Issue and Options 2023

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Yes

Yes, we consider that growth of some of South Warwickshire’s existing settlements should be part of the overall strategy. This approach is consistent with national planning policy and basic sustainability principles to ensure that housing is focused in existing settlements, such as Wellesbourne, where there are existing services and where there is a need to ensure vitality. South Warwickshire has a dispersed settlement pattern (as set out in Policy CS.15 of the adopted Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy) and is home to a significant number of existing settlements of varying sizes. The explanatory text under Issue S4 sets out that there are nine towns (Alcester, Henley-in-Arden, Kenilworth, Royal Leamington Spa, Shipston-onStour, Southam, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Whitnash), at least 82 villages and hundreds of hamlets. Issue S4 sets out that the South Warwickshire Local Plan will seek to maximise the capacity of its existing urban areas in order to meet development needs to 2050. However, in deciding upon the best distribution strategy for new development within South Warwickshire, it is important for the Local Plan to consider the potential for growth around the edges of the existing settlements. Wellesbourne is categorised as a ‘Main Rural Centre’ in Policy CS.15 of the adopted Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy. The settlement hierarchy is defined below: 1. Main Town: Stratford-upon-Avon 2. Main Rural Centres (including Wellesbourne) 3. New Settlements 4. Local Service Villages 5. Large Rural Brownfield Sites 6. All other settlements 7. Local Needs Schemes Therefore, Wellesbourne is identified as one of the most sustainable settlements in the settlement hierarchy and spatial distribution of growth in Stratford-upon-Avon district. Wellesbourne is a large village which contains a range of local services and facilities, including a supermarket, convenience store, primary school, a sports and community centre, medical centres, pharmacy, restaurants and public houses. There is an established employment area, which provides a range of jobs, to the north west of Wellesbourne adjacent to Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome. Given the need to accommodate development needs for housing within South Warwickshire, in addition to meeting the housing shortfalls from outside of South Warwickshire, Wellesbourne is clearly a sustainable location to accommodate additional housing growth. The SWLP also explores opportunities for Wellesbourne to attract inward investment as a centre for aviation innovation, owing to the opportunities provided by the co-location of Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome and the University of Warwick campus at Wellesbourne, which provides research and education in engineering, manufacturing and technology. Positioning dwellings close to jobs and services, creating walkable neighbourhoods, can have a positive impact on the sustainability of a settlement. The promotion site is a suitable location for housing by reason of the fact it comprises previously developed land immediately adjoining the Built-up Area Boundary of Wellesbourne adjacent to existing residential development to the east. The scale of development is appropriate to Wellesbourne, due to its position within the settlement hierarchy as a Main Rural Centre. Any scheme brought forward on this site would be designed to respect the existing settlement and be fully integrated. The Site has been carefully considered to enable a comprehensive planned development to be achieved to deliver new housing (market and affordable) which is well-located in relation to the village and will enhance its vitality in line with national planning policy. Accordingly, it is considered that the Site should be allocated as a residential site within the South Warwickshire Local Plan.

Q-S3.2: Please select the option which is most appropriate for South Warwickshire We consider Option S3.2a is most appropriate for South Warwickshire. Reusing suitable brownfield land for new development can provide an effective use of land and reduces the need for development on undeveloped greenfield sites. National policy places emphasis on strategic policies setting out a clear strategy for accommodating objectively assessed needs, in a way that makes as much use as possible of previously developed or ‘brownfield’ land. Currently, redevelopment proposals for previously developed land in the open countryside in Stratford-on-Avon District would either be assessed against Core Strategy Policy AS.10 ‘Countryside and Villages’ or Policy AS.11 ‘Large Rural Brownfield Sites’, depending on whether the site is to be considered ‘small scale’ or an ‘extensive’ previously developed site. Policy AS.11 ‘Large Rural Brownfields Sites’ supports the re-use and redevelopment of extensive previously developed sites in the countryside, outside the Green Belt, where it can be demonstrated that the proposal is in compliance with the following criteria: a) The extent to which the nature of the proposed development would be in the national or local interest. b) Whether the form and scale of the proposed development could reasonably be provided elsewhere in the District in a manner that is consistent with the overall development strategy set out in this Plan. c) The extent to which the nature of the proposed development would be beneficial compared with the current use and condition of the site. d) The scale and nature of impacts, including visual, noise and light, on the character of the local area and local communities. e) The extent to which features that are statutorily protected or of local importance are affected and any impact on them can be mitigated. f) The scope to minimise the need to travel and promote the use of transport other than the private car. g) The absence of development on any area of the site liable to flood risk.’ If sites are to be regarded as small scale, redevelopment proposals would be assessed against Policy AS.10 ‘Countryside and Villages’. This policy applies to all parts of the District apart from those which lie within the Built Up Area Boundaries defined for Stratford-upon-Avon and the Main Rural Centres and land covered by Policy AS.11 Large Rural Brownfield Sites. Policy AS.10 includes a ‘residential’ section which considers which forms of development in the countryside are acceptable in principle. There are nine such criteria included. However, none are applicable to small-scale housing schemes on previously developed sites adjoining or close to defined Built-Up Area Boundaries of settlements. There is an internal tension within Policy AS.10 between an underlying purpose in terms of promoting development on previously developed land in sustainable locations and the containment of housing within settlements. It is considered that Option S3.2a, which seeks to prioritise brownfield development if it can be proven that the development is in a sustainable location, would resolve the current tension within Policy AS.10. Land off Wheelwright Way, Wellesbourne comprises previously developed land adjoining the Built-up Area Boundary of Wellesbourne and adjoining existing residential development. The Site is not land of high environmental value, nor would redevelopment of this site lead to the loss of agricultural land or result in any encroachment into the countryside as it is contained by the adjoining residential development to the east, Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome to the north and west, and Loxley Road to the south. The delivery of this site for approximately 20 dwellings would not put undue pressure on key elements of infrastructure in Wellesbourne, including Wellesbourne Primary School. The scale of development is appropriate to Wellesbourne, due to its position within the settlement hierarchy as a Main Rural Centre. The promotion site would be well connected to the built-up area of Wellesbourne and it is considered that the new homes at land off Wheelwright Way would respond well to the 20-minute neighbourhood concept, owing to the close proximity of the site to Wellesbourne’s services and facilities. The Site is within 800 metres (a 10-minute walk) of the Sainsbury’s supermarket located on Loxley Road. Indeed, the Site was initially included as part of the Outline proposals for the residential development at Wellesbourne Distribution Park (LPA Ref. 13/00510/OUT). When the planning application was submitted, no objections were received from Landscape Officers regarding the landscape and visual impact of the proposals. However, the applicant decided to withdraw this small parcel of the site as expediency towards the consent of the remainder of the site, because of a then, unresolved issue relating to aviation matters. These written representations are accompanied by a Physical Safeguarding Assessment of Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome (Appendix 3) which demonstrates that a residential development at the site would not infringe the prescribed transitional, takeoff climb and approach surfaces for light aircraft arriving or departing from the aerodrome. Therefore, there are no aerodrome safeguarding or public safety related reasons to withhold an allocation or consent for a residential development at this site. It is also understood that there are preliminary proposals to replace the current north/south runway at Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome with a new runway; to be located further to the west with a minor realignment to its orientation away from the promotion site at land off Wheelwright Way, Wellesbourne. If these changes occur, there will be no impact or aviation related constraint on any future proposals to redevelop the land off Wheelwright Way for residential purposes. Overall, it is considered that the re-development of the promotion site would constitute sustainable development by reason of: • Reducing the need for development on undeveloped greenfield sites • It would not lead to the loss of agricultural land or result in any encroachment into the countryside • It is well connected to the built-up area of Wellesbourne and immediately adjoinsexisting residential development • It would respond well to the 20-minute neighbourhood concept, owing to the close proximity of the site to Wellesbourne’s services and facilities • It would minimise the need to travel and promote the use of transport other than the private car, particularly due to the employment opportunities available within Wellesbourne Therefore, Option S3.2a, which seeks to prioritise brownfield development if it can be proven that the development is in a sustainable location or would increase the sustainability of the area, is supported. Issue S7: Refined Spatial Growth Options It is considered that none of these Spatial Growth Options should be selected exclusively. A portfolio approach which seeks to prioritise settlements which benefit from a combination of the above growth options and principles, would be more conducive to sustainable growth. For example, the only second-tier settlement in Stratford-on-Avon District which benefits from a railway station is Henley-in-Arden, which lies within the West Midlands Green Belt. Consequently, this growth option would require the release of Green Belt land. Equally, dispersing growth (Option 5) would not help encourage sustainable travel, as many of the new homes in smaller, rural settlements and villages would inevitably be poorly connected by public transport, and long distances from the facilities needed for day-to-day life. A portfolio approach would follow the advice in the Framework, which expects development to be focused in the most sustainable locations in terms of availability of shops, facilities and services, as well as access by modes of transport other than the private car. In addition, this approach would allow development to be distributed over a range of settlements rather than in single settlements in order to ensure their vitality and viability in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Wellesbourne is clearly a sustainable location to accommodate additional housing growth. As set out previously under Q-S4.1, Wellesbourne is categorised as a ‘Main Rural Centre’ in Policy CS.15 of the adopted Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy and is one of the most sustainable settlements in the settlement hierarchy and spatial distribution of growth in Stratford-on-Avon District. Wellesbourne is a large village which contains a range of local services and facilities, including a supermarket, convenience store, primary school, a sports and community centre, medical centres, pharmacy, restaurants and public houses. There is an established employment area, which provides a range of jobs, to the north west of Wellesbourne adjacent to Wellesbourne Mountford Aerodrome. The promotion site would be well connected to the built-up area of Wellesbourne and would constitute sustainable development. Indeed, it is considered that the new homes at land off Wheelwright Way, Wellesbourne will respond to the 20-minute neighbourhood concept, owing to the close proximity of the site to Wellesbourne’s services and facilities. A portfolio approach to growth in South Warwickshire would ensure that housing is focused in existing settlements, such as Wellesbourne, where there are existing employment opportunities, local services and facilities, and where there is a need to ensure vitality. It is considered that this growth option would be consistent with national planning policy and basic sustainability principles and should be supported as the Plan progresses.