Protest march over homes plan
A PROTEST march has been held against plans to build new homes and an “unsightly” 78ft business unit on the border of Coventry, which is feared will cause “traffic chaos”.
Plans have been submitted to build three business units across 19 hectares as well as 73 homes on former green belt land at Wilsons Lane/ A444, near Longford.
Developer L&Q Estates believes it will bring affordable housing and jobs to the area.
The three business units are proposed with all-day operational hours including weekends and bank holidays, with the highest building spanning up to 24 metres high (78ft).
But residents fear the development will pump hundreds of lorries onto the roads and cause a nightmare for drivers, creating 24/7 noise and adding to air pollution.
One resident, Lee Bruce, said the development will be a “monstrous visual eyesore” while another, Darren Cox, said it will encourage more HGVS which already bomb down the B4113 “at frightening speed”.
Michael Fell, secretary of residents’ group the Longford C.A.N Forum, added: “Residents are concerned that it will cause traffic chaos along the A444, M6 J3 and B4113/ Longford Road.
“The building will be 24 metres tall - almost six double decker buses in height - and one of the units will cover about the same area as the Ricoh Arena stadium (50,000sqm).
“Yet they want to build this metres from people’s homes. We will battle on relentlessly to make sure this proposal ends up where it belongs, firmly in the bin.”
The development is in Nuneaton and Bedworth’s district, but an access route through Old Farm Lane is in
Coventry, with planning applications to both council’s submitted in June.
It includes two new vehicle accesses to the business units on to Pickards Way/b3113, and an access from Old Farm Lane for residential use.
Residents held a protest march last week and also raised concerns about the loss of green space and a popular footpath removal; the loss of wildlife habitat; and the potential flood risks of building on a designated flood zone - however the applicant’s flood risk assessment considers it safe.
Ayesha Judge, on Old Farm Lane, added: “One slight issue on the M6/B4113 turns my 20 minute work commute into a 60 minute one. Building three large units here and increasing the traffic even further on
B4113 just seems utterly ridiculous.
“Aesthetically this new development also will be horrific to look at. You’re removing a lovely farmland area and destroying habitats to build an unsightly development.”
L&Q Estates say the scheme provides 25 per cent affordable housing and new jobs.
The land was removed from the green belt in June 2019 and the principle of employment/housing use has already been accepted for the land, they said.
The loss of a public right of way is also countered by a diversion around the new development, they added.
A spokesman said: “We believe this scheme will bring jobs and housing for local people in the north of Coventry which is much-needed in this area.
“Given the site’s prime geographical location adjacent to a Strategic Road Network and on the edge of the urban form, there is substantial evidence in the market showing significant demand and need for such sites for both the housing and commercial elements of the scheme.”