South Warwickshire Local Plan – Preferred Options Consultation approved

Councillors from Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils have given the go ahead for public consultation on the next stage of the emerging South Warwickshire Local Plan.

Following the decision of the two Councils Joint Cabinet Committee meeting last night (Thursday 12 December), residents, businesses and other stakeholders are to be invited to have their say on the Preferred Options version of South Warwickshire Local Plan (2050) for the combined areas of both Councils for the next 25 years.

The Consultation opens on 10 January 2025 and will run until 7 March.
The Councils will be running a series of in person and online events to promote the consultation and really want people to respond and make their comments on the emerging plan. One of the simplest ways to respond will be online, which will be live from the start of the consultation in January until the deadline in March. Although the more traditional ways of responding via email and by post will still be available.

Details of how to take part in the consultation will be published in the new year as well as the link to the online consultation.

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 and Call for Sites (2021) and Issues and Options and second Call for Sites (2023) consultations. It is informed by a wide range of evidence that is now available to view on the South Warwickshire Local Plan website.

Once adopted, the Plan will set out how both Councils intend to deliver the housing and employment and infrastructure development required to meet our needs up to 2050 whilst also protecting our open spaces, green belt and countryside from unplanned development.

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.

It will include 36 emerging housing and employment growth location options (12 potential new settlement and 24 strategic growth location options) across South Warwickshire which are considered to be potentially suitable growth locations.

The consultation document importantly recognises that not all of the locations identified will ultimately be required to meet the area's growth needs and the Councils will be undertaking further analysis following the consultation to filter down which growth locations and specific sites should form part of South Warwickshire's final 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

​You can find out more information about the South Warwickshire Local Plan at: www.southwarwickshire.org.uk/swlp
 
 
Further contact information for the South Warwickshire Local Plan.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council                            Warwick District Council
Email: [email protected]                      Email: [email protected]
Phone 01789 267575                                                Phone 01926 456525