No

ID sylw: 106024

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Pam Elliott

I believe that the site E1 proposal is not suitable. it would overwhelm our infrastructure. Our roads, schools, doctors, dentists, water, sewage can't cope now, let alone with 10,000 more houses.

No

ID sylw: 106068

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Jane Martin

It is hard to imagine the impact this will have on the traffic flow in and out of Stratford along the B4632 which is already very slow at peak times, especially going into Stratford.
In rush hour there is already bad enough delay on Seven Meadows Road, Shipston Road and over the main bridge. This will impact the lives of everyone - children will be late to school, adults late for work and buses (albeit more of them according to your proposal) and emergency response vehicles will be held up. Over time, Stratford will become a frustrating, undesirable and unsafe place to live and work.

I see you note that cycling will be encouraged. This is not a safe option. The cycle way on this route from Clifford Chambers to Stratford, which I use with fear, is inadequate, not being wide enough for cyclists to pass one another without dismounting, on a road where large lorries travel at an intimidating 50mph, their wheels almost touching the kerb sides, and with overhung bushes that obscure visibility for and of cyclists.
I recall that a limit of 400 houses on Long Marston was in place, until a Relief Road was built. Without a relief road, this development proposal is outrageous.

However, site BW already has better transport infrastructure with two railway stations offering services into Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington, and to London Marylebone . New residents would be able to travel to work in a range of locations, without adding to congestion and air pollution on the approach to Stratford. I

It seems that several of the alternative sites to E1 and BW have existing railway stations that could be further utilised without adding to Stratford traffic carnage. r

I hope that the serious traffic issues of congestion, delays and accident risk on the already beyond capacity B4632 posed by this proposal, and the subsequent impact on the flow of traffic in and around Stratford will be realistically assessed and prevented.

No

ID sylw: 106106

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Candida Watson

Please reconsider building 10000 homes on land near Long Marston. (E1 development). The impact on traffic going into Stratford would paralyse an already highly congested route.
Instead please consider the area north of the river (BW potential site) . The impact on roads, bridges and schools would be far less and you would still fulfill your quota of houses.
Wilmcote/Bearley – Site BW Potentially a GOOD location for a new settlement because it is very well connected for potential non-car travel. And if car use is required it is well-located for the strategic road network. There are two active rail stations there. o The location is north of the River Avon and its two bottleneck bridges, one of them an Ancient Monument. The M42, M40 and A46 (the strategic road network) are readily accessible from that location to north and south – all 3 are to the north of Stratford/the river, meaning they can all be accessed without crossing town or the river. o The Park and Ride and Stratford Parkway Rail Station are close by from this site (without the need to cross the town or river). o All 3 of Stratford’s Secondary Schools are north of the river (Stratford Girls Grammar School, KES and Stratford School) making them more readily accessible from Bearley and Wilmcote without crossing the river. Further, all 3 of Alcester’s secondary schools (Alcester Grammar School, Alcester Academy and St. Benedict’s) and Henley School are readily accessible from the proposed settlement location to west and north respectively, again without having to enter or cross Stratford/the river. o The Green Belt (within which this site is located) is NOT designated for any landscape, beauty or ecological interest - it is there for a number of reasons, including preventing West Midlands settlements from coalescing. That would not occur with a stand alone settlement at Bearley/Wilmcote. o Any new settlement would likely need to meet its own needs for primary school provision, local shops, community hall/uses etc. These could all be met at Wilmcote/Bearley.

No

ID sylw: 106123

Derbyniwyd: 19/02/2025

Ymatebydd: David Lees

I have reviewed the plan, and as a resident of Pebworth my major concern is road access from the proposed airfield site.

The site is to the south east and south of the River Avon and the major employment locations the West Midlands, Birmingham and Coventry are to the north and west of the airfield site.
To access these locations it is necessary to cross the river Avon. Currently there are two 14th Century bridges under traffic light control in Bidford and Welford that can only support light traffic. The only alternative is to travel into Stratford upon Avon centre to access one of two bridges to gain access travel north or north east .

Therefore to enable the development of for than 11,000 dwelling a significant upgrade in the roads infrastructure will be required around the bottlenecks as in Bidford, Welford and Stratford.

I cannot see any reference to roads and access in the planing document and therefore it is not viable

No

ID sylw: 106142

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Julian and Emma Philcox

Nifer y bobl: 2

The SW Relief Road was required for the Core Strategy LMA proposal and won't happen due to funding. LMA should be scaled back, not expanded. A line to Honeybourne is a red herring and raises planning and legal issues, would result in the loss of a community facility, and is impractical to link to the station north of the town centre.

Existing lines and stations north of the river and the strategic road network should guide the location of new settlements and growth of existing settlements. At E1 the road network is near-capacity and transport infrastructure is poor. The transport options are overly optimistic and won't prevent large traffic impacts in Stratford-upon-Avon, Welford-on-Avon, Long Marston and Clifford Chambers. Quality of life will suffer from delays, unpredictability, noise and pollution. The All Things Wild application highlighted transport constraints as at withdrawal the Local Highway Authority's position was objection. E1 is adjacent and within the setting of the Cotswold National Landscape. To the north there are elevated views from Preston-on-Stour from Rights of Way and other public vantage points. The site is conspicuous from the west (Long Marston to Welford). There was an outstanding Landscape objection to the All Things Wild application. The north of the site is prone to flooding.

No

ID sylw: 106533

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Valerie Wilks

I was horrified to see the latest planning proposal for a development of housing known as E1.
The B road will not be able to cope with the extra volume of traffic. Since the developments at the airfield and Meon Vale there have been many more RTAs (not necessarily all recorded because the services have not been involve.). Stratford relies on its tourist industry and any tourist coming from Chipping Campden/Broadway will be greatly delayed travelling on a road that was never built to cope with such an increased volume of cars heavy vehicles and farm vehicles.
All this increased traffic is then funnelled over the Clopton Bridge or the Seven Meadows Bridge. The Clopton Btidge is already over used and the Seven Meadows Bridge only leads into the town where there is a continual traffic jam.
Until a by pass is built on the south side of Stratford there should be no further developments along B4632

No

ID sylw: 106543

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mrs Sally Gray

Please accept this email as my strong objection to the above proposed housing development.

I am seriously concerned about the already over congested B4632 road and this proposed development will significantly add to the safety concerns. Stratford continues to see new housing developments without the infrastructure to accommodate them.

Yes

ID sylw: 106611

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Margaret Toozer

Long Marston (LM) already has new houses built in this location. The infrastructure needs to be put in for the existing development and it would be easier to cater for any further new builds as these could be incorporated into the infrastructure plan.

Also it is south of the town and would not exacerbate congestion as much as any development east of the town.

Other

ID sylw: 106935

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Historic England

CONCERNS: possible impacts on setting of multiple heritage assets - one GII LB Long Marston Grounds located within/immediately adjacent and village of Long Marston to west with many LBs including GI Church of St. James at southern end & GII* The Goodwins on Wyre Lane.

No SMs within site. Good medieval settlement remains on east side (on west side of Campden Road adjacent to junction with Back Lane) that could be integrated in greenspace. Also, well preserved and extensive areas of ridge and furrow.

Recommend: Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) prior to allocation.

Other

ID sylw: 107041

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: National Gas Transmission

Asiant : Avison Young

We have identified one or more proposed development sites as being crossed or in close proximity to National Gas Transmission assets.

Details of the sites affecting National Gas Transmission assets are provided below.

Gas Transmission Pipeline, route: CHURCHOVER TO WORMINGTON
Gas Transmission Pipeline, route: CHURCHOVER COMP TEE TO HONEYBOURNE

Without appropriate acknowledgement of the National Gas Transmission assets present within the site, these policies should not be considered effective as they cannot be delivered as proposed; unencumbered by the constraints posed by the presence of National Gas Transmission infrastructure.

We propose that future Local Plan policies in respect of the affected proposed allocations and new settlements include a policy strand that incorporates wording to
the following effect:

“The development will demonstrate a clear strategy for responding to the National Gas Transmission high-pressure gas pipelines present within the site which provides evidence on how the National Gas Transmission Design Guide and Principles have been applied at
the masterplanning stage and how the impact of the assets has been reduced through good design.”

It is requested that this wording is either incorporated into site specific policies for the ten affected sites, or included within the general policy text if site-specific policies are not
incorporated in later versions of the emerging South Warwickshire Local Plan.

Other

ID sylw: 107068

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Cotswolds National Landscape Board

Intro summary: The potential allocations include New Settlement E1 - Long Marston Airfield, which would be adjacent to the CNL at its closest point. The settlement would accommodate nearly 10,000 homes and cover an area of approximately 750ha.
We recommend that this site should not be taken forward, at least not in its entirety, for the reasons outlined below.
The new settlement would be clearly seen in elevated views from public rights of way on Meon Hill, in the CNL. The section of the new settlement that is closest to the CNL, Meon Vale, is already developed. As such, the visual impacts are less significant than would be the case if this was a greenfield site. However, the scale and extent of proposed development means that there are still likely to be adverse visual effects on the CNL. An even more significant issue is likely to be the resulting increase in traffic movements on roads through - and along the boundary of the CNL. We also have concerns regarding potential impacts on the dark skies and cultural heritage of the CNL.

We recognise that there may still be some additional development at Meon Vale (including the Rail Innovation Centre) and within the existing settlement boundary of Long Marston Airfield. Appropriate landscape mitigation measures should be implemented to mitigate any adverse impacts on views from the CNL.

Full response:
No, the Cotswolds National Landscape (CNL) Board does not agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 2 - Potential New Settlements. Our position, in this regard, relates specifically to New Settlement E1 (Long Marston Airfield). We do not agree with the proposed New Settlement E1 being considered for inclusion in the plan, at least not in its entirety.
We acknowledge that it might be appropriate to identify and consider one or more new settlements in the most sustainable locations, as proposed in Draft Policy Direction 2. However, as outlined in more detail later in our response, we are concerned about the potential impacts of New Settlement E1 (Long Marston Airfield) on the natural beauty of the CNL.
In this regard, it is worth noting that the Sustainability Appraisal states that:
•New Settlement E1 is identified as the worst performing new settlement against landscape. New Settlement E1 is likely to result in adverse impacts on the local landscape character, views from the PRoW network and coalescence. Additionally, New Settlement E1 is likely to result in significant adverse impacts on the Cotswold National Landscape and its setting
, which is located 45m from the new settlement.9 (N.B. Underlining added for emphasis).
In particular, we consider that New Settlement E1 is likely to have an adverse effect on:
•the scenic beauty of the CNL, particularly with regards to impacts on views from the public rights of way on Meon Hill;
•the tranquillity of the CNL, particularly with regards to increased traffic movements on roads through - and along the boundary of - the CNL of New Settlement E1 on views from (and to) the CNL;
•the setting of the scheduled monument on Meon Hill (a multivallate hillfort);
•the dark skies of the CNL.
We recommend that further assessments should be undertaken in this regard.
If a revised iteration of New Settlement E1 is taken forward, we recommend that there should be no coalescence (i.e. no built development) between Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield. Development should also be avoided that would create a sense of coalescence with Lower Quinton and / or Upper Quinton. Ideally, development should not extend eastwards or northwards of Long Marston Airfield. The quantum of development should be at a level where the resulting increase in traffic movements on roads through - and along the boundary of - the CNL would not exceed 10%.

Other

ID sylw: 107232

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council

Of direct interest to Wychavon District Council is the proposal under the new settlement/rail corridor option titled Potential New Settlements Option E1, Long Marston Airfield.

Concern is expressed regarding the impact of these allocations on the Vale of Evesham in terms of traffic, existing road networks and highway capacity, other infrastructure requirements, the environment generally and the heritage assets in particular in Pebworth village. With respect to the latter point these routes through the village are identified as important and valued visual assets in the Pebworth Neighbourhood Plan (2019). These will all need to be taken account of in a detailed transport assessment of which the South Worcestershire Councils and Worcestershire County Council would need to be involved in.

Given the concerns, strong support would be given to any mitigation approaches that include the provision of high-quality public transport links, preferably rail, to/from Long Marston, with a railway station at Long Marston itself. In addition, the council welcomes the aim to reinstate the railway line from Honeybourne to Stratford as part of the strategic public transport strategy for this plan, including the safeguarding of routes etc. reflecting the position in Policy SWDPR 06 in the SWDPR submission document.

No

ID sylw: 107290

Derbyniwyd: 21/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Stratford Rail Transport Group

Reinstatement of the Stratford-Long Marston-Honeybourne rail link is required for Long Marston Airfield (LMAGV) and Meon Vale to be a sustainable community. Without a rail link the Garden Village status isn't credible. The proposal would no longer meet the vision detailed in the 2016 Expression of Interest, which contained 12 positive references to the benefits of reinstatement, and which formed the basis for government granting Garden Village status in 2017. The proposal would not be sound in accordance with NPPF tests b, c & d.

The Inspector's report on the Core Strategy stated reinstatement would “provide a long-term solution to the town’s traffic congestion.” (248-257) and "There can be no question that the service would provide a sustainable alternative to the use of the private car for many residents and Visitors.”

The Long Marston hinterland already has committed housing growth of 6,087 homes/25,000 people, including the Worcestershire part of Long Marston, Pebworth, Honeybourne and Mickleton, Glos. LMAGV already has a proposed development of 3,500 homes/8,750 people, while Meon Vale already has committed development of 1,430 homes including the 380 at the adjoining Codex site in Worcestershire and accessed onto the B4362, Campden Road. The SWLP is now proposing an enlarged LMAGV site, to potentially accommodate 10,000 new homes, or 25,000 additional people. That would increase the Stratford-Long Marston-Honeybourne rail corridor to 85,000 people, without adequate rail services and a credible alternative to the car and car dependency

Other

ID sylw: 107319

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Stratford-on-Avon District Social Inclusion Partnership

New but really extension of existing - E1/G1 – established albeit new(ish) settlements, no train at present, and therefore more isolated, will require community builder capacity for enhanced development of community.

Yes

ID sylw: 107440

Derbyniwyd: 16/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Moreton Morrell Parish Council

capacity 9350 homes: proposed new settlement benefits from areas of brownfield, lacks rail connectivity and road capacity connections to Stratford – however, support in principle

No

ID sylw: 107537

Derbyniwyd: 02/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mickleton Parish Council

Introduction
The content of MPC’s response has been consolidated from multiple sources:
• Original submissions from MPC for a previous round of consultation, provided by Clerk Elaine Fuoco-Lang and Councillor Andy O’Neill.
• Notes and questions from Councillors Kevin Fletcher, Geoff Mayling, Andy O’Neill, and Chris Cottam, following reading of the South Warwickshire Plan consultation and associated documents.
• Comments received from Matthew Britton, Interim Head of Planning Policy and Infrastructure at Cotswold District Council.
Collaboration has also been sought with the directly impacted Parish Councils of Clifford Chambers, Quinton and Long Marston. To date we have not received replies from these Parish Councils. More locally, MPC has been invited to share perspectives with the Mickleton Society, and has tried to inform Parishioners via Facebook, Websites, and local magazines. Replies are also awaited following requests for data and perspective made to Gloucester County Council (Highways) and to Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.
The South Warwickshire Plan itself is complex, comprehensive and somewhat technical, all of which makes it a long and challenging read. The comment summary below is distilled from the detailed information in the report and simplified so as not to lose the key points. Comments relate primarily to the proposal for the expansion of the current developments at Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield into a broader development that links the 2 sites and expands into surrounding agricultural land, which would increase the number of dwellings from the currently agreed 3,500, to 6,000, 10,000, or possibly even 25,000 if the Government’s ‘New Town’ guidelines were to be adopted for this site.
N.B. 6,000 dwellings is considered the minimum number required to support a Secondary School and GP Surgery, with 10,000 dwellings being a more optimum number.

Summary of Comments

1. Road Traffic

The principal road through Mickleton is the B4632, connecting Stratford towards Evesham, Worcester, the M5, and more generally ‘The Cotswolds’. This road was downgraded from an ‘A Road’ to a ‘B Road’ when the Stratford Bypass was built but continues to carry ‘A Road’ volumes of traffic. Much of the Main Road through Mickleton is within a conservation area, fronted by period and listed buildings which are susceptible to both air pollution and vibrational damage from excessive traffic.

Traffic volumes; already considered an issue in terms of environmental impact, public safety, and flow rates; have been compounded by the recent housing developments at Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield. To date, only around 1,000 of the planned 3,500 dwellings across these two sites have been constructed but traffic volumes through Mickleton have already increased significantly. There has also been an increase in the number of large commercial vehicles serving local businesses at Meon Storage and Metal Recycling, and others.

Any further increase in traffic volumes on the B4632 will push the road beyond viable capacity. This is a risk even with a limited number of small-scale developments along the B4632 (Clifford Chambers, Quinton etc.), but becomes almost certain if the developments at Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield go beyond the current approved plan of 3,500.

Traffic data analysis provided with the Plan suggests, even at the most optimistic level, 35,000 external vehicle trips per day from the Meon Vale and Long Marson Airfield sites when the number of dwellings reaches 6,000. The data also suggests that somewhere in the region of 13% of these trips will use the B4632 through Mickleton to reach Evesham and the Cotswolds. Current data from our Mickleton Community Speed Camera shows an approximate traffic flow volume of 1,000 vehicles per day coming into the village from the Stratford direction.

Even in this most optimistic case, and with all the other traffic reduction / mitigation measures discussed in the plan documents coming to fruition, (which we believe is highly questionable – see later), this represents an increase in traffic volume of between 4 and 5 times the current level. Any increase in the number of dwellings beyond 6,000 simply compounds this problem.


2. Other Transport Considerations

The Plan and associated documents refer to several transport options and anticipated working / travel practices that will impact transport considerations.

a. Relief Road.
Building of the South Warwickshire Relief Road (SWRR) that might have provided some level of traffic mitigation to the Stratford area is noted as being extremely unlikely due to lack of funding.
b. Railway.
Reopening of the railway line between Stratford and Honeybourne, with a new station at Long Marston Airfield, would generally be welcomed, but is noted as being extremely unlikely due to lack of funding.
c. Working from Home.
The estimated planning assumption that 44% of people will work from home or be directly employed within the area of this new site has little evidence to support it and appears significantly out of line with current behaviour seen in similar circumstances.
d. Active Transport.
The estimations of people who will choose to use ‘active’ forms of travel do not correlate with observable low levels of usage on current cycle schemes.
3. New Settlement Review

Based on an initial ‘Call for Sites’ begun in 2021, a total of 12 sites have been considered across South Warwickshire as possible sites for a New Settlement Development. The land between Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield site is one of these, designated “E1” in the planning documentation.

The suitability of these sites from a transport perspective was assessed by Warwickshire County Council in October 2024. In their report, “South Warwickshire Local Plan Strategic Transport and Education Assessment of New Settlement Options”, WCC gave the Long Marston Airfield site a red rating for transport – the worst of all the 12 sites assessed. It concluded that the site had “multiple challenges from a transport perspective” and did not recommend that it should be taken forward for development.

Despite this, and site E1 being rated as unsuitable or average against many other of the evaluation criteria, surprisingly E1 is one of four sites being recommended to go forward for further consideration.

The only criteria that unites the four chosen sites is that of ‘Call for Coverage’, which represents how much of the total land under consideration was originally proposed in the ‘Call for Sites’ activity. This criterion fundamentally speaks to the financial opportunity offered to the owners of the land, and takes no account of environmental, societal, or other economic concerns.


4. Other Areas of Concern

a. Agricultural Land.
While the land between Meon and Long Marston Airfield site is not classified as ‘Green Belt, a significant portion is good agricultural land (category 3). This should be protected.
b. Sustainability in a Rural Location.
The Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield site is in a rural location. It is considered unrealistic to assume new employers will create significant local employment opportunities to accommodate thousands of new residents between Stratford and Mickleton. Practical considerations suggest new settlements of this scale should be located in proximity to more established industrial / commercial areas.
c. Social Infrastructure.
To date, only one school has been built at the Meon Vale site, Tudor Grange Primary. There is local shopping and leisure facilities at Meon Vale and a local doctors surgery and a dentist at Upper Quinton. It is unlikely that these facilities will upscale with the proposed number of new dwellings without significant investment in the social infrastructure. This is particularly true for secondary education.
d. Flooding.
One of the planning analysis reports (HELAA Part A) indicates that some of the proposed land intersects with Flood Zones 2.
e. Biodiversity.
While the Long Marston Airfield site is not currently listed as ‘Ancient Woodland’, ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, or any similar designations, it is a significant area of natural countryside that sustains wildlife populations and maintains biodiversity. There is little detail in the Plan that indicates how such areas might be protected.
f. Water Attenuation.
There is anecdotal evidence that current residents at Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield have low water pressure.
g. Access to Affordable Housing
Mickleton Parish Council would like to understand what access to affordable housing will be available to neighbouring villages to the new development.

5. Relevant extracts from the South Warwickshire Local Plan, Strategic Transport and Education Assessment of New Settlement Options, Warwickshire County Council, October 2024

The following are extracts from this document relating to site E1, Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield, all of which demonstrate the unsuitability of the site as a potential new settlement.
“The location of this option means that it is likely to look towards Stratford-upon-Avon, Evesham, Wellesbourne, Warwick and Leamington Spa as its nearest key centres for employment, retail and leisure purposes.”
“The site is poorly related to the SRN........There are no MRN designated routes in this area”.
“There is limited LRN in the area of the potential new settlement, the only route of any significance being the B4632”
“Site E1: Strategic Transport Assessment Summary
Active Travel RED
Rail RED
Bus AMBER
Highway (Strategic) RED
Highway (Local) RED
Overall Assessment RED”
“The results of the assessment [for Option E1] are broadly consistent with the findings of the previous Jacobs work, demonstrating that these sites have multiple challenges from a transport perspective, driven by:
- Their rural location and subsequent poor relationship/distance to existing settlements/service centres, either within Warwickshire or adjoining areas of the West Midlands;
- The dispersed nature of employment and retail trips generated by a new settlement with limited on-site employment and the difficulty of serving those trip demands by public transport and active travel; and
- Resultant levels of high car dependency and longer trip lengths due to distances to nearest settlements/service centres.”

Conclusion
Based on all the above, MPC believes that further housing development at the Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield site, beyond that already approved would be unsustainable and would have a hugely negative impact on the surrounding area, including the village of Mickleton.
• The rural location makes any significant increase in local employment opportunities very unlikely.
• Even if such employment were to be created the increase in traffic volumes would have a catastrophic impact for road safety, pollution, and journey times for all users of the B4632.
• Massive investment in social infrastructure for schools, shops, leisure and health, would need to take place in parallel to the development of dwellings and workspaces in order to avoid overloading these resources in surrounding locations.
As such Mickleton Parish Council opposes any expanded development at the Meon Vale and Long Marston Airfield sites in the strongest possible terms.

Yes

ID sylw: 107623

Derbyniwyd: 03/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Stratford-upon-Avon Town Transport Group

The site has major transport issues, and the accompanying evidence which suggests that a
major transport infrastructure upgrade is not necessary due to internalisation is considered
not tenable. However, this is a potentially sizeable new settlement, and as such could
provide a well-designed setting for homes and employment. The TTG would support this
location, as it is partly developed, if a major transport upgrade is included and implemented
in advance.

Other

ID sylw: 107680

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Shakespeare Line Rail User Group

The Long Marston Airfield Garden Village (LMAGV) and adjacent Meon Vale developments are only sustainable communities if the Stratford-Long Marston-Honeybourne railway line is reinstated immediately. The benefits were key points in the 2016 expression of interest and crucial in securing Garden Village status. The concept is incoherent if this is not brought forward. The Core Strategy inspector's report stated that the rail ink would "provide a long-term solution to the town’s traffic congestion".

The 2020 report by Transport for New Homes highlighted LMAGV in particular as a settlement which will be car-reliant and generate distressing levels of traffic. Projected housing growth in the Long Marston hinterland is 6,087 homes for approximately 25,000 people. The Long Marston Airfield Garden Village proposes 3,500 homes for over 8,750 residents, while Meon Vale plans 1,430 homes, including 380 on the adjoining Codex site in Worcestershire.

The SWLP’s proposal to expand the LMAGV site to potentially accommodate 10,000 homes - pushing the population of the Stratford-Long Marston-Honeybourne corridor to
85,000 - intensifies the urgency of appropriate rail services to address car dependency, traffic congestion, and the environmental amenity of the area.

Other

ID sylw: 107712

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Caroline Hampson

Regarding site E1 I have the following concerns
The B4632 cannot cope a present with the amount of traffic let alone when 10,000 more
houses are proposed to be built.
It would generate More air and light pollution to adults and children
The litter on the B4632 would increase.
Destruction of wildlife is inevitable consequence.

No

ID sylw: 107818

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mr Andrew Martin

I believe that one of the key considerations amongst the proposed locations for residential development must be transportation options and infrastructure. Stratford-upon-Avon is becoming too well known for its traffic jams and gridlocks. The limited river crossings and the historic town centre roads frequently cause bottleneck and are difficult to alleviate. The new developments can only impose additional load on these bottlenecks. I see that some consideration has given to this issue, but I believe that the thinking is too weak and too optimistic. The proposed developments would be likely to significantly aggravate the problem. This would be to the severe detriment of both residents of and visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon, and threaten the town’s desirability and prosperity for both.
With regard to proposed site E1 in particular, this is all too reminiscent of the recent All Things Wild proposal. That proposal raised the same issue, viz excess traffic along the B4632, through villages to the south west and through (if not round) the town centre and Clifford Chambers to the north east – in both directions. Thus, it is not just a local issue. The development of up to 10,000 homes on a site 24 times as large as ATW, yet would be served principally by this limited capacity B road. It would be a recipe for more delay, frustration, inconvenience, unreliability of travel whether car or bus, and overall chaos. It would be a mistake to re-introduce this threat. 4000 extra cars at peak times would itself represent more than twice the peak capacity of a B road, and that on top of the existing load!
Encouraging cycling is good, and I do sometimes ride into town (risking life and limb on Clifford Lane or its pavement with HGVs less than 2 metres away), but cycling becomes unpleasant and even less safe in wet or dark times. Whilst the Greenway does appear to offer an opportunity, it would require further thought and investment to prevent it from being repurposed from a leisure route to a commuting highway. Increasing the frequency and reliability of buses is desirable but hopeful in its ambition, implementation and sustainability.
This area includes known flood risks, which would need serious attention and investment so as not to remotely threaten the misery of flooded homes.
The Long Marston airfield development was not meant to go beyond 400 houses until that Relief Road was in place.
Overall I believe that the impact of adopting site E1 will be unbearable on the B4632, its close villages and the town centre.

No

ID sylw: 108128

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Evelyn Gould

No

No

ID sylw: 108139

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Peter Northwood

No

No

ID sylw: 108150

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Verena Telling

I would like to object to site E1 Land around Long Marston being considered as a suitable site for future development in the SWIP consultation paper.

The B4632 is already heavily congested and this is before the further 3,500 houses that planning permission has already been given (with conditions) have been built at the old Long Marston airfield site.

There are no major roads south of the river to adequately route the substantial uptake in cars and heavy vehicles which will predominantly wish to be traveling north. We only have 2 bridges crossing the river, both of which route traffic through Stratford town. The extra development of the Long Marston site will only exacerbate these already heavily used routes. I understand that the estimated £250,000 plus cost to build a third bridge west of Stratford is economically unviable and even if the money was found and the western relief road was built, the route chosen will only funnel the traffic into equally congested roads north west of the town.

Reopening the train route from Honeybourne to Stratford has also been suggested. Again a very expensive option for a single track and thus a limited service. I am sure the train will appeal to a small number of people, but the reality is residents will still need to drive to the stations and with the hassle and inconvenience of going to and from stations and the time taken to do so, the majority will still choose to drive.

It’s also worth taking into consideration that there is already a regular bus service into Stratford and onwards. Bus stops are conveniently placed within walking distance of the majority of residents in the villages and towns and offer a good alternative to using your car. But sadly this regular and efficient bus service is already under used, with many busses running with very few passengers. If locals are not keen to avail themselves of an existing excellent public bus transport service, it’s very difficult to see why a train service will offer anything extra to encourage use by residents. Sadly I believe that reinstatement of the Honeybourne link will be of more use to through traffic, ie linking GWR and Chiltern Railways, than satisfying local need.

This still leaves the problem of heavy vehicles. Extra housing and commercial activities will inevitably result in a huge increase in heavy vehicles journeys, most of which need to cross the River Avon somehow or other.

The only logical areas in my opinion for future development is to consider sites north of Stratford town and to those areas that already have good links to major roads and the motorway network.

Therefore I would like to propose the following sites for consideration as being more suitable for future development. All are very close to existing road infrastructure, schools and railway stations and thus the extra traffic generated will inconvenience the least number of residents.

1). C1 Land south of Kingswood.
2). G1 West of Knightcote.
3). X1 Leamington & North of Wellesbourne.
4). BW Wilmcote & Bearley

Yes

ID sylw: 108249

Derbyniwyd: 22/06/2025

Ymatebydd: Church Commissioners for England (‘The Church Commissioners’)

Asiant : Bidwells LLP

The Church Commissioners for England are the landowners for the part of the allocation that lies immediately north of the adopted allocation for the Long Marston Airfield Garden Community within the main body of E1. This land holding is also directly north of the current application pending determination under reference 23/01794/OUT, submitted by CALA Homes for 3,100 homes. Further south lies the Meon Vale which is under construction with provision of over 1,000 homes in total, and 500 within their northern parcel.

We cross refer to the Vision for Long Marston which is submitted alongside this representation. The Vision makes a positive case for the expansion of the existing Garden Community and explains through reference to the Strategic Objectives of the South Warwickshire Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation, how the site can be brought forward in support of the delivering the Vision of the Draft Plan.

The Long Marston New Settlement Option already contains existing or committed physical and community infrastructure; there is a substantial level of employment with the potential to achieve a high level of self-containment; there is a landscape presence that is unlikely to be significantly different from that already considered acceptable; and finally, a set of principles contained within an SPD that allows for landowners to coordinate their response to an allocation at Long Marston.

There is also a strong delivery case in support of site E1. As an enlarged Garden Community, E1 can help leverage existing and planned investment, particularly the potential future delivery of the Stratford Western Relief Road or alternative transport strategy identified by the Councils, and a continuous footpath and cycleway along the former Stratford to Honeybourne rail line (known as the Stratford greenway) which will serve as a regional leisure/tourist attraction between the site and Stratford Upon Avon.

Moreover, 10,000 homes within the wider E1 site would create a self-sustaining new town with a comprehensive range of viable facilities and strategic employment as well as substantial investment in active and sustainable travel choices.

The substantial planned investment that is already committed at Long Marston is a significant attribute of the proposed new settlement location which makes it the most suitable and appropriate option for allocation in the draft Plan, and we would respectfully ask the Councils to review their evidence and align with the clear sustainability benefits of Site E1.

Yes

ID sylw: 108265

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Spitfire Homes

Asiant : Harris Lamb

Yes, we fully support the identification of Long Marston Airfield (“LMA”) as a potential new settlement. It is suitable, sustainable and developable and can deliver a significant amount of residential and commercial development to assist in meeting the Plan’s development requirements. We do, however, have a series of concerns with the conclusions of the underpinning evidence base supporting the draft allocation.
1. It is our view that the Sustainability Appraisal of Site E1 – Long Marston Airfield, does not properly reflect the sustainability credentials of this potential new settlement location, and the significant benefits associated with its allocation for development.
2. The ISA’s approach to assessing flood risk is flawed. The flood zone assessment is based upon the proportion of site that falls outside of Flood Zone 1 and the proportion of the site affected by surface water flooding. The size of the new settlements varies from 242 hectares to 770 hectares. The significant difference in the size of the settlement distorts the assessment of flood risk.
3.We support the identification of Site E1 as the most sustainable settlement in terms of biodiversity and geodiversity.
4. New settlement E1 – Extension to Long Marston Airfield, is identified as the worst performing new settlement against the Landscaping Sustainability Objective. This is due to the suggestion it is likely to result in adverse impacts on the local landscape character, views from public rights of way and coalescence. In addition, it is suggested that it is likely to result in significant adverse impacts on the special quality of the setting of the Cotswold Natural Landscape Area which is located 45 metres from the settlement boundary.
We disagree with this conclusion.
5. Whilst we are supportive of new settlement E1 being identified as one of the most sustainable locations for development from a pollution perspective, we do not support the conclusion that the site should be marked down due to its proximity to a railway line on the basis this could potentially locate residents next to existing sources of air and noise pollution.
6. We support the identification of Site E1 as the most sustainable location for development in terms of impact on natural resources.
7.Spitfire are promoting HELAA site 175 – Stratford Agricultural Park and surrounding land, that forms part of the potential LMA new settlement. We are generally supportive of the HELAA’s conclusions regarding the suitability of the site for development.

Yes

ID sylw: 108301

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Indurent Propco A3 Ltd

Asiant : Turley

Indurent Propco A3 Ltd (‘Indurent’) raises no concerns in principle with the new settlement proposals for Long Marston
Airfield (ref. E1), which incorporates the Meon Vale Business Park. Allocation of this area in the new local plan should create
a presumption that the redevelopment of the Business Park for residential use would be acceptable in principle. The wording
of the relevant policy would need to ensure that any other policies in the emerging plan which resist the loss of existing
employment land would not apply in the determination of future planning applications.
Indurent would encourage the councils to consider how the new settlement could deliver new employment floorspace on
the undeveloped parcels of land to offset the likely future loss of the Meon Vale Business Park. Delivering employment
floorspace on greenfield land is much more viable economically. Locating these floorspace further north, closer to the land
earmarked for a future train station, would also create a much more sustainable development offering public modes of
transport.

About the Site in E1:

Introduction to Indurent
These representations are submitted on behalf of Indurent Propco A3 Ltd (‘Indurent’). Indurent are one of the UK's leading
providers of industrial and logistics warehousing, with a range of light industrial, mid and big box spaces. Blackstone
established Indurent in July 2024 by bringing together St Modwen Logistics and Industrials REIT.
As part of this merger, Indurent incorporated Meon Vale Business Park into its portfolio. It is the freehold owner of the site
and currently rents out floorspace for industrial, distribution and storage uses.
Background to Meon Vale Business Park
Following the closure of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Engineers Depot in 1999, the wider Meon Vale site was subject to
several planning applications for temporary use for commercial purposes.
St. Modwen Developments acquired the depot in 2004 and subsequently secured planning permission for two major
schemes of residential-led mixed-use development (which covered four phases of residential development).
Phases 1 – 3 of the Meon Vale redevelopment was approved as part of a hybrid planning permission granted in February
2010 (LPA ref. 09/00835/FUL). The outline element of the permission comprised the creation of a leisure village, holiday
homes, central leisure facilities, and up to 500 dwellings. Meon Vale Business Park was included within the full element of
this application. Permission was granted for “the retention of use of 80,374 sqm of existing industrial floor space and
associated hardstanding for Class B1(a), B1(c) and B8 uses, together with the retention of an existing trade vehicle auction use
(use class sui generis)”. The existing operations on the employment element of the site have been carried out under the
provisions of this, and subsequent, planning permissions.
Meon Vale Business Park measures around 30 hectares and comprises approximately 900,000 sqft of warehouse / industrial
and office space supplemented by a significant area of hardstanding. The site is bordered to the north by woodland / green
space, to the east and south by residential properties, and to the west by the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre (formerly
referred to as the ‘rail loop’ and Quinton Rail Technology Centre (QRTC)).
The vast majority of the site is located within Flood Zone 1 of the EA Flood Map, confirming that flood risk is not a significant
constraint to the development of the site. There are no notable statuary designations, heritage designations or listed
buildings within or in the immediate vicinity of the site. Furthermore, the site is not in the Green Belt and is located outside
the Cotswolds National Landscape.

Future of Meon Vale Business Park
The Business Park is reasonably well-occupied with current leases running through to 2028/29. However, the buildings are
falling into a state of disrepair. The units were constructed decades ago as part of the sites previous use as a Ministry of
Defence depot and are coming to the end of their economic life. Refurbishing the units is not a viable option for Indurent as
the costs will far exceed the future rental values (due to historic issues with asbestos etc). Accordingly, the buildings will
continue to deteriorate in the short to medium term.

Added to this, the site is unlikely to attract high-end occupiers given its location. The site lies a significant distance from the
strategic highway network (over 30-minute drive to the M5 and M40) and is accessed from an unclassified road of residential
character (Wellington Avenue) which leads from a single lane carriageway B-road (Campden Road).
Therefore, Indurent will need to begin looking at options for developing the site. Otherwise, the likelihood is the site will be
become vacant well before the new South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) period expires in 2050.
The current use of the site is generally for storage and distribution, with the majority of the site leased to Ford for vehicle
storage. The site has around 200 full-time equivalent employees. There isn’t a market demand for high-specification
employment floorspace in this location. Therefore, the loss of the site for employment uses would have little impact upon the
local economy or local employment figures.
Indurent is proposing that the emerging SWLP includes a policy which would allow Indurent to respond flexibly to future
economic conditions over the next 25 years to allow redevelopment of the site for alternative uses.
Added to this, given the status of the site as brownfield land and as a former MoD site, the ground conditions will likely
influence the type of uses which will be viable for development.
The potential for the redevelopment of the Business Park (in part or whole) for residential use is clear. The use would
complement the existing 1,050 dwellings on Meon Vale (and the additional dwellings in Meon Way Gardens to the south),
while future residents would benefit from the existing services and facilities on Meon Vale (primary school, village hall,
convenience store, cafes, leisure centre, sports pitches, open spaces). Unlike new settlements, which are notorious for slow
delivery rates (Long Marston Airfield and Gaydon / Lighthorne Heath as relevant examples within Stratford district), the key
infrastructure already exists at Meon Vale which gives certainty of delivery if Indurent decided to promote the Business Park
for redevelopment to residential use during the plan period. It would also benefit the local planning authorities as the site
could be delivered early in the plan period.
In light of the above, Indurent has instructed Turley to submit representations to the emerging SWLP to this effect. It is
important that these matters are addressed now, within the Part 1 plan, rather than deferring to Part 2 of the SWLP.

No

ID sylw: 108306

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: John Simkins

A very small number only agreed democratically and sensitivity considered by all people involved and affected.

Other

ID sylw: 108416

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Alscot Estate

Asiant : Jonathan Thompson Land & Consultancy Limited

Our client’s site ‘Atherstone’ is within proposed New Settlement E1. E1 is rated as ‘more suitable’ settlement in the New Settlement’s Assessment but in the Sustainability Appraisal it is rated as seventh of twelve in terms of sustainability. We note the statement in the SA that “rankings are susceptible to change post-mitigation if/when more information becomes available relating to opportunities for new infrastructure and mitigation at each new settlement location”. Please take the information below into account accordingly.

Objective 1: Climate Change. We would note that new settlements provide opportunities to address the climate change emergency by designing new infrastructure and development around reducing the level of carbon emissions from construction and operation of new development. Infrastructure can be built from day one that can respond to the change in energy efficient technologies and future trends in sustainability.

A major contributor to carbon emissions is use of private vehicles using fossil fuels. A change in behaviour is required nationally to help reduce this rate. New settlements provide an opportunity to reduce use of private vehicles through a layout that harnesses internalisation and promoting walking, cycling and other modes of sustainable transport. Significant amounts of green infrastructure and biodiversity improvements can be delivered. This can considerably mitigate against climate changes impacts. This should be considered further when assessing the suitability of new settlements generally. These principles are reflected in the current Core Strategy allocation for Long Marston Airfield Garden Village.

Objective 3: Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna and Geodiversity. The Estate support the conclusions of the SA that E1 is the best performing settlement against this strategic objective.

Objective 4: Landscape. The score for E1 should be revised. This site is an existing Core Strategy allocation. The SA should be judged in the context of how views from the National Landscape to the Garden Village will be perceived with the built form already approved for the 400 homes to be delivered by 2026 and recent development in Meon Vale.

Notwithstanding this, any development coming forward at Long Marston Airfield will have to ensure the local landscape character and special qualities of the National Landscape are conserved and enhanced.

Objective 7: Natural Resources. The Estate support the conclusions of the SA for this strategic objective, which concludes E1 is the best-performing site as it does not coincide with a Mineral Safeguarded Area.

Objective 9: Housing. The Estate agree delivery of any new settlement will have a major positive impact on housing provision.

Objective 11: Accessibility. Internalisation will be promoted as part of any new settlement given the range of uses that will be delivered. This should be considered when assessing a site’s suitability for development rather than solely the proximity of the site to existing services and facilities.

Objective 12: Education. Long Marston Garden Village is set to deliver education facilities through the existing Core Strategy allocation, notwithstanding further educational facilities that may need to come forward to support the E1 new settlement. A future allocation should not be disregarded due to its proximity to existing educational facilities.

Objective 13: Economy. We support the conclusion that E1 is one of 8 new settlements within a sustainable distance to an existing employment location. However, again we note that the sustainability of E1 should be assessed alongside the employment opportunities that the new settlement itself will bring. The existing Core Strategy allocation is set to deliver up to 13ha of employment land and other amenities such as a main village centre, comprising a range of retail, community and leisure facilities.

Revised ratings:

Climate Change +/-
Flood Risk -
Biodiversity -
Landscape -
Cultural Heritage --
Pollution -
Natural Resources 0
Waste --
Housing ++
Health -
Accessibility -
Education -
Economy +

Yes

ID sylw: 108475

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Magdalen College, Oxford

Asiant : Savills

Given its land-holding at Long Marston, Magdalen College, Oxford is supportive of the potential new settlement at Long Marston Airfield (New Settlement Location E1). Our clients site at Campden Road, Long Marston falls within the boundaries of this potential growth option.
We agree with the analysis in the New Settlements Assessment Document (November 2024) that Long Marston Airfield is one of the “more suitable” locations for a new settlement. However, as discussed below, we consider this site should be allocated for development regardless, either as part of the Airfield or as stand-alone allocation. If the site is included in the Long Marston New Settlement allocation, it should be acknowledged that parts of the allocation could come forward early where land ownership and infrastructure allow. There is potential for logical development parcels (such as the College’s interest) to simply be delayed from delivery, if unnecessarily linked to wider strategic delivery objectives.

No

ID sylw: 108707

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mickleton Society

.The Society is concerned about potential large scale development at and around Long Marston and Meon Vale served by the B4632 road and the impact traffic generated by such development would have on Mickleton which is also served by the same road.
.The same road passes through the heart of the village of Mickleton, a Conservation area, and passes several Grade I and Grade II listed buildings in which the Society has a particular interest.
.The supporting documents to SWLP consider the issues of traffic going north towards Stratford and highlight potential issues exacerbated by the difficulties the local authorities have in providing any relief road scheme. The supporting documents do not consider, or consider adequately, traffic coming south in and through Mickleton where the road system is inadequate to support a substantial increase in traffic. There are no readily available alternative routes.
.Whilst welcoming attempts to encourage the provision and use of public transport, the Society considers it borders on the naive to suggest that public transport, cycling routes and home working will materially reduce increased volumes of vehicular traffic arising from additional housing development served by the road particularly as Long Marston and Meon do not have employment opportunities to negate an increase in vehicular commuter traffic.