Other

ID sylw: 107238

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Oxfordshire County Council

We note that the North Cotswold Line has a spur connecting from Honeybourne to the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre. The Preferred Options document proposes to safeguard the innovation centre site for 'rail-based employment and research and development' as set out in Draft Policy Direction 14. The spur does not provide for passenger services, and north of the innovation centre, the former railway line no longer exists and has been replaced by the Stratford Greenway, which is a popular cycling route to Stratford-upon-Avon. We are aware that Stratford-on-Avon District Council received in October 2024 a refreshed strategic outline business case for re-opening the Stratford- upon-Avon to Honeybourne Railway Line, which advises on the need for a Worcester- Stratford-Leamington sub-regional transport strategy to identify which investments in transport infrastructure and services are needed having regard to growth proposals in the area. We agree that additional research is needed, particularly given the option of strategic growth at Long Marston, which is identified as one of the four 'more suitable' new settlements in the Preferred Options consultation, building on existing development at Long Marston and Meon Vale.

Other

ID sylw: 107270

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cotswolds National Landscape Board

In principle, the Cotswolds National Landscape (CNL) Board agrees with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 14.
Of particular relevance to the CNL are the proposed Major Investment Sites (MIS) at Long Marston Airfield (MIS.2) and Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre (MIS.3). In principle, we do not object to these sites being developed as Major Investment Sites. However, we do have some recommendations as to how any adverse effects on the CNL can be avoided and minimised, as outlined below.
The MIS at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre comes within approximately 900m of the CNL boundary and within approximately 1.7km of elevated views from Public Rights of Way (PROW) on Meon Hill within the CNL. The MIS lies entirely within the 3km CNL buffer. The MIS at Long Marston Airfield comes within approximately 1.6km of the CNL boundary and within approximately 2km of elevated views from PROW on Meon Hill within the CNL. The vast majority of the site lies within the 3km CNL buffer.
Map showing the Major Investment Sites at Long Marston Airfield and Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre
Key:
•Yellow shading = Major Investment Sites
•Black hatching = Cotswolds National Landscape
•Grey shading = 3km buffer around the Cotswolds National Landscape
•Black lines = settlement boundary
•Area with no hatching or shading = other counties (including Gloucestershire and Worcestershire)
As such, these two MIS are clearly in the setting of the CNL. The panoramic views that are experienced from the Cotswold escarpment outliers, including Meon Hill, are one of the key features / characteristics of Landscape Character Type 1 (Escarpment Outliers).20 Great weight should be given to the impact of development at the two MIS on these views. Development at the two MIS should also be sensitively located and designed to avoid or minimise impacts on the CNL, in line with paragraph 189 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).21
We recommend that explicit reference should be made to the above points in Draft Policy Direction 14 and in the supporting text.
In views from the CNL, the MIS at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre lies beyond the existing built development at Meon Vale, which helps to limit potential visual impacts. The potential visual impacts would be further mitigated by the woodland in the Meon Vale Local Wildlife Site (LWS), which lies between the existing built development at Meon Vale and the Rail Innovation Centre. The triangle of land to the south west of the LWS and to the south east of the Rail Innovation Centre is identified, in the consultation interactive map, as a potential LWS. We recommend that the LWS should be expanded to include this land and that the trees here should be retained (not least, to help screen the Rail Innovation Centre in views from the CNL).
The existing development at Long Marston Airfield is clearly visible in views from the CNL, particularly from the Monarch’s Way and Centenary Way to the south east of Upper Quinton. Further development at the Long Marston Airfield MIS would increase the prominence of Long Marston Airfield in these views, albeit at some distance and in the context of existing development. Adverse impacts on these views could be mitigated, to some degree, by appropriate landscape mitigation measures (including tree planting and planting of hedgerows) along the southern and south-eastern boundaries of the site and within the site.
We recommend that the above recommendations should be explicitly addressed within Draft Policy Direction 14.
We acknowledge that Long Marston Airfield is already allocated as a new settlement in Stratford-on-Avon’s adopted Core Strategy.22 The site boundary for the MIS is the same as that used in the Core Strategy.23

Yes

ID sylw: 107297

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Stratford Rail Transport Group

SRTG fully supports the presence of Porterbrook at Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre(LMRIC), its full acquisition of the site in 2024, recent and planned investment and commitment to the rail industry. The site is a Major Investment Site in the emerging South Warwickshire Local Plan. As such, the proposed £45m investment in the site is therefore fully supported.

Yes

ID sylw: 107450

Derbyniwyd: 16/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Moreton Morrell Parish Council

University of Warwick Wellesbourne Campus – the masterplan for this site will play a key role in the economic development of South Warwickshire bringing high-tech and innovative employment to the area. Careful traffic management required to avoid Hampton Lucy and Charlecote becoming rat-runs. All entrance and exit access has to be off A429. – SUPPORT

Wellesbourne Airfield – protect and enhance the flying functions of the airfield which must be continuous throughout any neighbouring development – SUPPORT

Yes

ID sylw: 107478

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Newbold Pacey & Ashorne Parish Council

University of Warwick Wellesbourne Campus – the masterplan for this site will play a key role in the economic development of South Warwickshire bringing high-tech and innovative employment to the area. Careful traffic management will be required to avoid Hampton Lucy and Charlecote becoming rat-runs. All entrance and exit access must be via the A429. – SUPPORT

Wellesbourne Airfield – protect and enhance the flying functions of the airfield which must be continuous throughout any neighbouring development – SUPPORT.

***** It must be noted, if developments, X1, SG15 and SG16 plus the Warwick University site are approved, they along with the gravel pits near Barford and the Elms Farm Solar Installation in Newbold Pacey will effectively join Wellesbourne to Leamington and indeed Warwick; creating a new urban swathe across open countryside*******.

Yes

ID sylw: 107544

Derbyniwyd: 05/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Ellis Machinery Ltd

Asiant : Frampton Town Planning

“MIS.1 - Gaydon – JLR/AML – it is proposed to release the existing 100ha. JLR restricted allocation to allow general strategic manufacturing and small-scale logistics uses (under 9,300 sqm), with the emphasis on strategic B2 manufacturing. Large-scale logistics (B8 class) uses will be resisted on this site.
We will engage with JLR regarding alternative sites that may be suitable for their future development needs so that their requirements are met. The existing Aston Martin Lagonda (AML) 4.5ha. allocation in the adopted SDC Core Strategy may however be retained within the SWLP, subject to further discussion with AML on their future plans for the site.”
We agree with this approach, making this 100 ha employment allocation available for the wider market will vastly increase the level of employment provision available in the local area. As already mentioned, the release of this land to the wider market will further increase employment provision and providing justification for identifying locations, such as land off Old Town, Kineton Road, Gaydon for residential development close to new employment.

Other

ID sylw: 107549

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Charlecote Parish Council

University of Warwick Wellesbourne Campus

Charlecote Parish supports this proposal subject to the following:

The design avoids coalescence between Charlecote and Wellesbourne through protected landscaped buffers to the east approaching Charlecote from the A429 and holding the parcel closest to the village as a designated green open space in perpetutity.

Restricting development to the extent of the current planning application to protect the rural landscape synonymous with South Warwickshire.

A traffic management plan which avoids increased 'rat-running' through Charlecote and Hampton Lucy. Public transport serving the campus should be provided from within the development itself rather than Charlecote village. Protection of the historic Listed ‘Nobby’ Bridge in Charlecote and the historic Listed iron bridge between Hampton Lucy and Charlecote from additional traffic and HGV use. Access/exit from the Campus should be only via the A429.

Other

ID sylw: 107560

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Baginton Parish Council

Area SC03 (Airport and proposed Gigafactory). This land is still in Green Belt and has been given provisional approval based on the ‘Very Special Circumstances’ that it is the only site in the UK capable of housing Europe’s largest Gigafactory. We wish to stress;

i. Anything less than Europe’s largest Gigafactory does not satisfy the ‘Very Special Circumstances’ requirement to utilise Green Belt. This is also true for the recently advertised Volktec proposal which only uses one-sixth of the site and could be built in many smaller alternative locations.
ii. We must insist that the SWLP recognises that the SC03 development site MUST be kept within the Green Belt. If Europe’s biggest Gigafactory is not forthcoming, the site should not be quietly dropped into the Government’s new ‘Grey Belt’ category and developed as unwanted warehousing.

Other

ID sylw: 107586

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Coventry City Council

In terms of MIS 4 the allocation of the Coventry Airport site of a Gigafactory is welcomed
and supported. The reference to further employment to help meet unmet need is supported
in principle and further discussions would be welcomed.
In regard to MIS 7, this relates to the Warwick University site. Development proposals for
this site must accord with the jointly adopted University of Warwick Framework Masterplan
SPD as set out earlier in these representations . Reference is made in MIS 7 to ‘further
development in the south of this site will be explored but may require a link road from the
A46 depending on the nature of development due to access through a residential area’.
This is not in accordance with the SPD.

Other

ID sylw: 107607

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Highways

We note that this Draft Policy Direction sets out the locations of nine Major Investment
Sites across South Warwickshire. We understand that these sites will be protected for
employment uses and will be the main focus of new employment development across
the Plan period. The quantum of development planned for these sites is yet to
determined, however based on their locations it is likely that MIS.1 Gaydon, MIS.4
South of Coventry area, MIS.6 Stoneleigh Park and MIS.7 University of Warwick Main
Campus may lead to impacts on the operation of the SRN which will need to be
appropriately considered as part of the transport evidence base for these sites.

Yes

ID sylw: 107642

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Hampton Lucy Parish Council

Major Investment Sites

University of Warwick Wellesbourne Campus

HLPC SUPPORTS this proposal SUBJECT TO THE COMMENTS BELOW

o The development should be designed to ensure the village of Charlecote remains as a distinct and separate settlement and does not become a built-up satellite of Wellesbourne. This can be achieved by protective rural swathes of land held in perpetuity as a divide between the development and the village.

o A satisfactory and sustainable traffic management plan must be put in place to ensure the fragile infrastructure serving both the villages of Charlecote and Hampton Lucy are not impacted by increased heavy traffic ‘rat-running’ through the village which the development would otherwise would likely cause. This is already an issue without any further development.

In particular, the listed single-track iron bridge running between Hampton Lucy and Charlecote needs to be protected as provided for in Policy IN1 of HLPC’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Access and egress to the site should be only via the A429 Wellesbourne Road.

Other

ID sylw: 107670

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cala Homes (Cotswolds)

Asiant : Lichfields (London)

Draft Policy Direction 14 (Major Investment Sites (MIS) states that at MIS.2 – Long Marston Airfield the “existing allocation Proposal LMA: Long Marston Airfield remains an important part of Stratford-on-Avon’s employment land supply.” Whilst Cala supports the “existing allocation Proposal LMA: Long Marston Airfield,” it requests that any additional capacity – for employment, housing and/or other uses at LMA is considered in terms of the existing allocation and current applications. The existing settlement has been tested through the Local plan previously and concluded to be sound. It must be ensured that any changes to the existing allocation do not compromise or create uncertainty for delivery of the existing allocation.

Yes

ID sylw: 107683

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Shakespeare Line Rail User Group

SLRUG unequivocally supports Porterbrook’s presence at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre (LMRIC) and its acquisition of the site in 2024. We firmly endorse the recent and planned investments, along with a strong commitment to the rail industry. The site is strategically designated as a Major Investment Site in the emerging South Warwickshire Local Plan. As such, we fully support the proposed £45 million investment in the site and its significant potential for the region.

Yes

ID sylw: 107777

Derbyniwyd: 05/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Andrew Wilkins

RE: Wellesbourne Airfield -
I am a user of the airfield, as well as working there as a flying instructor and Air Traffic Controller.

I agree with the Council's proposal to safeguard the aviation function of the airfield, in-line with existing Area Policy AS.9 in the adopted Stratford-on-Avon District Core Strategy.

Yes

ID sylw: 107922

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Catesby Estates Ltd

Asiant : Stantec

Catesby Estates supports the approach set out within draft Policy Direction 14 and, in particular, the recognition of the importance of area MIS.4; South of Coventry Area including Coventry Airport, Coventry Gateway and the National Battery Innovation Centre.
As rightly set out within the SWLP, the area of South Warwickshire to the south of Coventry has started to see considerable growth. Strategic allocations in the current Warwick District Local Plan include large housing sites at Kings Hill and Westwood Heath as well as a sub-regional
employment site to the south of Jaguar Land Rover’s Head Quarters at Whitley. Warwick University and Coventry Airport are also located within the area and a planning application has been granted for a battery gigafactory on the airport site to support the country’s shift towards electric vehicles and ultimately carbon neutrality. This development could complement existing facilities in the area including the Battery Industrialisation Centre, facilities at JLR and Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University. Significant transport infrastructure improvements have been implemented, are ongoing and are being explored in the area. These include a new bridge over the A45 and transport improvements to connect JLR/Whitley Business Park to the new
sub-regional employment site comprising Whitley South and Coventry Gateway. A new scheme will see a new bridge across the A46 and a new signalised gyratory system at the Stoneleigh Junction of the A46. Further transport investment is being considered in the area. The potential for a new railway station near Kenilworth is being explored. A possible transport corridor, potentially incorporating Very Light Rail and to cater for other sustainable travel modes connecting the new Stoneleigh Junction to Warwick University and with strategic connections towards the proposed HS2 Interchange at UK Central in Solihull is also being explored.
The above investment opportunities further lends credence to the allocation of residential growth
within Strategic Growth Location SG01 South of Coventry, in order to best co-locate homes, employment opportunities and infrastructure investment.

Other

ID sylw: 108023

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: CEG Land Promotion III (UK) Limited

Asiant : Nexus Planning

CEG support the suggested retention of the allocation of land to the north/rear of the AML’s HQ to enable small scale expansion of their existing facility.
CEG are also pleased to see that the Gaydon Area/M40 Junction 12 has been identified as a Major Investment Site and support its inclusion. However, CEG do have serious concerns about restricting the uses that could be accommodated on site. The subtext for the Draft Policy Direction states that “Whilst well-located to the M40, this location is not seen as appropriate for strategic logistic uses (i.e. Use Class B8).” This statement in itself is considered contradictory and fails to take into consideration market demand and the importance of logistics on manufacturing, in particular the automotive sector.
It is also considered that restrictions proposed are counter to that of paragraph 86 b) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which states that planning policies should “pay particular regard to facilitating development to meet the needs of a modern economy, including by identifying suitable locations for uses such as laboratories, gigafactories, data centres, digital infrastructure, freight and logistics”
Furthermore, paragraph 87 of the NPPF is clear that planning policies and decisions should recognise and address the specific locational requirements of different sectors. In particular provisions should be made for storage and distribution operations at a variety of scales and in suitably accessible locations that allow for the efficient and reliable handling of goods, especially where this is needed to support the supply chain, transport innovation and decarbonisation. Junction 12 by virtue of its location is considered an appropriate location for strategic B8 use.
The importance of logistics to the automotive sector should not be understated. The automotive industry heavily relies on automotive logistics to manage the complex supply chain involved in the production and delivery of vehicles. In this regard, they are considered synonymous and provision of B8 in this location would support existing sectors, particularly the automotive cluster at Gaydon.
In view of the above, it is considered that the strategic B8 restriction should be removed from Policy Direction 14.

Yes

ID sylw: 108106

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Wellesbourne Matters

MIS.8/MIS.9 - Wellesbourne Area including University of Warwick and Wellesbourne Airfield
The principle of policy support for further investment in employment uses that have a clear nexus to the aviation industry or would benefit from the transport facilities that it supports.
However, any such policy support must be qualified by clear wording that ensures that any such development must retain or support the enhancement of the established flying functions and aviation facilities at Wellesbourne Airfield, consistently with the existing policy AS.9. See Wellesbourne Matters’ comments on draft policy direction 16.

Other

ID sylw: 108157

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: IM Properties Development Ltd (IMP)

Asiant : Turley

It is acknowledged that Draft Policy Direction 14 – Major Investment Sites allocates land
which “will be protected for employment uses and will be the main focus of new
employment development in the plan period”.
The identification of Major Investment Sites (MIS) is welcomed; however, it is recognised
that Stratford 46 has not been selected as a MIS despite its allocation in the adopted
Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy and despite the draft specific site proposals in the
emerging Stratford-on-Avon Site Allocations Plan (SAP) (i.e. Proposal SUA.2). It also
benefits from an extant hybrid planning permission (Ref: 19/01402/OUT).
Stratford 46 is a strategic employment site (as it measures 25 hectares) which has the
capacity to deliver a mix of employment uses, including light industry, general industrial
and storage and distribution, as well as office and retail space. Its importance to the
South Warwickshire economy is significant, and its delivery timescales as defined by the
emerging SAP extend to 2030-2031, which is well within the plan period for the South
Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP).
It is therefore requested and recommended that Stratford 46 is identified as a MIS in the
SWLP given its supporting role in growing the local and sub-regional economy, which is
currently defined by the following operational economic benefits in line with the hybrid
planning permission:
1. 1,655 on-site jobs.
2. 1,120 net direct jobs (FTE jobs supported in the West Midlands, including 805 in
Stratford-on-Avon).
3. £100.7 million GVA (output per annum, including £61.8 million in Stratford-onAvon).
4. £28.3 million direct and indirect wages generated per annum
5. A range of managerial, professional, technical, skilled and elementary jobs
supported.
6. £2.1 million in business rates (retained each year by Stratford-on-Avon District
Council).
Draft Policy Direction 14 outlines “in broad terms the type of employment uses that
would be considered acceptable in principle”. Subject to the identification of Stratford 46
as a MIS, the employment uses currently acceptable at the site as per existing allocations
and the hybrid planning permission, include the following:
• Light industry, general industrial and storage and distribution.
• Office and research and development.
• Retail (shop and food and drink).
• Other (i.e. car showrooms).
In general, these uses are still attracting interest at Stratford 46; however, since hybrid
planning permission was secured in 2019, the need and market demand for each use has
significantly changed owing to on-going shifts in the context of macroeconomics i.e. post
Brexit trade patterns, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis. This is
particularly relevant for office space, which the ramifications for that sector are
explained at paragraph 4.3 of the South Warwickshire Employment Land Study (October
2024) in reference to the Coventry & Warwickshire Housing & Economic Development
Needs Assessment (2022).
The above is partly reflected in Table 4 of the Preferred Options which identifies a
residual (net) non-strategic industrial need between 2021-50 in South Warwickshire
amounting to 217 hectares, as well as a 75-125 hectares residual (net) strategic industrial
site need between 2021-45 in South Warwickshire. Whereas there is a small residual
(net) office need of 3ha) between 2021-50 in Stratford-on-Avon (with South
Warwickshire wide possibly having a surplus of 11 hectares of office space between
2021-50).
As a consequence of the latest employment land need position, there is an opportunity
for Stratford 46 to accommodate more space for light industry, general industrial and
storage and distribution whilst retaining a wider retail offer for businesses wishing to
relocate to the district or grow premises in the district.
It is noted Draft Policy Direction 14 states “the exact type and quantum of development
to be allocated at each MIS will be determined in subsequent stages of the Local Plan
process”. It is also noted that the type and quantum of development at existing
allocations such as ‘Gaydon – JLR/AML’ and ‘Long Marston Airfield’, which are identified
as major investment sites, are subject to change from policy requirements established in
the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy.
Given the above position, IM Properties Development Ltd (IMP) welcome a discussion
with Stratford-on-Avon District Council around the potential to redefine the type and
quantum of development to be re-allocated at Stratford 46 in the SWLP.

Yes

ID sylw: 108360

Derbyniwyd: 23/06/2025

Ymatebydd: Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield

Asiant : Gladman Developments

We are in broad agreement with the principles of Draft Policy Direction 13 and 14 and are content for
the Part 1 SWLP to include a policy which looks to direct employment growth to the Core Opportunity
Area as it is arguably the most accessible and sustainable geographical area for major employment
development to occur. Any such policies relating to the Core Opportunity Area and specific Major Investment Sites must be broadly aligned to each other and should provide clarity and specificity as to what is sought within the broader Core Opportunity Area and on the Major Investment Sites, whilst ensuring a degree of flexibility to allow sites that are included within these designations to adapt to changes in spatial, economic, transport and infrastructure circumstances.

We feel it would be beneficial for the SWLP to include a policy relating to additional economic growth at the Major Investment Sites. Any identification in policy of the specific employment uses considered permittable at the Major
Investment Sites must be reflective and relevant to each individual site.

It is also noted that an integral relationship between Wellesbourne Airfield and the University of Warwick is desired. Whilst we would endorse this strategic approach and recognise the synergies between the sites, it is important for any policies to reflect both sites as individual schemes that can and are able to be brought forward independently. This is demonstrated by the live planning application on Wellesbourne Airfield (24/02333/OUT).

Other

ID sylw: 108680

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Ventrix Limited

Asiant : Frampton Town Planning

Like with the Core Opportunity Area, The Platt Group acknowledges and supports Wellesbourne Airfield being a Major Investment Site. However, the identification of the site as an MIS should not come as the cost of existing employment. We therefore suggest that the wording of Policy Direction 14 is amended to state:
“MIS.8 and MIS.9- Wellesbourne including University of Warwick Wellesbourne Campus and Wellesbourne Airfield – it is proposed to expand the agri-tech cluster at the University of Warwick Innovation Campus to support spin-out businesses and expansion of employment provision at Wellesbourne Airfield (see Section 6.5 on Airfields). Development of the Wellesbourne Campus should be consistent with the adopted Masterplan SPD. Any development at Wellesbourne Airfield will safeguard the existing Wellesbourne Market.”