Plans to build more than 500 homes in Radford Semele branded 'tomfoolery' - The Leamington Observer

Plans to build more than 500 homes in Radford Semele branded 'tomfoolery'

Leamington Editorial 21st Apr, 2016 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

PLANS to build over 500 homes in Radford Semele have been branded ‘tomfoolery’ by a village councillor.

Coun Mike Doody says Radford is under siege from developers and fears there is very little villagers can do to stop the

the near doubling in size of their historic hamlet.

Only three years ago Warwick District Council had earmarked just 50 new homes for Radford as part of its proposed Local Plan – the document detailing future development across the district over the next 15 years – but the total number of homes developers are now pressing to build in the village currently stands at 515.




Council chiefs are next week expected to grant permission for 150 homes behind the site of a current development of 60 homes being built off Southam Road, out towards the Fosse Way.

And they are also set to give the green light for a further 25 homes, again off the Southam Road, opposite Radford Hall and next to Ricardo – which it has been claimed will see Radford lose its village identity by joining it up to the Sydenham estate.


Permission was also granted on appeal for 65 homes in School Lane, and now developers want to build a further 100 on Spring Lane.

And developers are now eyeing up further land opposite the current construction work off Southam Road for another 115 homes.

There are currently some 750 homes in the village, which has a population of just under 2,000, but there is growing concern Radford cannot support such a potential population explosion.

Coun Doody, who has served as district ward councillor for nearly 30 years, told The Observer: “I don’t believe any village has been exploited to this extent.

“The village does not have the infrastructure to support so many new homes, and the village school cannot cope. The county council just say they will transport children from the new homes to schools outside the village.

“I will do my best to fight these plans, but it is difficult when experts from the county say education-wise and highway-wise we can manage. Experts are not always right.

“Even if we win and an application is rejected, developers get an inspector in from Timbuktu who grants permission on appeal.

“It is tomfoolery, and simply not fair.”

Warwick District Council planning committee will consider the latest applications on Monday.

The district Local Plan is not set to be rubber-stamped for another year at the earliest. Turn to page 7 for the latest update.

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