South Warwickshire Local Plan - Preferred Options Consultation

Press Release

Published on 22 November 2024

Councillors from Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils will meet on Thursday 12 December to consider the recommendation for a Preferred Options consultation on the South Warwickshire Local Plan.

If agreed, residents, businesses and other stakeholders will be invited to have their say on this next stage of the new Local Plan in a consultation that would commence early in the New Year.

The Plan will cover the combined geographic area of both Councils for the next 25 years.

Once adopted the Plan will set out how both Councils ensure delivery of the infrastructure, open spaces, employment sites and homes to meet our needs up to 2050.

The plan will be the basis upon which all planning applications will be determined in a way that supports those needs and how we address the pressing issues around climate change, biodiversity, connectivity, and resident wellbeing.

The 'Preferred Options' consultation will provide a third opportunity for residents to have their say on the emerging Local Plan, following feedback from the previous Scoping (2021) and Issues and Options (2023) consultations. It is informed by a wide range of evidence that is now available to view on the South Warwickshire Local Plan website

It will include the identification of 36 emerging housing and employment growth location options (12 potential new settlement and 24 strategic growth location options) across South Warwickshire that, based on current evidence, are considered to be suitable growth locations. Not all of these locations will ultimately be required to meet the area's growth needs and the Councils will be undertaking further analysis to conclude which locations and specific sites should form part of South Warwickshire's growth strategy.

As part of the consultation, a targeted call for sites exercise will be held specifically for the following:

• Gypsy and Traveller sites
• Commercial and Community-Led Renewable Energy generation sites
• Housing and Employment sites within the 12 potential new settlement locations

Additionally, the consultation will set out policy directions and draft policies covering a wide range of planning matters which, once adopted, will be used to determine planning applications within South Warwickshire.

The agenda for the Joint Cabinet Committee is available online: Agenda for Joint Cabinet Committee on Thursday, 12th December, 2024, 6.00 p.m. | Stratford-on-Avon District Council

You can find out more information about the South Warwickshire Local Plan at: www.southwarwickshire.org.uk/swlp.

Subject to approval by Councillors on 12 December, details of the consultation and how to make your comments will be added to the website in due course.