On behalf of Millwood Designer Homes Limited, please find below comments on the Proposed Main Modifications (MM) to the Local Plan.
Our comments relate to land at Westgate, which is proposed for 2000 homes under strategic policy SP15, in which Millwood have a Land Interest. Other Main Modifications are supported, specifically MM27(the stepped trajectory), MM42 (policy SP19 - the mix of dwellings), and MM44 (policy SP20 – affordable housing).

These representations therefore relate solely to MM/035 relating to Policy SP15.

The majority of the modifications are supported, with the exception of the following:

• Point 1 has removed reference to a green ‘corridor’ and replaced this with green ‘space’ (singular) between existing urban edge and new development. This could be interpreted to still require continual green space between the urban edge despite the removal of the requirement for a corridor. It should therefore be made clearer that green spaces should be provided but need not necessarily be connected. As currently worded it remains unsound in this respect.
The wording of the MM should be amended to include reference to’ spaces’ (plural) to ensure it is not interpreted as a corridor only. Such an amendment would ensure the Plan wording was justified and effective, and therefore sound.

• Point 4 includes new wording to require ‘provision of serviced 1ha of land suitable for a new medical centre to cater for the additional needs created by the development’. The principle of this continues to be accepted, but we refer to the attached correspondence at appendix 1 from the Clinical Commissioning Group confirming that 0.5ha of land would be sufficient at the site.
The wording of MM should be amended to refer to ‘0.5ha of land’ instead of ‘1ha of land’. Such an amendment would ensure the Plan wording was justified and effective, and therefore sound.

• Point 7 now specifically requires ‘the provision of a link road between Dent de Lion Road and Minster Road’. While a route from Minster Road it is intended, it will not form a direct ‘link road’ to Dent de Lion Road as further masterplanning has indicated that a new spine road is proposed from Dent to Lion Road to Shottendane Road in the south, which is considered the more logical and appropriate connection across the site. However, there will still be linkages from Minster Road in the west and Dent De Lion in the east, just not a direct road. Amending the policy to delete the word ‘road’ will still ensure the policy delivers the aspiration, but in a more flexible manner.

The wording of the MM should therefore be amended to read ‘the provision of a link road between Dent de Lion and Minster Road’. Such an amendment would ensure the Plan wording was justified and effective, and therefore sound.
In summary, the MMs in respect of this policy are largely welcomed and supported, albeit further minor amendment is required to ensure the plan is sound.