The Coventry Society has submitted its objection to the proposed development of the Coundon Wedge. Our comments were as follows:
The Coventry Society objects to this development for the following reasons:
- There is no demonstrated need for further housing development in the North West of the city at this time. There is already sufficient land approved for development to meet the local plan requirements. Residents are already faced with considerable disturbance from development in Eastern Green and Keresley and this development would add to the pressure.
- It has been demonstrated that the Coventry Local plan is defective and based on inaccurate population forecasts. It is inappropriate to approve further development of this scale until the full effects of the error and a revised local plan are prepared and examined.
- It is premature to bring this application forward for determination when a review of the Local Plan is due shortly and the Council is aware of the defects of the current plan.
- The development breaks a commitment given by the Leader of the City Council to NW Coventry MP Taiwo Owatemi and the people of Coventry that there would be no further building development in the Coundon Wedge and that the Wedge would be protected. There can be no doubt that this site is within the Coundon Wedge and the city council should not have been brought it forward for development.
- The Coundon Wedge is very special to the people of NW Coventry and the Council’s decision to develop part of it is a knife in the heart of the local community. It demonstrates a huge disregard by the Council for the people it governs.
- The application is defective in that it is not mentioned anywhere in the application paperwork that the application site forms part of the Coundon Wedge. There is no analysis of the impact of the development on the Coundon Wedge and no mitigation offered for the impact on the Coundon Wedge.
- The development is not sustainable. There is no supporting infrastructure (shops, schools, medical facilities etc.). The site is remote and people living here will have to travel by car some considerable distance to access services. There has been no attempt to connect the development to services or provide non-vehicular access, e.g., by bicycle or improved footpaths.
- The Statement of Community Involvement is misleading in that it does not reflect the huge amount of opposition to the development and dismisses residents concerns without addressing them.
- The application does not take adequate account of the impact of the development on the adjoining Brownshill Green Conservation Area.
