An update on the South Warwickshire Local Plan – Preferred Option
A significant landmark for the emerging South Warwickshire Local Plan is about to be reached, and this has major implications for all of those with an interest in plan-making and seeking site allocations. The new Local Plan is being prepared to cover Stratford on Avon and Warwick Districts.
Please take the time to have a look at this article and the links provided to the Committee Papers and the substantial technical evidence base which supports the Plan. 2025 was already going to be a critical year for planning and we are advising several parties on Plans like this.
The forthcoming Joint Cabinet Committee papers have now been released before the 12 December Committee date and this article seeks to look at some of the critical issues.
Why is the Preferred Option so important?
These papers are highly significant as they give us the first opportunity to understand what the SWLP is proposing. Officers are seeking member authorisation to move forward with the next stage of consultation on the document’s Preferred Option version in the new year.
We have an established track record of promoting development sites of all sizes through the local plan system, and events like this are important landmarks for the development industry. We can use our skills and expertise to make the most of the opportunity consultations to secure a site allocation for development.
The Housing Target
The Plan does not use the current standard method calculation; instead, it uses the Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) outcomes, commissioned in early 2024. This sets out the following targets:
- Stratford on Avon DC – 868 d/pa
- Warwick DC – 811 d/pa
This equates to 41,975 homes over a 25-year plan period.
The impending revisions to the NPPF have influenced the SWLP. The Preferred Option has been built with flexibility to accommodate a higher Proposed Standard Method Figure.
Green Belt
Historically, Stratford on Avon DC has been against green belt release, whereas the current Warwick Local Plan has released sites from the green belt for development. Given the number of houses being proposed in the two districts and the need for a sustainable development strategy, this has led to a number of greenfield green belt sites being released for development. Supporting the SWLP is an extensive evidence base, including a Green Belt review.
Development Strategy
The Preferred Option does not provide the granular details of a settlement hierarchy or details of which settlements will have a settlement boundary. This will be left for future work informing the evolution of the Reg 19 Version, to be consulted on in December 2025.
That said, the document does identify 24 Strategic Growth locations across the Plan area, including green belt and non-green belt locations. Crucially, it is expected that only some of the locations will be allocated for development because the amount of land in these areas exceeds the housing and employment requirements for the SWLP.
Draft Policy Direction 3 clearly states that the SWLP will review the settlement hierarchy. It will also examine thresholds for determining settlement boundaries and provide an interesting policy tool for setting a threshold for small-scale housing development at locations adjacent to those proposed settlement boundaries.
Timetable
As we advance, the proposed timetable is as follows:
- January 2025 – Regulation 18 Preferred Option consultation;
- December 2025 – Regulation 19 Consultation;
- September 2026 – Submission of the Plan for Examination;
- October 2026 to March 2027 – Examination;
- June 2027 – Proposed Modifications;
- December 2027 – Adoption.
Concluding Thoughts
The Preferred Option sets out several interesting points about levels development levels and directions for growth. Encouragingly, greenfield and green belt development are clearly on the agenda, which is welcomed and represents a clear recognition by the Councils that such development is critical to meet its housing and employment needs. In the future, the forthcoming Preferred Options consultation provides an essential first opportunity to promote your interests and help shape and inform emerging SWLP policy. 2025 was already going to be a critical year for planning and we are advising several parties on Plans like this.
The SWLP covers a large area and governs development at both ends of the spectrum. If you want to understand more about what this means for you and what your interests are, please get in touch.
Key contact for this project
Nathan McLoughlin – Managing Director
E: nathan.mcloughlin@mplanning.co.uk
T: 01242 895128
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