Dear North Warwickshire Borough Council,

I wish to determine the status of the agricultural land to the
South & South-West of Plank Lane, Water Orton. I would like to know
in particular whether Planning Permission has been sought - in
outline or full - for development for residential housing.

Jardin Smith in Singapore have been offering Water Orton land in
small plots to investors. Jardine Smith claim this land has
potential to gain planning permission in the near future under a
scheme known as Land Banking.

While Jardin Smith have not committed to converting this land for
building they have indicated that conversion is likely in the short
to medium term based on their expertise in gaining planning
approvals.

Can North Warwickshire release any related correspondence and
responses exchanged relating to this site to enable me to make an
informed judgement on the risk of otherwise of development
occurring in the short to medium term. Specifically I would like to
know if Jardin Smith has recieved any communication from North
Warwickshire BC indicating the possibility of gaining planning
permission.

Could you also advise of any instance in the last 10 years where
North Warwickshire Borough Council has approved the conversion of
Green Belt Land for the development of housing or other commercial
use.

This land plot has been identified as WK 441083.

Yours faithfully,

J Piper (Mr)

Your e-mail of 21 June concerning land at Plank Lane, Water Orton, has
been passed to me for a response.

No planning permission has been sought for, or granted to Jardin Smith,
for residential development in Water Orton.

Indeed it would be very rare for any planning permissions to be granted
for residential development in Water Orton on Green Belt land. This is
because residential development by definition is "inappropriate"
development in such a location. It therefore carries a presumption that
planning permission will be refused. This is Government Planning policy as
well as that of this Council.

Planning permissions can be granted on Green Belt land, but the applicant
has to convince the Council that there are "very special circumstances" in
order to override the presumption as set out above. "Land Banking" would
in my view not constitute such a circumstance.

If you have any further queries please contact me.

Jeff Brown BA, Dip TP, MRTPI

Head of Development Control

Direct Email: [1][email address]

Office Email: [email address]

Fax: 01827 719363

Swine flu. Remember - use a tissue, bin it and wash your hands.

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Dear Jeff Brown,

Thank you for your response on my enquiry. Since Jardin Smith is
clearly representing this as potential development land with
prospects I would like to klnow if there has been any
correspondence with them or others on this Water Orton site.

Examples of the kind of thing I mean are here in this response from
Hounslow

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/po...

You can see a lengthy discussion on Jardin Smith here.

http://www.lioninvestor.com/jardin-smith...

It would be useful if the council would make a public statement
regarding the status of Water Orton development.

Yours sincerely,

Joe Piper

I take the point but we have literally only had a couple of e-mails
about this issue, and thus we can deal with them on an individual basis.
The responses so far have been as succinct as the one you received!!

No- we have had no contact with Jardin Smith or its representatives.

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