The basis of the plan appears to be that because building on Green Belt land is now allowed it must be used. Green spaces, however, are few and precious and have again proved their worth for public health and wellbeing during the pandemic lockdown. To destroy them is to impair individual quality of life as well as the biodiversity of the area. The proposed housing would be well away from current public transport hubs such as the two railway stations. New residents would have no option but to use their cars. Much of South Warrington already has considerable traffic congestion and the draft plan gives little detail on how these difficulties are to be tackled. The resulting jams will only lead to increased carbon emissions. All this at the time of the COP climate conference when the need to act now to protect the environment is in the forefront of many minds. There is a link between the global problems and targets for say carbon reduction and every local development plan.
The use of Green Belt land might be forgiven if there were no alternatives but there are. The town centre, for example, cries out for regeneration. Converted into housing many currently empty and depressing buildings would provide homes close to public transport and would help to ensure that the remaining retail and leisure facilities had potential users on their doorstep.