Issue and Options 2023

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Thank you for providing the opportunity to respond to this early stage of the process of preparing the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP). This response has been submitted to meet the Duty to Cooperate requirements by Wychavon District Council (and on behalf of the South Worcestershire Councils that include Malvern Hills District Council, Wychavon District Council and Worcester City Council). These are further officer comments to your initial consultation undertaken in June 2021. The joint working approach adopted by Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council is welcome. This reflects the similar working relationship in South Worcestershire, that brings with it benefits of being able to forward plan on a strategic level, and economies of scale etc. It is noted that the SWLP is a strategic level plan, and that further DPD will be prepared covering Development Management policies etc. in due course. Support is given to the plan period up to 2050, and the overarching development principles that are set out in the Issue and Options are also supported. The range of evidence to date is considered to be robust and proportionate. The study covering Settlement Design Analysis is of interest and particularly current given the proposed changes to the NPPF currently out for consultation and the Levelling Up Bill.

Nothing chosen

The housing supply figure, based on the wider Warwickshire SHMA evidence, against the current Standard Method of 1,679 dwellings for the local plan area is noted. Clearly the SWLP is at an early stage of preparation and the NPPF update and amendments to the Levelling Up Bill (referred to above) are likely to have implications to this plan making process, testing of the local plan and any ‘locally derived’ housing supply figure. On this basis it is queried as to whether any consideration has been given to revising the housing supply, development strategy and timetable etc. by the two South Warwickshire councils.

The development options of focusing new development on railway, and other transport corridors is supported as it reflects the development strategy in the emerging SWDPR as set out in the 2022 Regulation 19 SWDP Review Publication document. Encouragement is given though to considering how both housing, along with economic development can be woven into this approach from the options set in the consultation. Of direct interest to Wychavon District Council, as previously referred to in the June 2021 consultation is the proposal under the new settlement/rail corridor option titled New Settlement Option E1, Long Marston Airfield. This includes a possible uplift in the number of homes in the locality with a further 3,500 dwellings, in addition to the 3,500 homes planned at the Long Marston Airfield Garden Village. Concern is expressed regarding the impact of this on the Vale of Evesham in terms of traffic, existing road networks and highway capacity, other infrastructure requirements, the environment generally and the heritage assets in particular in Pebworth village. With respect to the latter point these routes through the village are identified as important and valued visual assets in the Pebworth Neighbourhood Plan (2019). Therefore, strong support would be given to any mitigation approaches that include the provision of high-quality public transport links, preferably rail, to/from Long Marston, with a railway station at Long Marston itself. In addition, that the aim to reinstate the railway line from Honeybourne to Stratford continues to form part of the strategic public transport strategy for this plan, including the safeguarding of routes etc. reflecting the position in 2022 SWDPR 06 Publication (Regulation 19) document.

The development options of focusing new development on railway, and other transport corridors is supported as it reflects the development strategy in the emerging SWDPR as set out in the 2022 Regulation 19 SWDP Review Publication document. Encouragement is given though to considering how both housing, along with economic development can be woven into this approach from the options set in the consultation. Of direct interest to Wychavon District Council, as previously referred to in the June 2021 consultation is the proposal under the new settlement/rail corridor option titled New Settlement Option E1, Long Marston Airfield. This includes a possible uplift in the number of homes in the locality with a further 3,500 dwellings, in addition to the 3,500 homes planned at the Long Marston Airfield Garden Village. Concern is expressed regarding the impact of this on the Vale of Evesham in terms of traffic, existing road networks and highway capacity, other infrastructure requirements, the environment generally and the heritage assets in particular in Pebworth village. With respect to the latter point these routes through the village are identified as important and valued visual assets in the Pebworth Neighbourhood Plan (2019). Therefore, strong support would be given to any mitigation approaches that include the provision of high-quality public transport links, preferably rail, to/from Long Marston, with a railway station at Long Marston itself. In addition, that the aim to reinstate the railway line from Honeybourne to Stratford continues to form part of the strategic public transport strategy for this plan, including the safeguarding of routes etc. reflecting the position in 2022 SWDPR 06 Publication (Regulation 19) document.