Response to draft housing plan, with reference to the Barratts Farm site


1. I do not agree that approx. 1500 houses should be built in Balsall Common, with particular reference to the above site ( & also to the Windmill Lane site )

2. Whilst recognising that the borough needs to increase housing provision I believe that brownfield sites should be considered as a priority, rather than use green belt land contrary to HM. Govt. reccomendations.

3. The Barratts Farm proposal alone would generate a great deal of additional traffic in a busy area which already has inadequate car parking in the village centre with little or no opportunity to increase this provision.
Congestion could become a major issue at or near the station roundabout as many residents of such a site would inevitably travel to work, shops etc. by car. Traffic flow towards Coventry is already restricted by the light controlled low underpass.
Any additional traffic would also put further pressure on the already inadequate station car park, with many rail travellers cars already parked daily on Hallmeadow road, frequently stretching from the station roundabout to the Lavender Hall Lane roundabout, often creating difficulty for passing traffic.

4. There would be greatly increased pressure on local health provision, which is quite stretched at present., also on school provision.

5. The proximity of HS2's path could aso be a problem whilst rail construction work is in progress with the conflicting access needs of HS2 and house builders and may well have a detrimental effect on developers sales opportunities and marketability.( or is the housing proposal reliant on the possible dropping of HS2 plans? ) I cannot help but feel the two requirements are not compatible.

6. What possibility exists of redeveloping the HS2 construction sites for housing on it's completion?

7. I think that a new settlement or village to the north of Balsall Common should definitely be considered, with opportunity being taken to use the moving of existing roads
for HS2 purposes as a springboard for such development.