Preferred Options 2025

Yes

Representation ID: 107230

Received: 06/03/2025

Respondent: Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council

Support is given to the plan period up to 2050, and the overarching development principles that are set out in the Preferred Options are also supported. The range of evidence to date is considered to be robust and proportionate.

Other

Representation ID: 107231

Received: 06/03/2025

Respondent: Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council

Paragraph 62 of the NPPF states that the standard method should be used to “determine the minimum number of homes needed”. 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 to comply with a housing figure of 2,188 dwellings per annum as a minimum.

The development option of focusing new development on railway, and other transport corridors is supported as it is the most sustainable option and reflects the development strategy in the SWDPR. 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.

Other

Representation ID: 107232

Received: 06/03/2025

Respondent: Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council

Of direct interest to Wychavon District Council is the proposal under the new settlement/rail corridor option titled Potential New Settlements Option E1, Long Marston Airfield.

Concern is expressed regarding the impact of these allocations 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). These will all need to be taken account of in a detailed transport assessment of which the South Worcestershire Councils and Worcestershire County Council would need to be involved in.

Given the concerns, 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, the council welcomes the aim to reinstate the railway line from Honeybourne to Stratford as part of the strategic public transport strategy for this plan, including the safeguarding of routes etc. reflecting the position in Policy SWDPR 06 in the SWDPR submission document.

Yes

Representation ID: 107233

Received: 06/03/2025

Respondent: Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council

It is noted that the Preferred Options asks a question relating to the Vale of Evesham Heavy Goods Vehicles Control Zone.

Currently the policy is included in the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan (2016) under SWDP 11. However, the review of the SWDP has not taken the designation forward and Wychavon District Council’s position on this is set out in the Statement of Common Ground with Stratford-on-Avon District Council submitted to the SWDPR Examination in February 2025.

In summary the rationale for not including the designation is that the issue can be dealt with through amendments to the validation requirements for planning applications to address HGV impacts in the Vale of Evesham through a Transport Assessment and Statement. Worcestershire County Council is supportive of this approach. Given the nature of the cross-boundary designation/policy it is therefore difficult to see how the SWLP could take forward a specific policy on this without the neighbouring local plans doing likewise.