CONTROVERSIAL plans for 60 houses at the former Long Marston Airfield look set to be granted despite concerns around climate change.
Proposals – submitted by developer Campden Road Developments – to demolish Airfield House and redevelop the former airfield and scrap yard site in Campden Road, form part of wider development plans for the surrounding area.
A number of parish and town councils have objected to the site plans namely around pressure on existing and planned facilities, road capacity and climate change concerns.
Objecting, Quinton ward councillor Edward Fitter said he believed the development was ‘backward’ in relation to carbon reduction goals.
Coun Manuela Perteghella, of neighbouring Welford ward, added: “Because of the climate emergency which the council declared in July 2019, we should be going beyond building developments to Passivhaus standards.
“We should build zero- carbon housing developments which will be able to stand the test of increased climate change during their lifespan, with car-free areas and more natural wild green spaces.
“C02 emissions come not just from ongoing energy use in households, but also from construction, building fabric, space and water heating.”
Other concerns raised by the public included road safety, loss of wildlife, a lack of local need and the impact on the Cotswolds Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – around 2km south of the site.
An assessment detailed findings of key issues. It reported further studies by the Highways Authority concluded the level of impact at junctions of the separate developments was minor, and suggested ‘educational land’ could support plans for a further primary school.
It also assured sustainability and climate change impact would be addressed in a separate application and include a ‘climate change checklist’ to be approved by Stratford District Council.
Officer Robert Weeks has recommended granting the proposal, believing the benefits of the scheme, to develop on previously developed brownfield land, and provide affordable housing, outweighed the concerns.
He said: “The opportunities provided by the new development to improve and strengthen the site character overall would outweigh the identified harm in terms of the relatively minor harm to visual amenity and negligible effect overall upon the visual amenity of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the lower end of less than substantial harm to the setting of some heritage assets, and impact upon non-heritage assets of low significance.”
The planning committee will make a decision at the upcoming meeting on Wednesday (July 7).
