Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has today, 2 October 2023, approved the draft Stratford-upon-Avon Gateway Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation.
The Gateway Masterplan site is situated to the northwest of the existing town centre, bounded by Birmingham Road, Windsor Street and Arden Street. This area currently acts as a gateway between the old historic town and the more peripheral commercial zone, and the District Council is seeking to encourage the regeneration of this area to form a new 'Gateway' into the town.
The draft SPD sets out guidance for the redevelopment of the site, which will include visitor attractions and accommodation, retail and other commercial uses, offices and small business uses, residential, leisure, community, and educational facilities, including the delivery of a high-quality World Shakespeare Centre.
This will bring a range of benefits for the community, boosting the town's tourist offer and supporting the long-term viability of local businesses and securing wider regeneration benefits for the town.
This major redevelopment project in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon will take place in close consultation with key stakeholders including:
- Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust.
- Stratford-upon-Avon Strategic Partnership
- Town Transport Group
- The Town Council and,
- The Royal Shakespeare Company
Furthermore, the town of Stratford-upon-Avon is a major part of Shakespeare's material culture, conserving its built heritage is very important, something which will remain the core aim of this project.
The Neighbourhood Development Plan (NPD) identifies the Gateway site as an Environmental Improvement Area which will support the evolution of the Stratford Cultural Quarter.
This project will help with the delivery of the Council Plan and respond directly to four of the key objectives:
- Nurturing a thriving, innovative and inclusive economy
- Working on regional, national, and international stages.
- Responding to the climate emergency
- Enhancing the quality of Stratford-upon-Avon as a place.
Public consultation on the Supplementary Planning Document will begin on 19 October 2023 and will run for six weeks, which will be available on the District Council's website: Stratford-upon-Avon Gateway Masterplan | Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Once the public consultation has been completed, any comments received will be assessed and presented to the Cabinet along with a final draft of the masterplan for approval. This is likely to be in early 2024.
Once adopted, the Gateway Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document, will provide a framework to guide the appropriate redevelopment within the Gateway site and achieve the overall vision for the site.
- The purpose of this Supplementary Planning Document is to guide regeneration of the Gateway site in a way that benefits the wider district and region, as well as Stratford-upon-Avon's standing as a town of international importance while also achieving the relevant principles of the Stratford-on-Avon District Core Strategy Policy AS.1, the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) and Proposal SUA.6 in the emerging Site Allocations Plan (SAP).
- The District Council endorsed a Development Brief for the Gateway site in 2022. The brief sets out the Council's aspirations for the Gateway site (including the creation of a 'World Shakespeare Centre'), as well as local policy context, constraints and opportunities, and key development principles.
