The area of Coventry 'like a warzone' as more housing plans approved

One of the fields by Bennetts Road in Keresley where the 260 homes will go
-Credit: (Image: Google Maps)


A rural part of Coventry has been called a "warzone" due to the level of development going on. Keresley residents also claim they are not seeing improvements needed as part of a planned expansion for the area.

They made the comments at a council meeting to decide on plans for more housing in the rural parish, which had just 840 residents at the last census. The area is set to gain more than 3,000 homes, a new road and school, and funding for services under plans agreed in 2017.

Coventry council voted to remove land from green belt in the parish to make way for the homes, despite opposition from campaigners. Since then, schemes for hundreds of homes in Keresley have had planning approval.

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But many were hit by objections from locals - including the latest one, a so-called "reserved matters" application for 260 homes at Bennetts Road. This was considered by councillors at a meeting last week, on September 12.

Councillors heard a statement from resident Ann Evans, who said: "Keresley resembles a warzone. Every area in the parish is under attack. There does not appear to be a formula to finish one site before embarking on the next. Nine developers in the area are all following their own agenda."

She added: "Developers are clogging the roads and drains with run-off mud. Hedgerows, once fastidiously tended by landowners, are overgrown and dangerously reduce the width of the narrow footpath in the area."

She questioned the council's plans for a new primary school in the area, and pointed out that the nearest school is full with a large waiting list, as are two others a car journey away. The resident also asked "how and when" money from developers for services in Keresley will be spent by the council.

She claimed over a million pounds had been paid and allocated for a swimming pool in the area, but locals have now learned it will not be built at President Kennedy school. "This is just one item of a very long list of promises for facilities in Keresley," she concluded.

The council is drafting new planning guidance for the area
An aerial view of Keresley's green fields, which could house 3,100 new homes under the Coventry Local Plan. -Credit:Picture by Google Maps.

Another resident who raised flood risk concerns over the scheme told councillors they have a "responsibility" to make sure next-door housing schemes integrate into a "liveable" community. He added: "I applaud the road infrastructure at Eastern Green.

"Roads, street-lights, all in place, well done. But there's not one house been built there.

"In Keresley, two developments have already been completed and at least five are underway. Yet no road improvements to cope with that traffic have been forthcoming."

Developer and council responses

Speaking at the meeting, an agent for developers Countryside Partnerships and Platform Homes said they would take measures to reduce the impact of the scheme on locals. He said: "We acknowledge concerns raised with respect to the impact of construction.

"And as per the conditions in the outline the council will need to approve our construction management plan which will set out several measures around working times, noise and dust mitigation, etc. Furthermore to ensure that the local community are kept informed throughout, we will be supporting and providing the details of a named site manager who will manage communication via letter drops and meetings with residents to prevent issues arising and address specific concerns where they do."

He added that the scheme will deliver 100% affordable housing, of which almost three-quarters will be family sized homes, plus a new play area and sustainability measures. Councillors asked officers how they would make sure services for residents are provided.

A council officer said money from developers to reduce the impact on the area - called 'Section 106' contributions - was agreed at an earlier planning stage. She said land for the planned school was allocated back in 2014 and council education officers are doing feasibility studies and working on plans.

Local shops for the area have full planning permission, she added, and there are restrictions on how money for doctors' services can be spent to make sure it is serving residents. The officer also said Section 106 agreements covered junction improvements and the planned link road, adding: "All the infrastructure's been dealt with."

Councillors on the planning committee voted by seven to one to agree the detailed plans for the homes can go ahead.

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