8.10 Proposal LEA.1 – Leamington Spa – Land to North (Blackdown)

8.10 Proposal LEA.1 - Leamington Spa - Land to North (Blackdown) Proposal LEA.1 shown alongside Proposal LEA.2 Proposal LEA.1 ~ Requirements Land North of Leamington Spa (Blackdown) Site Size 72 hectares to be released from the Green Belt comprising of: • A minimum of 1,043 dwellings to be delivered across approximately 37 hectares with additional supporting infrastructure. • Approximately 35 hectares of public open space, including areas of play, biodiversity, and public rights of way. Summary Land at North of Leamington Spa (Blackdown) forms part of a series of sustainable urban extensions to the north of Royal Leamington Spa, with further supporting land parcels to enable the rapid delivery of housing. The planned growth will be genuinely sustainable, supporting the existing community through providing additional pieces of key infrastructure. Consideration will be given throughout the delivery of the development to its relationship with its neighbouring site, LEA.2 Land North of Leamington Spa (Milverton). Land at North of Leamington Spa (Blackdown) is available for a minimum of 1,043 dwellings across 3 separate land parcels. This is predominantly through the primary Land at Blackdown site (HELAA Ref:174) with additional options available at Field at Leicester Land (HELAA Ref: 602) and Land North of Sandy Lane (HELAA Ref: 708). Timescale Anticipated to be delivered in the period 2031/32-2041/42. Opportunities for early delivery are to be considered given the availability of smaller scale sites within both areas. Where this occurs, it is vital that the development of these smaller parcels does not preclude the broader delivery of the larger land parcels which are likely to require a greater level of enabling work prior to construction commencing. Key Development and Land Use Requirements • Housing – a minimum of 1,043 dwellings in the period to 2050, including affordable housing provision in accordance with Policy DS.4 • Community & Leisure – a community hub/local centre. • Education – on-site provision of a 2FE Primary School across approximately 2ha of land. • Public Open-Space – Approximately 35ha with extensive open space, including sport pitches, allotments, community orchard and play areas. • Land to be safeguarded for the expansion of North Leamington School if required. Infrastructure Funding Requirements Infrastructure will be provided through a Section 106 agreement or the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) depending on the type of contribution sought. A key consideration for development to the north of Royal Leamington Spa is ensuring that there is sufficient secondary education capacity at North Leamington School, or via a new provision. The Site falls within the area of search for a Park and Ride to the north of the town. This means that land may need to be safeguarded as part for a North Leamington Park and Ride scheme; however, this is subject to consideration as part of an overall site wide masterplan and an assessment of local need. Given the proximity between Land at Blackdown and Land North of Leamington Spa, it is expected that a joint approach to funding is taken by site promoters to key pieces of identified infrastructure, such as the Park and Ride. Development proposals will be required to support funding arrangements for improvements to the A452 corridor between Royal Leamington Spa and Kenilworth in the line with the IDP and any future supplementary work carried out by the Local Planning Authority. Development proposals will be required to contribute to the South of Coventry Sustainable Transport Corridor improving connections to Coventry and Royal Leamington Spa in accordance with SWLP Policy ID.5. Where off-site impacts are identified, proposals will also be required to consider their effect alongside East of Lillington, given their proximity to one another. Urban Design Principles Development must be subject to a site wide masterplan that considers the overarching vision, layout and land uses for development proposals alongside likely cumulative effects that will arise with Land at North of Leamington. However, it is also accepted that local variance in design terms will reflect the local context and aspirations of developers and site promoters. Land North of Blackdown will provide a sustainable location for new housing on the northern edge of Royal Leamington Spa. To ensure that development proposals limit landscape harm, residential land uses must respond to existing field patterns, and site topography. A community hub must be centrally located within the site providing local convenience retail uses. Opportunities should be considered to allow for the expansion of North Leamington School, with implications for the wider layout and provisions of open space within the layout, ensuring permeability and accessibility for all users. Proposals will be expected to follow the 20-minute neighbourhood concept where most daily needs can be met within a short active travel trip with car use minimised. Active Travel Requirements Existing public right of ways (PRoWs) must be retained throughout the site. Development proposals must ensure their continued use and tranquillity. Both LEA.1 Land at North of Leamington Spa (Blackdown)and LEA.2 Land North of Leamington Spa (Milverton) are expected to provide onward connectivity for active travel modes into the surrounding road network and ensure that sufficient measures are in place to provide requisite safety for future users, enabling residents to engage in active lifestyles. Both LEA.1 and LEA.2 sites are also expected to contribute towards the emerging Kenilworth to Leamington (K2L) cycle route and the Offchurch Greenway. It is vital that there is direct connectivity between the site and the K2L route along Kenilworth Road. Development proposal will be required to demonstrate permeability to LEA.2, and to the wider settlement of Royal Leamington Spa to the south. Access, Highways and Public Transport Requirements If required following transport hierarchy prioritisation, both LEA.1 and LEA.2 sites will be expected to contribute towards upgrades to the STA Scheme 2 – A452/Stoneleigh Road/Blackdown Roundabout, STA Scheme 5 – Bericote Road/Stoneleigh Road Roundabout and STA Scheme 6 - Westhill Road/Leicester Lane Roundabout, which will require signalisation and widening as applicable. Development proposals will be expected to consider their impact on Kenilworth Road/A452 corridor, in particular on the A452 South between Bericote Island and Lillington Avenue. They will also be required to consider impacts on the surrounding road network, making any further improvements identified in the Strategic Transport Assessment in the north of Royal Leamington Spa. Specifically, proposals at Land North of Leamington Spa Blackdown will be required to demonstrate safe access, from Sandy Lane and Leicester Lane. The development will consist of several access points across Sandy Lane & A445 Leicester Lane, with new priority and roundabout junctions, connected with a link road through the site. Direct access onto Sandy Lane is restricted to the parcels of land to the west of Sandy Lane where there is no practical alternative. Access to the parcels of land to the east of Sandy Lane to be limited to Leicester Lane and Westhill Road – with the main access being proposed opposite Telford Avenue. It is vital that access too Sandy Lane is safe, with reductions in speed limits as required by the Highways Authority. Development proposals will be expected to ensure permeability over the A445 near to North Leamington School, ensuring that there is enhanced walking connection between the development parcels and nearby communities. The 67 Bus service will be enhanced as part of proposals and extended into the Site subject to confirmation of feasibility from the relevant operator. Historic Environment Requirements Land North of Leamington Spa (Blackdown) is required to consider its role in terms of their relationship with the setting of the Royal Leamington Spa Conservation Area. In particular, noting the role that Kenilworth Road plays in approaching the town from the north. Flood Risk, Drainage and Water Supply The vast majority of the site is located within Flood Zone 1, with some minor areas located within Flood Zone 2 and 3 associated with an unnamed watercourse that runs through them. Development proposals will be required to ensure that the developable area is directed towards the most suitable locations, avoiding areas of risk and using SuDS to ensure that overall downstream effects are reduced as a result of the development. Some areas of surface water flood risk are located within both sites. Likewise, these must be dealt with holistically through appropriate master planning, using attenuation basins to ensure appropriate, controlled discharge. Biodiversity and Green & Blue Infrastructure Development proposals are required to provide a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain in line with national guidance; the following site-specific principles apply to each of the proposed development locations: Land North of Leamington Spa (Blackdown) consists of arable land with hedgerows and trees contained through the existing field pattern. The proposed development will be expected to retain these existing field boundaries to create a multi-functional network of green corridors that enable movement through the site. Areas of open space will contain biodiversity, as well as SuDS to ensure the watercourse through the site is maintained and enhanced, noting its role as a tributary of the River Avon. Development proposals must consider areas of Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land, which must be utilised to provide areas of planting and community assets such as orchards or allotments in amenable locations. Strong planting will be required on the boundaries of the site to ensure that the landscape character towards Green Belt is retained. Community gardens and allotments will be provided through the site with through access to Stoneleigh Road and Sandy Lane acting as a focal point for public open space, in line with their more rural settings. The retained public right of way between Leicester Lane and Westhill Road will act as the primary green corridor and primary active travel route enabling connectivity from the site to the surrounding area, including to the new strategic cycle network focused on Kenilworth Road. As the site falls within the setting of the Dunsmore Living Landscape, developers will be required to work positively with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust providing contributions as sought. Public Open Space It is expected that 35 hectares of public open space will be provided. This should be delivered through a range of different formal and informal uses including areas of play, allotments, com