Agenda item

Report of the Director of Property Services & Development

To consider the above petition bearing 1349 signatures.  The Petition Organiser is Councillor R Simpson, a Sherbourne Ward Councillor and the Councillor sponsoring the petition is Councillor S Keough, a Bablake Ward Councillor, who have both been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Property Services and Development regarding an e-petition that had been received requesting that the Council stop the sale of land at Browns Lane to developers. The petition headed ‘Stop the Sale of Browns Lane to Developers’, bearing 1349 signatures, had been submitted by Councillor R Simpson, a Sherbourne Ward Councillor. The petition was supported by Councillor S Keough, a Bablake Ward Councillor who, together with Councillor R Simpson, attended the meeting and spoke on behalf of the petitioners.

In accordance with the City Council’s procedure for dealing with petitions, those relating to these matters are heard by the Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change. 

The land at Browns Lane was originally reserved in part for the expansion of the Jaguar car works. The allocated site was approximately 45 acres with approximately 32 acres within the Councils ownership. The density in the Local Plan outlined up to 475 dwellings could potentially be developed.

Parts of the allocated site were within separate ownerships and discussions had been undertaken with adjoining landowners and an agreement for collaboration reached.

In August 2023, the Planning Committee resolved to grant outline planning consent for the development of the site and a S106 Agreement subsequently negotiated.  Once this Agreement was signed off, planning consent would be formalised.

Throughout the planning process, the views of the residents were considered, and the planning consent would provide for a substantially less densely developed site than was anticipated under the Local Plan (345 dwellings against 475). The site would also provide for a care home facility to address an identified need within the city.

The site was not subject to any landscape or Green Belt designation; however, it had been designed landscape led approach, sympathetic to its surroundings which included a landscaping buffer to the east of the site adjoining Coundon Wedge Drive. The scheme included provision of public open space and green infrastructure amounting to 40% of the total site area. This would be publicly accessible for the local community and would provide a green network through the residential area. There would also be biodiversity enhancements and areas of recreational space.

Councillor Simpson, as the Petition Organiser, spoke in support of the petition stating his opposition to sell the land known locally as Coundon Wedge. The Petition Sponsor, Councillor Keough, expressed strong opposition to the recommendations in the report, stating that they went against the principles of preserving Coventry’s legacy and that to proceed could lead to over development. He also raised concerns regarding the environmental impact, conflicts of interest and the exclusion of public input and he urged the Cabinet Member to listen to the voice of the residents and reconsider.

Officers responded to the petitioners, advising that Coundon Wedge was not a geographically defined area and that the comments made by Councillor Simpson and Councillor Keough had been previously considered by the Planning Committee.

Councillor Welsh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, attended the meeting and spoke in support of the recommendations, referring to the current housing crisis and the wider housing need within the city, in particular, affordable and social housing.

The Cabinet Member indicated that:

·  Coventry was a growing city and the sale of the land at Browns Lane was in response to the needs of the increasing population and subsequent need for housing.

·  25% of the proposed 345 dwellings would be affordable housing.

·  The piece of land was identified for development a number of years ago for the expansion of the Jaguar Browns Lane Plant.

·  Consultation with local residents had been extensive.

·  The site was identified for development in accordance with the decision taken by Cabinet in October 2018 to dispose of it.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change:

1)  Notes the petitioner’s concerns.

2)  Endorses the previous decision taken by Council in October 2018 to dispose of the site by tender.