Bloor Home leaflet – Leader’s response

Last week Stratford District Council became aware of a leaflet that had been delivered to many District residents by Bloor Homes.  This leaflet has caused a great deal of concern among the local residents who have received it. 

Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of the Council says: “I wish to provide assurances about the related work of the District Council.  Stratford District Council is currently consulting on the Core Strategy of its planning policy framework.  In this consultation, we are planning to open up the opportunities to develop smaller community sized building projects to preserve the character of the District.  This has the open support of many communities.  We are opposed to filling our green fields with large estates to house people who generally commute to work elsewhere.

Bloor Homes are involved in a planning inquiry against the Councils refusal to permit a new development of 800 houses around Shottery and the District Council is concerned that they are making an appeal to residents in this way.  The refusal of the Shottery application preceded the drafting of the Core Strategy and the reasons were clear in the Notice of Refusal.  It is not appropriate for Bloor Homes to link the two.  The impending inquiry means that any critique needs to be cautious and meaningful.  I shall be watching consultation responses carefully and the Council will be making representations to the Inspector hearing the appeal.

The Bloor Homes leaflet is based on a considerable number of errors that mean that many of their claims are based on inaccurate information and our draft planning policies have been misinterpreted.  Concerns will always arise from any statement that provides misleading conclusions based on inaccurate figures.  I wish to assure you that we plan to work with communities in the development of their neighbourhoods."

In the Bloor Homes Leaflet, the sizes of our local service village communities are significantly wrong in about one third of the table.

The size of these settlements have been overstated: 

The size these settlements have been understated: 

Cllr Saint continues: “The calculations are bizarre, even if they had been made with accurate figures as Bloor Homes appear to have completely misunderstood the 2% rule in draft Policy CS.16, which refers to estate sizes, built at an average of about 3 dwellings per year.

Future development would be spread over a 20 year period at a rate of less than 3 dwellings per year, on average.  The Green Belt and AONB are not overriding constraints to development but do preserve urban sprawl and the character of the landscape.  Evidence gathering is on-going and attempts to concentrate too much development in one place or other raises serious obstacles of access, challenges to the landscape or simple loss of character in any neighbourhood.

Previously, Stratford-on-Avon District Council concentrated on a planning framework that directed major developments in the urban conurbation when directed by Government and Regional Policy.  That has now changed.  While some smaller communities are cautious about significant development in villages, others are openly welcoming the opportunity.  Our evidence base for planning policy is growing all the time.  It is not there to reverse former policies, but to look for the best solutions.

Applicants are entitled to pre-application advice, but it is inappropriate of Bloor Homes to treat that as some form of agreement or deal with our officers.  Large planning applications are dealt with by members.  Developer contributions will still be forthcoming for smaller developments and the Community Infrastructure Levy will be able to provide road improvements, facilities at schools and libraries, and all the local amenities that S106 agreements now provided. 

I would welcome further comments on the draft Core Strategy, but these must be based on real assessments and not inappropriate arithmetic."

To date more than 450 responses have been received during the consultation process.

The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 30 March 2012.

The consultation began in February and runs until 5pm on Friday 30 March 2012.  Copies of the Draft Core Strategy 2012 are available online at www.stratford.gov.uk together with an online response form. Alternatively, CD versions and hard copies of the document can be obtained from the Policy Team, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HX.