Fear city’s ancient arden is at risk from ‘urban sprawl’
‘BUFFER ZONES‘ BETWEEN DEVELOPMENTS AND WOODLANDS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN
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 Avonto 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.”