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

Councillor George Cowcher, Deputy Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Place & Economy Portfolio Holder said: “By preparing a Local Plan for the South Warwickshire area, we are setting out how both Councils wish to see this area, which has strong economic and travel connections across the two authorities, be developed and fulfil our statutory obligations.

“By preparing a long-term plan, we can seek to ensure that our key aspirations can be delivered in relation to ensuring development is as sustainable as it can be in relation to climate change, connectivity between housing and employment growth, and to properly plan for the infrastructure needed to meet future growth needs and address existing challenges.

“Now is a great opportunity for residents, businesses and other stakeholders to take a closer look at the emerging plan and make their views known on the preferred options we have identified to date. This will help us firm up on the policies and proposals that we will need to take forward to meet our development needs in a sustainable way.

“I hope as many residents as possible; business and stakeholders take time to comment on the areas that matter most to them.”

Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Place, Councillor Chris King commented: “This is a key step in the preparation of our combined Local Plan, which will determine where we should locate the homes and employment land that we need in the coming decades and ensure that this development happens in the most sustainable locations that work for residents and businesses whilst safeguarding the environment.

“The ‘Preferred Options’ consultation will give local people the opportunity to look in detail at emerging potential locations for strategic growth and new settlements that can meet the area’s needs. The plan includes a growth strategy which has regard to the previous Issues & Options consultation results which identified the growth option that focused on the Economy and Sustainable Travel as the most popular.

“The document has been informed by a significant amount of evidence and expert opinion. This consultation is now the opportunity to seek the views of residents, businesses and the development industry.”

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