Further Core Strategy consultation

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is about to carry out further public consultation on specific aspects of its emerging Core Strategy.  

The consultation runs for 6 weeks from Friday 31 January 2014 to 5pm on Friday 14 March 2014.  

The consultation will seek views in relation to:

• changes to the timeframe of the Core Strategy – to cover the period 2011-2031 rather than 2008-2028;
  
  
• the total number of new homes that need to be built – the latest evidence suggests a need for 10,800 homes between 2011 and 2031; and
  
  
• a range of alternative strategic options to meet this increased housing requirement – in 2012 the Council put forward a plan to provide 8,000 homes via a dispersed development pattern, but does the need to plan on top of that for an additional 2,800 homes mean that a new large scale development should now be included?

The District Council is considering proposals for large scale development at Lighthorne Heath/Gaydon, Long Marston Airfield, South East Stratford and Southam North/Stoneythorpe.  It needs to gauge public opinion on whether one of these locations should be identified for development in preference to the additional number of homes being dispersed across the District – and if so, then which of the four locations would be the right one?

Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “We welcome constructive comments.  These are essential when the Planning Inspectorate checks that the public's views clearly help to shape our Core Strategy."

The District Council has produced a detailed booklet to explain the issues involved and this can be viewed online at www.stratford.gov.uk/csfurther2014

Hard copies of the booklet will be made available to all town and parish councils across the District and can be viewed at the District Council's offices or at public libraries across the District during normal opening hours.

The District Council is also publishing a Sustainability Appraisal of the alternative strategic options.  This analyses the likely impacts of development in each location and comments on the potential to mitigate those impacts.  The document will be available via the website and a reference copy can be viewed at public libraries.

Comments can be made electronically via the consultation document itself.  Alternatively, they can be made on the Comment Form and returned via email to planning.policy@stratford-dc.gov.uk or via post to: Stratford-on-Avon District Council, FREEPOST CV2468, Consultation Unit, Chief Executive's Unit, Elizabeth House, Church Street, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON CV37 6BR.

The District Council will take on board comments made to inform the preparation of the Core Strategy for Submission to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination later in 2014.