Wellesbourne people promised ‘benefits’ from 175-home housing scheme

Property company Commercial Estates Group (CEG) has submitted an application to Stratford District Council for the project on land off Ettington Road, which will also include landscaping and children’s play areas.

Richard Burke from CEG said: “The proposed development will bring many benefits for the local community, including contributions towards a new sports and community building, up to £1million New Homes Bonus for investment by the local authority, a contribution to education provision and ‘extra care’ accommodation for the elderly.

“The development will also provide extensive new open space, incorporating play parks, footpaths and cycleways for all Wellesbourne residents to use.”

Mr Burke pointed out that the firm’s design was finalised following three public consultation events held last year.

But several villagers have written to the district council to object.

Warwickshire county councillor David Johnston, writing as a Wellesbourne resident, said: “This proposal is for the largest increase in housing in Wellesbourne since the Dovehouse estate was built more than 30 years ago. Since that time, there have been hardly any new resources.

“There is no clarity on the contribution to be made to develop and improve local facilities and services.”

David Osbourn, who lives in Ettington Road, said he had not been sent any information about the public consultations and nor had neighbours he had spoken to.

He said: “Wellesbourne is already effectively three villages in one - Wellesbourne Hastings, Wellesbourne Mountford and the Dovehouse estate. The proposed development would make it four. This additional burden upon the town centre is not offset by any new facilities.”

But Tim Willis, care and choice programme lead at the county council, welcomed the prospect of a new elderly care complex. He said: “The number of Warwickshire residents over 85 is forecast to rise by more than a third by 2016. Doing nothing in response to these changing demographics is not an option.”

The district council’s planning committee is due to make a decision about the development on February 28.