CONTENTIOUS plans to build some 200 homes and create a ‘mega-cul-de-sac’ in Whitnash have been withdrawn.
The planning application for the homes between Sydenham and Whitnash was withdrawn by developers AC Lloyd after being called in by the government last month.
The plans were called in for examination on design grounds after Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing to request this move.
Mr Western has been a long-standing opponent of the development on land near Campion School playing fields and voiced concerns the number could have risen to as many as 500 homes.
The extent of the plot led residents to dub the planning proposal a ‘mega cul-de-sac’.
A spokesperson for AC Lloyd declined to comment, however the decision to withdraw the application at the end of last month was confirmed by Warwick District Council.
AC Lloyd’s decision comes despite having secured outline permission for the scheme in 2021, and WDC having resolved to grant reserved matters permission for the detailed design in December last year.
Mr Western started the campaign, Stop East Whitnash, eight years ago in 2015 urging for no more homes to be built in that area.
Concerns were also raised that there would a lack of infrastructure for the new builds, with no plans to build additional shops or increase spaces at the local GP practice.
There were also traffic concerns as there was only one access road planned into the estate.
Mr Western, who first opposed the building of the development when he was a Warwickshire county councillor, said: “I am over the moon about this decision. It was always wrong and I am relieved for local residents that these deeply flawed plans have finally been withdrawn by the developers following the long-fought campaign by local residents against the East Whitnash development.
“There were clearly real issues with the lack of infrastructure surrounding the development and it would have really impacted existing residents who rely on the already stretched local services. They all deserve an enormous amount of credit for their efforts and I’ve been proud to support them over the past eight years.
“I hope that we can now start building genuinely affordable homes in the right places, with all the required infrastructure – instead of more schemes like this.”
The development was initially rejected by WDC’s planning committee back in 2021. Over 120 residents formally objected to the plans at the time, along with Whitnash Parish Council, while a petition against the development attracted more than 400 signatures.
That decision was subsequently overturned by the Planning Inspector after an appeal by developer AC Lloyd.
