Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet supports new Honeybourne rail study

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has today, Monday 10 March, formally noted the recommendations of a Strategic Outline Business Case for the reopening of the Stratford-upon-Avon to Honeybourne Railway Line.

In March 2024, Transport Consultants Stantec were appointed to produce the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) Refresh. This focused on refreshing a previous SOBC undertaken in May 2021, to account for the evolving policy, land-use development and transport context since 2021.

Whilst the primary focus of the 2024 SOBC Refresh is on the core Stratford to Honeybourne connection, a total of 23 options which could improve the strategic public transport connectivity of Stratford-upon-Avon were considered.

Two options have been identified by the SOBC for potentially further consideration:

• Option 4c: Cross-Stratford tram-train
• Option 5a: Stratford to Honeybourne Junctions heavy rail link.

The study also notes that Option 5b: Stratford South to Honeybourne Junctions link could potentially be reconsidered if further work on Options 4c and 5a demonstrate that they are undeliverable or unaffordable.

Ultimately, it is recommended by the 2024 SOBC Refresh that a further Outline Business Case (OBC) be undertaken to explore these two options in more detail with a demonstrable preferred option and setting out how this would be funded, procured, delivered and managed.

However, before an OBC is pursued further, the 2024 SOBC Refresh recommends that a Sub-Regional Transport Strategy/SOBC be undertaken for the Leamington - Stratford - Moreton-in-Marsh - Pershore / Evesham - Worcester arc. This would, in turn, help with a response to the two options emerging from the 2024 SOBC Refresh, as well as the proposed improvements of the North Cotswold Line Taskforce, the Stratford South-West Relief Road, A46 improvements and local road and public transport improvements.

Nevertheless, if the re-instatement of the rail-line proves to be viable and achievable, it is likely to require the rail industry to promote and fund such a project.

While an initial assessment of environmental issues has been carried out in the Study, a much more rigorous appraisal would be required should the project be pursued to identify the level of impact on features such as flood risk, ecology and property. The effect of reinstating the railway on the Greenway in Stratford-upon-Avon would also be an important consideration.

The SOBC Refresh will form part of the Technical Evidence Base for the South Warwickshire Local Plan. Ultimately, the options recommend for further consideration by the SOBC could form part of the transport solution for South Warwickshire. These options would improve the strategic transport connectivity of Stratford-upon-Avon southwards, e.g. this could help to enable further strategic development at Long Marston Airfield Garden Village.

However, it should be noted that any option pursued would take a significant amount of funding and would be dependent on the completion of further studies to make the 'case for change'. Any potential rail solution would be expected to be a number of years from fruition, should it receive the 'go ahead'.

Cllr George Cowcher, Deputy Leader and Planning and Economic Development Portfolio at Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "This is very much a long-term project with a number of significant challenges associated with the proposed reopening, the most significant of which is funding.

"However we need to look at this as part of developing an overall transport strategy for the sub-region and the economic and environmental benefits that it could bring."

The Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) Refresh for the reopening of the Stratford-upon-Avon to Honeybourne Railway Line, was funded by a Project Steering Group consisting of a wide range of local authorities, rail companies and voluntary rail bodies, and will now go forward as part of the South Warwickshire Local Plan evidence base.