Seven Billionth of the World's Opinion: Disastrous Nuneaton Building Development Madness in George Eliot County: The Long Shoot, Weddington, Bermuda Village, Galley Common and More

There are proposed to be over 7000 houses to be built in and around the modest market town of Nuneaton, the birthplace of George Eliot. These horrible building developments are said to be needed to provide affordable homes for first time buyers, to boost economy and provide jobs – but for whom? Not the residents for sure, but the greedy builders.

Nuneaton's Horrendous Building Development

This provides nothing but misery for the Nuneaton residents. Namely because:

Nuneaton’s Crammed Population in Warwickshire.

According to the Nuneaton & Bedworth Housing Strategy 2010-15 paper, Nuneaton is already crammed compared to the rest of Warwickshire. Nuneaton possesses over 121,000 residents crammed within 30 sq miles. Rugby has 91,000 in its relatively spacious 137 sq miles. Stratford-upon-Avon has almost 118,000 residents to enjoy 377sq miles of land and the whole of North Warwickshire has 62,000 residents to spread over 110sq miles (source: Nuneaton & Bedworth Housing Strategy 2010-15). Basic maths will reveal an average family of 3-4 buying all 7000 houses will result in an extra 25,000-30,000 residents, bringing Nuneaton’s total to 150,000 residents to squeeze within 30sq miles of area.

Numerous Building Developments around Nuneaton

So, why are more houses being built in an already crammed space?

Nuneaton’s Strategy for Building

Nuneaton Borough Council have a Borough Plan up to 2028, part of a bigger strategy for how much and where building is take place. A pot of money is available for boroughs that increase the supply of new housing as part of the Government's Housing Strategy. Could this pot of money have anything to do with it? Surely not!

And now it seems some of the builders are ‘sneaking’ beneath the radar proposing developments that are not part of the strategy. This means even more homes are being built in Nuneaton area than is really permitted. Greedy builders see Nuneaton as a ‘free for all’ for building development. Get plans in and rake up the bucks!

Now look at other reasons why building in Nuneaton is madness.

Rubbish Building Development in Warwickshire

The infrastructure of Nuneaton cannot cope. At present there is only one GP surgery in the North side of Nuneaton, where over 1000 homes are proposed to be built and only two modestly-sized primary schools. Where are the extra residents to go for healthcare and education? This oversubscription means difficulty in getting appointments with the doctors. Oversubscribing will give residents no choice but to drive elsewhere, and here lies the next problem.

The traffic! The A47 (the Long Shoot), A444, Coton Road, Coventry Road, Leicester Road, Hinckley Road as well as other through roads in Nuneaton are already extremely busy. Residents cannot filter or turn right from their homes in the rush hour. The extra congestion will cause pollution levels to rise, nightmare car journeys and further black spots.

Dangerous Roads in Nuneaton due to Building Works

The Leicester Road Bridge, one of the main thoroughfares into Nuneaton, is too weak to cope with the extra traffic coming from the North of the town. This old bridge already shows cracks in the brickwork. How is it to cope with the extra traffic load?

No safety measures have been put in place for already extremely busy roads – namely around Bermuda Village, Weddington and the Long Shoot. Residents end up marooned, as there are no crossings or footbridges in place to protect resident wishing to travel on foot or cycle. Residents are putting their life at risk by crossing any of the roads and have no choice but to forbid kids from walking to school (meaning more cars, more congestion, more pollution).

Bellway Homes and Davidson Builders for example say that the Royal Park and Heritage View Estates are “conveniently located between Birmingham and Leicester, ideal for commuters”. So the houses are to attract commuters? This goes back to the previous point regarding traffic load. More cars, more pollution, more nightmare congestion and inevitable gridlock.

Nuneaton Building on Flood Plains

Building on Flood Plains, Nuneaton

Building work is being carried out on flood plains (see photos of land off the A47 above). A time lapse video of this building work can be found at the bottom of this post (scroll to bottom). Read more about my video and Nuneaton building on floodplains on my other post.

As can be seen, rainwater often collects on the surface of flat farm land off the A47 in Nuneaton, where the water has nowhere to drain away. Flooding was such a problem, that residents on that side of the road clubbed together to put in place a trench. Flooding is still a problem as can be seen on the images below.

Rainwater still doesn't drain quickly (building nearing completion)

Nuneaton Being Ruined by Builders

Beautiful countryside is being destroyed. Some of the hedgerows are centuries old, as are ponds and fields. There is no consideration for wildlife or open countryside to go for a walk. Say goodbye to countryside around Weddington, the Long shoot, Bermuda Village and Plough Hill Road in Stockingford. Nuneaton will no longer be known for being the birthplace of George Eliot and quaint buildings, but horrendous roads and massive building estates.

Cllr Barry Longden said (about the Long Shoot Plan) “I don’t see anything wrong with this outline plan, I’m happy to accept the opinions of those who are experienced. There are other junctions in the borough that are much worse than this will be and I don’t think that everyone will necessarily be turning right either.” (Nuneaton News March 8 2013).

There are a lot of ‘I’s in this statement. How can anyone know whether residents will turn right or not? And on the basis that there are other junctions that are ‘much worse than this one’ is like saying let’s have a crap junction here, but it’s ok because it is not as crap as the other junctions in the area. It is opinions like these that are ruining Nuneaton.

Misleading Building Development Plan

Gladman Development Proposed on Nuneaton's Black Spot

And now it seems the madness is continuing as Gladman Builders are now proposing to build extensively ‘off the Long Shoot’ (which makes 3 building major developments on one road!). In fact, the plans are a little misleading. The plot is more accurately described as being on the island joining Hinckley Road and Eastboro Way (an extremely busy island at that).

Residents will look at this plan, see the wording ‘off the Long Shoot’ see the blue dot, and assume the building works is to commence close to an existing building development (Bellway Homes). But the blue dot is merely to illustrate where the Long Shoot is located, not the building development itself. (See the two plans below). Would you have assumed blue dot marks the spot? I did at first. These builders are sneaky.

Gladman Builders Development Proposal isn't Accurate

The Eastboro Island is already a horrendous black-spot for accidents, speeding traffic and congestion. Even worse, there is terrible flooding problem on the field concerned. The builders want to put a play area on the flood area - to make it into a large pond or lake? Not really safe for young kids.

Residents are always ‘welcome’ to view the plans and put forward views, but it seems no matter what people say, building works will commence around Nuneaton, if not now, later.

Questions about Nuneaton Housing Developments

Questions arise about these developments. Why are so many occurring in such a small area as Nuneaton which is already the most crammed area of Warwickshire? Nuneaton was once a quaint market town known for George Eliot, steeped in history and beautiful countryside. Now it is becoming a car park.

Time Lapse Video of Building Work in Nuneaton