BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 107896

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: TERRA

Asiant : Lichfields (Birmingham)

As set out in Section 1.0 of these representations, Terra is promoting land at Stratford
Road, SGO14- East of Gaydon, for residential development.
2.20 Terra strongly supports the identification of the SGO14- East of Gaydon Group (SG24) as a
Strategic Growth Location within the PO. Whilst the location if positioned towards the
south of the SDC administrative area, it benefits from good accessibility to the local and
subregional transport network and remains accessible to local services and the main
conurbation of Stratford upon Avon and nearby Wellesborne as well as Warick/
Leamington Spa.
2.21 The locality is also a main location for existing and proposed employment growth and
which was recognised previously through the Gaydon/ Lighthorne Heath SPD which
advises that;
“The Gaydon site is a key economic asset within the District, County and West
Midlands more generally, employing several thousand people, together with
indirect employment in relation to logistics and suppliers. The site is located
adjacent to an established highway network, including the M40 which is an
important transport gateway into the wider West Midlands. It provides a
clear opportunity for growth and this is reflected throughout the document.”
2.22 Importantly, the development at Lighthorne Heath, which formed a main strategic
allocation through the Core Strategy was recognised by the Core Strategy Inspectors Report
dated 20/6/16 which concluded that;
“216. It has been claimed that it is inappropriate to focus a new settlement
around a single source of employment but, acknowledging that AML and JLR
are in the same industry, these are 2 of the country’s leading car
manufacturers. Both AML and particularly JLR appear to have significant
growth ambitions for this location, which gives rise to a need to provide an
appropriate range of housing options for their growing workforce. Whilst it
is recognised that there can be no guarantee that prospective residents will
work locally, particularly given the good access to the strategic road
network, paragraph 50 of the Framework emphasises that LPAs should
deliver a wide choice of high quality homes. Proposal GLH would match that
ambition by providing additional choice for current and future employees
who will have the potential to choose to rent or buy homes located in close
proximity to their workplace. There is the potential to reduce the high level of
in-commuting that is evident in the area at present.
217. The change to Strategic Objective 12 arose for reasons that were explored
in the IC and are unrelated to Proposal GLH. I reject the claim that it
represents a clear acknowledgement that the settlement will be car
dependent. There are significant opportunities to encourage walking and
cycling in order to access work and proposed local facilities, as well as scope
to use public bus services.”
2.23 The delivery of new development at Lighthorne Heath has of course now come forward and
has secured the delivery of new community and social infrastructure and further
development at SG140- East of Gaydon will be able to complement and add to the success
of the new settlement as a sustainable location for growth.
2.24 The delivery of further development at Lighthorne Heath would also support the role of the
settlement in the Districts hierarchy and ensure that the settlement provides opportunities
for local employment associated with the adjacent Jaguar and Aston Martin plants.
2.25 Importantly draft Policy Direction 12 proposes that the existing 100ha JLA allocation at
Gaydon (Proposal GLH in the SDC Core Strategy) should be released to the wider market
for strategic manufacturing (Use Class B2 use) uses and small-scale logistics (Use Class B8)
units.
2.26 Policy Direction 14 identifies the site as MIS1 as a Major Investment Site, which follows the
findings of the South Warwickshire Employment Land Study (2024) and sets out that;
“MIS.1 - Gaydon – JLR/AML – it is proposed to release the existing 100ha.
JLR restricted allocation to allow general strategic manufacturing and
small-scale logistics uses (under 9,300 sqm), with the emphasis on strategic
B2 manufacturing. Large-scale logistics (B8 class) uses will be resisted on
this site. We will engage with JLR regarding alternative sites that may be
suitable for their future development needs so that their requirements are
met. The existing Aston Martin Lagonda (AML) 4.5ha. allocation in the
adopted SDC Core Strategy may however be retained within the SWLP,
subject to further discussion with AML on their future plans for the site.”
2.27 Terra fully support the delivery of additional jobs in this location and which will further
enhance the important role of Gaydon as a focus for economic growth within this part of
South Warwickshire.
2.28 In addition, Terra support the commitment of the SWA’s to work with JLR to identify
potential alternative sites to meet their future development needs, which may result in
further growth at Gaydon in addition to that currently proposed in the PO.
2.29 The delivery of the MIS1 and additional employment growth will however generate a
parallel demand for new homes and associated community and social facilities. Terra
consider these should be located in close proximity, in order to ensure that sustainable
patterns of growth are created and to avoid unnecessary inward commuting from other part
of South Warwickshire.
2.30 Paragraph 77 of NPPF is clear that the supply of new homes should be well planned and
located where they can be supported by the necessary infrastructure and facilities
(including a genuine choice of transport modes). It sets out that;
In doing so, they should:
“a) consider the opportunities presented by existing or planned investment in
infrastructure, the area’s economic potential and the scope for net environmental gains;
b) ensure that their size and location will support a sustainable community, with sufficient
access to services and employment opportunities within the development itself (without
expecting an unrealistic level of self-containment)…”
Terr is therefore, seeking to promote the SG14 as an allocation for residential-led
development through the PO and emerging Local Plan Review. A Vision Document for the
site has been prepared in order to demonstrate the manner in which the site would be
brought forward in order to achieve sustainable growth and to deliver the residential led
needs identified within the PO and to align with the proposals for economic growth. This is
appended to these representations (Appendix 1).
2.31 The land forming part of SG14 - East of Gaydon comprises c.115ha of land currently part of
land known as Spring Farm. It is located directly east of the M40 Junction 12, which has
recently been subject to highways upgrades that have facilitated increased junction capacity
and that has also enabled the delivery of the Lighthorne Heath new settlement.
2.32 The settlement benefits from a range of existing and new key local amenities and facilities,
including the SG14- East of Gaydon village centre convenience store, a Post Office, Dental
Surgery and Primary School.
2.33 The Site has no physical constraints that would prevent development. There is limited
vegetation on the sites, with the exception of some trees and boundary vegetation. Design
proposals would positively seek to retain and enhance any trees and hedgerows where
possible within the Site as part of the placemaking strategy, subject to detailed studies and
further technical work.
2.34 In this regard, the Vision Document (Appendix 1), submitted in support of these
representations, demonstrates how the Site could deliver a medium-sized sustainable
development of up to 1550 new market and affordable homes. It would also deliver new
community and social infrastructure to complement existing facilities at Lighthorne Heath
including a significant new Linear Park and landscape buffer and open space to secure
permanent separation of development from Bishops Itchington to the north.
2.35 The Vision Document demonstrates how the Site could deliver a residential development
that addresses the SWLP’s Vision and Strategic Policy Objectives in relation to delivering
sustainable growth and combating climate change in South Warwickshire.
2.36 The design’s scale and form can cater to a range of house types and living styles, including
self-and custom-build plots, retirement housing and community-led housing projects. All
homes would be integrated within an attractive and well-connected network of low-traffic
streets and green corridors.
2.37 The design embraces high-quality placemaking principles and shows how the SWLP’s
Vision and Strategic Policy Objectives can achieved on this site, with the result being a
sensitive, valuable and logical new edge to SG14- East of Gaydon. The key components of
the Concept Plan are:
1 Up to 1550 new homes, delivered across three phases, including the flexibility for a
range of different housing models to be integrated.
2 A 3FE primary school and nursery;
3 A 1ha local centre (includes 0.6ha extra care, plus health, community, retail) and a
Smaller 0.3ha retail local centre along Gaydon Road in order to collectively deliver
facilities to meet the daily needs of residents and new employees.
4 Significant level of new open space to include a new 28ha Linear Park that would
provide recreational facilities to support the new development but also to complement
the existing communities at Lighthorne Heath;
5 A significant landscape buffer to Bishops Itchington to the north;
6 A mosaic of sustainable drainage solutions, across the site, will capture surface water
runoff close to the source and enhance the visual amenity of the public realm.
7 A legible and accessible strategy, providing direct pedestrian and cycle links to local
facilities and services, encouraging active modes of travel for local trips.
8 Retention and integration of existing landscape to protect biodiversity and secure a
unique identity that responds to the natural environment.
9 Provision of generous space for enhancements to biodiversity and ecology through the
retention of existing trees and hedgerows (where possible) and the planting of new
vegetation, that will deliver overall environmental net gain.
2.38 Overall the site would deliver c48ha built development consisting of residential, local
centres, primary school. This equates to 42% of site area, therefore 58% of site retained as
open space/green setting