Core Strategy Consultation begins for new proposals

A new consultation begins this Thursday 1 August on the recent proposals in Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Core Strategy endorsed by Full Council last week.

This is a focused consultation on specific aspects of the Core Strategy in relation to newly identified strategic site allocations: 

• The Canal Quarter Regeneration Zone - a 20 hectare site covering Western Road and parts of Wharf Road, Timothy's Bridge Road and Masons Road in Stratford-upon-Avon that will be redeveloped to provide a mix of new housing, offices and light industry.
  
  
• New Business Parks on two sites totalling 29 hectares and located adjacent to the A46 at Stratford-upon-Avon, involving land east of Birmingham Road and south of Alcester Road - this will provide space for existing businesses to grow and for new businesses to get established.
  
  
• Creation of a new settlement at Gaydon/Lighthorne Heath - a 290 hectare site that will eventually provide 4,800 new homes, an 18 hectare business park, a village centre with a range of shops and services, additional local shopping centres, new schools and parkland/woodland areas.

The public consultation runs for 6 weeks from Thursday 1 August 2013 to 5pm Friday 13 September 2013. Comments received after the deadline may not be taken into account.

Consultation documents are available online at www.stratford.gov.uk/csnew2013, the District Council offices and public libraries across the District, during normal opening hours.

All comments should be made by the deadline and can be made electronically via the consultation document itself or alternatively, comments 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 Council will publish a summary of comments received and this information will be published online and in reports as part of the Core Strategy process.

These new proposals have originated from the need to increase the District housing requirement the period 2008 to 2028 from 8,000 homes for to 9,500 homes.

At this stage comments are sought specifically on these two new proposals and those made on other aspects of the Core Strategy may not be taken into account.

The next stage of Core Strategy preparation is the 'Submission' to the Secretary of State. This involves placing the Core Strategy and accompanying documents on 'deposit' for a further period of 6 weeks in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012. This period of deposit will enable stakeholders and the community to comment more widely on the 'soundness' of all the policies and proposals in the Core Strategy prior to its independent examination. This will check whether the Core Strategy is 'fit for purpose', has been prepared properly and represents the most appropriate and sustainable way of meeting the development challenges facing Stratford-on-Avon District.