Coventry companies will be asked for their views on the City Council’s Development Plan at an event next week.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has invited Martin Yardley, executive director of place at Coventry City Council, to present to members of the Chamber who are based in the city.
The event will take place at Chamber House, at the Coventry University Innovation Village, on Monday, October 13, before the Chamber issues a formal response to the plans.
Peter Burns, the Chamber president, said the Coventry branch committee had already met and discussed the Development Plan but that it was important to hear other members’ views.
He said: “The Chamber has welcomed the commitment to build 36,000 new homes in the city over the next two decades. We believe that the future prosperity of this region will come through growth and that means providing housing for people and planning for that growth now.
“There are several points to consider but my personal view and that shared by many businesses I have already spoken to is that greenbelt must be part of the mix when it comes to planning for new houses.
“What we must remember when we talk about greenbelt is that it doesn’t mean green space that we all get to enjoy in our daily lives – it is an old planning term that was designed to stop towns and cities merging into one another.
“Of course, green space that benefits all of Coventry’s citizens must form a very big part of the plan for the future.
“Also, I would urge colleagues to consider how new homes will fit into plans for new employment, infrastructure and leisure developments so that what we plan for now is sustainable into the future.”
Sandra Garlick, Coventry branch chair of the Chamber, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Coventry to really plan strategically and leave a legacy for the next generation of businesses and people.
“If the city doesn’t get the right plans in place now, development will simply continue in a piecemeal manner and I think everyone would agree that this is not what we want for Coventry.
“I am looking forward to welcoming Martin to the Chamber and then gauging the views of our members so we can respond to the formal consultation from a business perspective.”