‘We only need less than half the homes planned for the future’ says architect

This is one of the key questions posed by architect and Bishops Tachbrook parish councillor Ray Bullen in response to Warwick District Council’s revised local plan for 12,300 new homes.

Mr Bullen, who was a property advice manager for Coventry City Council and also worked in the planning department, has analysed census figures for the district which show how the number of new homes in Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth and the surrounding villages has already mushroomed by 18 per cent over the past 20 years - a figure far higher than the national average.

As a consequence he thinks less than half the homes suggested is a more realistic figure.

After submitting his report to Warwick town councillors Mr Bullen was invited to meet with not only people from his own village but those living in Whitnash and Warwick Gates who are most affected by the proposals in the revised plan which he describes as: “Unrealistic, unnecessary and damaging.

“These are not only my reactions but the widespread views of other people living in the district,” says the architect who will submit his report to the district before the public consultation period ends later this month.

Mr Bullen believes the delay in producting the local plan has already led to a rash of speculative planning applications from developers, even though forecasts of population growth should realistically only be for five years.

“You need a crystal ball to see beyond that,” he says. “And can we cope with an extra 29,000 people giving us a population of 163,803 - plus communal establishments - by 2019?

“These 12,300 homes being proposed represent a 176 per cent increase on the homes provided over the last 20 years.

“The majority of local people thought the previous consultation suggesting 10,800 homes was far too high. So it’s surprising that an increase to this bigger number is now being consulted upon.”

Opponents of the revised plan who live in Whitnash and Warwick Gates - including councillors on both sides of the political divide - met on Monday and were due to meet again today (Friday) to refine their objections.

Mr Bullen says the “perceived” need for more homes would only attract people living elsewhere to settle here - it bears no relation to census levels of predicted growth or need.

He concludes the only viable option for the revised strategy - with its cost to farmland, risk of allowing existing settlements to merge and the accompanying road systems and risks to flooding should realistically reduced to 5,400 which could be built in the next five years but meet the need right up until 2029.