. Cllr Linda Bigham
He said: “Brownfield sites must be developed before the green belt and there should be a review into the type of housing needed before any houses are built.
“Once the green belt is gone, it’s gone forever and we need to develop our city sensitively and for the benefit of local residents.
“What we need is a local plan for local people – not a developer’s charter.”
Coventry City Council said the government had found the local plan to be “legally compliant and sound” subject to a series of minor modifications and adjustments set out in the inspector’s report. The council also confirmed the plans were still subject to legal challenge.
A statement said: “The adopted plans will be subject to a six-week legal challenge period.
“The adoption of the plans will be discussed in Cabinet on 28 November 2017.”
The plans would then be discussed, and finally approved, at a full council meeting on December 5.