Issue and Options 2023

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Issue S4: Growth of existing settlements The Issues and Options document confirms that “The South Warwickshire Local Plan will seek to maximise the capacity of its existing urban areas in order to meet our development needs to 2050”. The SWLP has considered potential growth of certain existing settlements. It is appropriate to consider the potential for growth in the existing settlements. The Issues and Options SWLP has initially considered Connectivity, Accessibility, Density and Local Facilities through the Settlement Design Analysis. Wood End is included on the list of settlements and locations subject to connectivity, accessibility, and density analysis. In relation to Wood End, the Landform Analysis shows that growth is limited in this location due to the Ladbrook Park Golf Club to the west and topographical issues to the east. There is a small amount of flood plain which follows Spring Brook. The Connectivity Analysis grades land to the north of Wood End (identified as 1B) as B (on a scale of A-E. This is joint first of the 8 locations assessed. We agree that this location is very well connected. The site submitted as part of these submissions is located a 500m walk (6 minutes) from the existing Wood End Railway Station. This station offers an hourly service between Stratford and Kidderminster. The service towards Kidderminster stops at Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill, taking only 32 minutes (to Moor Street) and 35 minutes (to Snow Hill). Furthermore, this is a local service and stops at the majority of stations enroute, therefore offering access to other facilities in nearby villages and towns. The connectivity analysis provides the following comment on area 1B: “Proximity to Train station which would provide sustainable mode of transport”. The analysis does provide comment on ‘Barriers’, which is stated as “Wood End Lane is very narrow and not suitable for two passing cars in its present state”. Wood End Lane is not intended to be the primary access but could be used to provide secondary access (by foot, cycle and vehicular). The principal access (pedestrian, cycle and vehicular) is provided via The Common, which has an existing footpath to the edge of the site boundary leading to both railway platforms and beyond. The Local Facilities Review shows that all areas of Wood End have a very similar level of access to facilities (Healthcare and Places to Meet). Only one location (location 5B) offers access to more than two facilities (Open Space, leisure, recreation – wellbeing). We would like to point out that Ladbrook Park Golf Club is an 850m walk (10 minutes) from the site, so whilst being 50m in excess of the 800m threshold, this distance is not significantly more to travel and would be realistically possible for the majority of people. In our view, utilising land west of The Common, Wood End would tie into the 20 minute neighbourhood principles which the SWLP is seeking to implement.

Issue S6: A review of Green Belt boundaries To fully consider all options, the spatial growth options are presented with Green Belt policy “off”. Therefore, all five refined options include locations within the Green Belt. The Issues and Options confirms that a decision “on whether to take land out of the Green Belt are interlinked with the selection of a growth option, and the balance of Green Belt and non-Green Belt locations varies between growth options”. A large area of Stratford and Warwick is designated as Green Belt. This includes the majority of the area’s railway stations with several lines running through the area covered by Green Belt. The Issues and Options document states acknowledges that “the location and spread of the Green Belt in South Warwickshire may mean that limiting growth to locations outside of the existing Green Belt designation may not be the most sustainable or climate friendly option as it pushes development away from areas that are well connected with good infrastructure and better access to facilities and services towards areas with more limited infrastructure and where further travel would be necessitated.” The Issues and Options document states that the responses to the previous consultation confirmed that 54% of respondents supported the exploration of growth opportunities in the Green Belt. We consider that a Green Belt review is necessary. In the context of the proposed Plan Period up to 2050, it seems reasonable to assess all sites, both Green Belt and non-Green Belt. It is considered that the South Warwickshire Plan should consider growth opportunities in the Green Belt where they would offer sustainable development (for example railway connections)and agree with the Issues and Options document that locations outside of the existing Green Belt designation may not be the most sustainable or climate friendly option We believe that a Green Belt Review should form part of the evidence base, to ensure that development is not excluded in sustainable locations.

Appropriate strategy

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Issue T1: 20-minute neighbourhoods The Issues and Options document considers that it is beneficial to maximise opportunities for people to meet their regular day-to-day needs near to where they live (and/or work), and to do this within a reasonable walking distance of their homes (and/or workplace). Connectivity to services is therefore key. Locations which are served by existing services or could provide additional services should be seen as an opportunity to maximise sustainable development. We consider that the Local Plan should include a policy on the principles of the 20-minute neighbourhood for new development. Issue T2: Sustainable transport accessibility across South Warwickshire The Joint Local Plan should be seeking to maximise their existing transport links when locating growth. Utilising existing infrastructure and upgrading where necessary should be the priority when locating growth. We consider that the focus should be on settlements which have links to sustainable transport options including rail services. The Joint Local Plan is seeking to be ambitious in terms of its action to tackle climate change, and in a time where we are seeking to encourage more sustainable movement patterns and reduce carbon emissions as much as possible, it seems reasonable to locate development in locations which can benefit from public transport. Promoting all forms of sustainable transport should be the strategic focus of the SWLP. We consider that the SWLP should include a policy which takes a hierarchical approach in terms of prioritising transport infrastructure. Moreover, the hierarchy should seek to prioritise the utilisation of rail services as a means of reducing private car travel for trips

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CONCLUSIONS The Issues and Options document confirms that “The South Warwickshire Local Plan will seek to maximise the capacity of its existing urban areas in order to meet our development needs to 2050”. The SWLP has considered potential growth of their existing settlements. The Connectivity Analysis grades land to the north of Wood End (identified as 1B) as B (on a scale of A-E. This is joint first of the 8 locations assessed. The site submitted as part of these submissions is located a 500m walk (6 minutes) from the existing Wood End Railway Station. This station offers an hourly service between Stratford and Kidderminster. The service towards Kidderminster stops at Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill, taking only 32 minutes (to Moor Street) and 35 minutes (to Snow Hill). Furthermore, this is a local service and stops at the majority of stations enroute, therefore offering access to other facilities in nearby villages and towns. The Local Facilities Review shows that all areas of Wood End have a very similar level of access to facilities (Healthcare and Places to Meet). Only one location (location 5B) offers access to more than two facilities (Open Space, leisure, recreation – wellbeing). Ladbrook Park Golf Club is an 850m walk (10 minutes) from the site, so whilst being 50m in excess of the 800m threshold, this distance is not significantly more to travel and would be realistically possible for the majority of people. Therefore, leisure and recreation is accessible in close proximity to the site. A large area of Stratford and Warwick is designated as Green Belt. This includes the majority of the area’s railway stations with several lines running through the area covered by Green Belt. The Issues and Options document states acknowledges that “the location and spread of the Green Belt in South Warwickshire may mean that limiting growth to locations outside of the existing Green Belt designation may not be the most sustainable or climate friendly option as it pushes development away from areas that are well connected with good infrastructure and better access to facilities and services towards areas with more limited infrastructure and where further travel would be necessitated.” It is considered that a Green Belt review is necessary. It is considered that the South Warwickshire Plan should consider growth opportunities in the Green Belt where they would offer sustainable development (for example railway connections)and agree with the Issues and Options document that locations outside of the existing Green Belt designation may not be the most sustainable or climate friendly option. In a time where we are seeking to encourage more sustainable movement patterns and reduce carbon emissions as much as possible, it seems reasonable to locate development in locations which can benefit from public transport. The Scoping and Call for Sites document proposed seven initial options for growth. These have been refined to five options. In our view, Option 1 (Rail Corridors) should be considered essential as they offer a sustainable alternative to car travel. The Beckett Family are promoting land west of The Common, Wood End. The site can accommodate a development for approximately 200 dwellings, a community facility, open space and allotments. Land west of The Common, Wood End is considered a sustainable site for residential development, given the reasons discussed above.