Stratford District Council’s Core Strategy a step closer to being adopted

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has today, Monday 15 July approved the Core Strategy document that will shape development in the District for the next 15 years.

The proposals seek to protect the historic and environmental qualities of the area that make it so attractive.  The new strategy sets out proposals that balance the need for economic growth and housing provision with the wish to protect and enhance the environment.  It is based on new developments being more widely dispersed across the whole District.

There are a number of key proposals set out in the Strategy, for example:

• 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 Lighthorne Heath/Gaydon* - 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
• New Special Landscape Areas - identified to reflect their high landscape quality which makes an important contribution to the image and enjoyment of the District
• Retention of the Areas of Restraint – largely open areas of land within and adjoining the towns and larger villages  where the openness will be maintained to protect the historic and environmental character of the settlement and to avoid coalescence

* These proposals will be subject to further public consultation before the overall strategy is submitted to the Government for independent examination.

Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “This has been a long drawn out process but a document of this nature and importance in not something that can be rushed.  It needs a measured approach and I am pleased to say we have this in the current document.

“The Strategy recognises that growth is needed but not at the expense of undermining the character of our communities. Local businesses are crying out for new sites to enable their business to grow and we have been able to identify what I hope will be a suitable range of sites both to enable existing employers to stay and flourish in the District and to ensure we can welcome new firms to the area to lift local employment prospects.

“It is tricky to balance housing need and housing development and business needs and business development to everyone's satisfaction.  People need homes and we are keen to see these built in the District where there is a need and where people want them.  This document will help us control development and where it takes place."

The report will now go to Full Council on Monday 22 July for approval.