Redrow Homes, Cattle Market, Stratford-upon-Avon Public Inquiry

A public inquiry starts next week on Tuesday 28 January 2014, following an appeal by Redrow Homes (Midlands) against the development of land at the former Cattle Market, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The appeal relates to a planning application for the proposed erection of 214 dwellings (Class C3) and 721 sq m of commercial floorspace (Classes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5), car parking, landscaping and all other ancillary and enabling works. 

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has refused the application (13/00157/FUL) on 29 July 2013 on the following revised grounds:

Applying paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework, the adverse impacts of this proposal for 214 dwellings significantly and demonstrably outweigh its benefits for the following reasons:

• The proposal is contrary to Saved Policies, SUA.I, IMP.4 and IMP.5 of the Stratford-on-Avon District Local Plan Review 1996-2011 and Methodology for Calculating Developer Contributions towards Transport Schemes in Stratford-upon-Avon Supplementary Planning Document as it makes no contribution towards the needs generated by the proposal in respect of education; traffic and transport and sustainability; public open space; cycling and pedestrian movement; libraries and healthcare.
  
  
• The proposal only makes a limited contribution towards affordable housing under policy COM13 and after applying the Council's Meeting Housing Needs Supplementary Planning Document. The affordable housing is provided in one block rather than spread throughout the development thereby undermining social cohesion and integration.
  
  
• The proposal is contrary to Policy MHN.12 of the Meeting Housing Needs Supplementary Planning Document, as the scheme does not achieve an appropriate level of dwellings with Lifetime Homes standards and, is contrary to  Saved Policy DEV.8 of the Stratford-on-Avon District Local Plan Review 1996-2011 and the Council's Low Carbon Sustainable Buildings Supplementary Planning Document, in that it fails to secure renewable energy generation on the site.
  
  
• The proposal is contrary to Saved Policies PR.1, EF.13, DEV.1, DEV.3, COM.5, SUA.2 of the Stratford-on-Avon District Local Plan Review 1996-2011 and contrary to the Council's Meeting Housing Needs Supplementary Planning Document, District Design Guide, Urban Design Framework for Stratford-upon-Avon and Town Design Statement in that it fails to provide adequate on site amenity space which is harmful to the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding area at a gateway site adjacent to the railway station.

The inquiry, expected to last between 5 to 7 days, will commence for the first two days (28 and 29 January) at Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall, Sheep Street, Stratford-upon-Avon starting at 10am.  Thereafter the Inquiry is scheduled to sit in the District Council offices at Elizabeth House, Church Street Stratford-upon-Avon on 30 and 31 January and 4 February but with two additional days provisionally set aside on 3 and 5 February if needed.

A Government Planning Inspector will preside over the inquiry.

Members of the public may attend the inquiry and express their view – at the discretion of the inspector.

Planning Inspectorate Reference: APP/J3720/A/13/2205108