Local plan passes the test

Stratford District Council's approach to providing for development and protecting the environment in south Warwickshire strikes the right balance. That's the view of Mr John Sheppard, the government inspector who held the public inquiry into the Stratford-on-Avon District local plan review, which ran from 25 November 2003 to 23 July 2004.

Having considered over 4,000 objections and the council's evidence, Mr Sheppard concludes in his report, published on 9 May, that no fundamental modifications to the plan are required. He endorses the general strategy of the plan and the emphasis on new development taking place in sustainable locations. 

In particular the inspector upholds the most controversial part of the plan, the proposal for housing development west of Shottery in Stratford-upon-Avon, and the provision of a western relief road running between Alcester Road and Evesham Road. He concludes the substantial benefits of the proposal greatly outweigh any potentially harmful effects. 

"I am delighted that the inspector has supported the plan after so much work has been put into its preparation," said Cllr Stuart Beese, portfolio holder for planning and transport. 

"I know that the prospect of development at Shottery will concern many local people but I can assure them the council will expect an extremely high quality development." 

Elsewhere in his report the inspector recommends the allocation of three additional sites on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon: 197-207 Banbury Road; Egg Packing Station, Bishopton Lane; and south of Kipling Road, Bridgetown. Apart from these, none of the 100 or so greenfield sites across the district promoted by objectors are supported by the inspector. 

He does however recommend that development at the Engineer Resources Depot at Long Marston should not be restricted to a major tourism and leisure attraction. Mr Sheppard also recommends that a policy should be included in the plan to recognise the potential of land at Harbury Cement Works, Bishops Itchington, and that restricting the redevelopment of the Maudslay Works at Great Alne to employment uses is not necessarily appropriate. 

The next stage in the process is for the district council to consider the inspector's recommendations and decide how the plan should be modified. All proposed modifications to the plan will be placed on formal deposit for a period of six weeks. It is anticipated that this will take place in the autumn. 

The district council will consider all relevant objections made at that time before deciding whether to adopt the plan as part of the statutory development plan for the district covering the period to 2011.