No

ID sylw: 107570

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Stratford Society

BW (Bearley and Wilmcote) sits entirely within the Green Belt, is prone to flooding and run-off of water on to the busy A3400, and is entirely undeveloped agricultural land. The site’s inclusion in the Preferred Options runs counter to what is said in Chapter 4 of the Consultation Documents about avoiding anything other than small-scale development in areas of the Green Belt, since these lack all the necessary infrastructure needed for a large development, such as roads, education and medical facilities, connection to utilities and local amenities. It is also contrary to what is said in Chapter 7 about avoiding building on land susceptible - now or in the future - to flooding. Furthermore, since there are no nearby sources of employment, it would be necessary for any new residents to travel outside the area for work – something which Chapter 6 says should be avoided. For all these reasons, BW should be ruled out as a Potential New Settlement.

No

ID sylw: 107594

Derbyniwyd: 22/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Mrs Suzanne Fabo

The Bearley Wilmcote plan doesn’t have a safe and viable railway station. There is only parking for 4 cars, the entrance is a health & safety nightmare as it’s on a blind bend which is also an accident black spot. The train service on goes to Leamington direct as you have to change trains to go to Birmingham. The environmental effects of 6800 houses would endanger our otters, barn owls, bats, grass snakes, newts, frogs, kingfishers (on canal) The road infrastructure and increase in traffic would make a 10 min journey to Stratford increase to over half an hour as you’d be queuing all the way from Bearley to Stratford. The already dangerous road would become deadly with up to 12000 more cars, increased lorries, buses. No additional space for walking or cycling from Bearley to Stratford.

No

ID sylw: 107613

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Bearley Parish Council

These proposals result from a desk/paper-based exercise and they lack understanding of local issues. The HELAA contains too many basic errors and incomplete data to be used in decision-making.

Transportation issues are worse than the plan suggests. The station is a ‘rural halt’. This is the only proposed site split by a major road, which would be dangerous for school children. The A3400 has serious bottlenecks and low, narrow bridges. Warwick Highways conclude traffic mitigation would be challenging and expensive. One rail line shown in the SWLP doesn’t exist. This is not a 'well connected' settlement.

The site is Green Belt. Development would coalesce Stratford-upon-Avon with its northern villages, conflicting with the purposes of the Green Belt and the SWLP principles. As 7 of the 12 sites are not Green Belt and have sufficient capacity to meet housing needs there are no 'exceptional circumstances' to justify release.

Biodiversity and the adjacency of Bearley Bushes SSSI are unaccounted for in the assessment. The Lepus 'Interim Sustainability Appraisal' rates this site as the worst choice for biodiversity. This site should be red and not green in the HELAA. The buffer zone of 25m in the HELAA is arbitrary and contrary to Natural England guidance.

The area has serious surface water flood risks evident from maps and moreso to locals who have to navigate flooding several times annually. Properties in the Grange Road Area (half the village) are at the bottom of a slight valley and at risk from increased run-off from development each side. The 2021 flood zone report shows part of the site as red but it is assessed green in the HELAA.

The site is ranked eighth out of twelve for sustainability but then without explanation the SWLP says it is a 'more suitable' site.

No

ID sylw: 107622

Derbyniwyd: 03/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Stratford-upon-Avon Town Transport Group

While this proposed settlement has benefits in that it is on a rail line, it is small to medium
size, and therefore is unlikely to generate significant employment. SuA town centre is less
than 3 miles away, but providing an effective active travel link will be challenging, as will
connecting to employment sites such as SUA.2 on A46 at Wildmoor. Its location, size,
limited transport connectivity, and lack of employment opportunities would suggest it
would need to be designed as an adjunct to SuA. Essentially this would be a dormitory
settlement, and consequently TTG do not support this location.

Other

ID sylw: 107678

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Shakespeare Line Rail User Group

For new developments at either of these sites to be supported and move forward, the SWLP must robustly require investment in rail infrastructure.

This investment is not just a support mechanism; it is essential for creating a sustainable living environment and effectively managing future growth while steadfastly protecting the communities affected and the environment.

The South Warwickshire Local Plan must resolutely prioritise securing investment in rail for each of these developments to ensure there is no diminution in existing services while crucially enable a dynamic and interconnected future.

Sustainable living environments are imperative for managing future growth and safeguarding our communities and the environment. We will not accept and thus will oppose either of these developments if they are promoted and pursued without a strong commitment to enhancing rail infrastructure.

Rail systems are critical for reducing traffic congestion, lowering carbon emissions, and providing efficient transportation options. Without this commitment, the SWLP will undermine its vision and strategic objectives, seriously impair sustainability goals and jeopardise the wellbeing of the communities within the SWLP area.

Without investment in the rail infrastructure (which must include both capital infrastructure and services) the two areas defined as B1 and BW are opposed.

No

ID sylw: 107708

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: David Griffin

I wish to object to the propsal of creating this new town.
I am a frequent visitor to this beautiful area of Warwickshire, I have been visiting Aston Cantlow and the surrounding areas for over 25years.
My objections are as follows

There is no supporting infrastructure to support this volume of housing.
The increase in traffic cannot be supported by the current roads system in and around this planned development.
This propsal would irrevocably destroy valuable green belt land that is a precious resource and cannot be undone.
There are no local employment opportunities to support such a site.
People will be forced to commute to their workplaces and the surrounding impact of mass commuting would further have a detrimental effect on the environment in air quality both for current residents and the abundant wildlife in the area.
Wilmcote is designated as a high flood risk area new houses will not help in this regard.
The knock on effect to areas such as Aston Cantlow , little and Greal Alne would be catastrophic.
I sincerely hope that my objection will be considered.

Other

ID sylw: 107819

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mr Andrew Martin

In contrast, site BW already has two operational stations (Bearley and Wilmcote) offering frequent services into Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon, several to Warwick and Leamington, and to London Marylebone with just one change. It also has ready access to Stratford Parkway and the Bishopton Park-and-Ride into town. It offers A-road access to / from the A46, offering ready-made high capacity routes to the East and West that avoid Stratford-upon-Avon town centre.

No

ID sylw: 108134

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Evelyn Gould

Very concerned about the devastating affect it will have on the flora and fauna and the wildlife of Bearley. Fallow deer, muntjak deer, badgers, foxes and bats and birds if prey which we have in abundance. Also concerned about the increased flow of traffic, which will cause many holdups. Also concerned about pedestrian crossing the A3400, as over the years lives have been lost crossing this very busy road, including member of my family. The land around here gets very water logged and on occasions has flooded parts of the village.

No

ID sylw: 108146

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Peter Northwood

I have been a resident in Bearley for 70 years. The drainage here is completely inadequate. The whole system would have to be replaced. The ground is unsuitable for vast building projects. The ground at the back of me on Grange Road is very often water logged, as there is natural spring there. When the Air Ministry had to be piped into the stream, which now very often can't cope with vast quantities of water. They would have to spend millions of pounds on a pumping station.

No

ID sylw: 108307

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: John Simkins

The proposal to build 6,800 houses in Bearley is at its best a totally in conceived concept and at its worst, a most arrogant and totally unjust and undemocratic imposition on a settled rural community which would destroy its identity, the green belt, providing a 2000% increase in housing, divide the community with the A34 in a most destructive and ill conceived manner.
No No and No again!

No

ID sylw: 108333

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Christine Phillips

The traffic is already very bad with queues to get into Stratford to get to the supermarket and Henley where the doctors are. The roads cannot cope with the proposed plans. The Birmingham Road floods already. The infrastructure would collapse! The train station has never been been able to take commuters-no trains, parking. I live on the Crescent where8 family homes are. The children have to walk down Salters Lane where there is no pavement to get the bus to school. There are frequent collisions on the cross roads, visibility is poor. Building more homes on Langley Road will increase traffic, accidents. It is a tragedy waiting to happen.

No

ID sylw: 108338

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Pete Phillips

The green belt must be protected, it is full of wildlife- hares, owls, bats etc. It is a nature corridor between the town and village. Traffic is already terrible, it would be a disaster. I live on the Crescent, there is no pavement to walk down Salters Lane. The cross roads has to frequent accidents. We need to walk down here safely. More houses on Langley Road will lead to accidents! The children have to walk here daily to get have to school, does have to be seriously injured to have our concerns Listened to ?

Other

ID sylw: 108383

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Please see below a comment from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, specifically around the proposed housing development site at Wilmcote.

"As the charity responsible for conserving and maintaining the Shakespeare family homes, we believe that the wider environment in which the properties are located is an essential part of our shared heritage and supports the stories we share with audiences.

As such, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has concerns about further urbanisation of the rural landscape that envelops the village of Wilmcote and Mary Arden’s Farm."

No

ID sylw: 108682

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Wilmcote Action Group

Nifer y bobl: 234

We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the proposed development of 6,762 new homes in Wilmcote and Bearley. We urge Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council to reconsider for the following reasons:
TRANSPORT ISSUES
Unsafe for Cyclists:
Impact on Climate:
PROTECTING GREEN BELT LAND
HERITAGE Risks
INCREASED FLOOD RISK
HABITAT DESTRUCTION
LACK OF LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
OVERLOADED INFRASTRUCTURE

Despite the 'green belt' land being available we believe this settlement is in the wrong place. It is unsustainable and will have a severe impact on our roads, environment, and quality of life. We urge the Council to reject this proposal and protect our villages.

No

ID sylw: 108856

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Jacqueline Iris Bates

I strongly object to the proposed building of 6,700 homes in Wilmcote, Pathlow and Bearley for many reasons including the following:

The roads which service these areas are already unable to cope with the volume of traffic which uses them. Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon via the Birmingham Rd. would become very, very congested.

Green Belt would be severely reduced in an historic area causing loss of valuable conservation area.

Both Bearley and Wilmcote have historic village centres. Wilmcote in particular houses the black and white Palmer's Farm and especially Mary Arden's House.

Other

ID sylw: 108860

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Richard Hyatt

Whilst I am supportive of new settlements, the proposed settlement at Bearley and Wilmcote is too close to Stratford-upon-Avon - giving rise to more traffic congestion and pollution, particularly in the Town Centre and Bridgefoot areas. No construction of BW should be contemplated until the TTG "Integrated Transport Strategy & Action Plan" - published in July 2024, promoting an acceptable proper route incorporating a new bridge and bypass roads - has been completed in actual construction and is functional.

Other

ID sylw: 108900

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire County Council

Minerals and Waste

No objections on mineral sterilisation grounds subject to prior extraction of building stone and subject to
• Minerals Assessment Report (for assessing the possible impact on mineral resources and determining whether prior extraction is achievable),
• Materials Management Report (for assessing the sourcing and use of construction materials including the availability of on-site materials for reuse/recycling),
• Soil Management Plan (a plan to manage all soils on site during construction)

Active Travel

The primary active travel connection for this site would be to Stratford-upon-Avon, the town centre being approximately 5km from the southern boundary of the site. This is within distances that most people can comfortably cycle if appropriate traffic free infrastructure is provided, however areas toward the Bearley end of the site are likely to be at the extreme of distances people could reasonably be expected to regularly cycle. National Cycle Network route 5 (NCN5) between Stratford and Redditch runs just west of the southern segment of the site and routes to Stratford via the Stratford upon Avon Canal towpath. There is a potential direct connection to the canal towpath from the south west corner of the site using an existing agricultural route/PROW which also provides a bridge over the Stratford to Birmingham railway line. The towpath currently has an unbound surface, is fairly narrow in places and unlit and therefore only suitable for low volume leisure cycling.

There are currently no alternative acceptable routes for cycling towards Stratford- upon-Avon. There is also an absence of traffic free cycling routes within Stratford to connect people to destinations. This is being addressed in part by the delivery of improved cycling infrastructure on the A3400 Birmingham Road south of the A46 and by the development of a proposed LTN1/20 scheme on Alcester Road between the A46 and Brunel Way, however this latter scheme does not currently include a connection to the town centre.

NCN5 also provides a connection from the site towards Alcester and to Studley and Redditch via relatively low-trafficked on road routes, however these destinations are at the extremes of distances that people would choose to regularly cycle and the site would likely increase the vehicular traffic on these routes which would make them less attractive for cycling.

The canal towpath would need to be upgraded (widened, surface improvements and lighting) to make it suitable for all year round cycling trips. Consideration would also need to be given to how safety concerns associated with a lack of natural surveillance could be overcome.

An alternative option would be to provide a new route(s) to connect the site to the existing/emerging cycle routes on the A3400 Birmingham Road and/or A422 Alcester Road corridors.

New active travel connections should also be provided to enable residents of the existing communities at Bearley and Wilmcote to enable these communities to access the new services and facilities being provided within the site since this has the potential to reduce external car based trips.

Finally, consideration would need to be given to the scale of impact the site would have on the existing on road sections of NCN5 and to whether new alternative route alignments would be required to retain the important NCN connections.

Potentially, however further work would be required to confirm this. It is unclear whether the canal towpath could be upgraded to be suitable for all year round cycling since this is likely to require third party land, impact on ecology and require the support of the Canals and Rivers Trust. It seems unlikely that this would be fully lit or be subject to a winter maintenance regime which would limit its attractiveness for year round trips.

It is also unclear how alternative connections could be provided between the site and the existing/emerging walking, wheeling and cycling routes on the Birmingham Road/Alcester Road corridors could be provided. There appears to be insufficient highway land to provide off-road routes adjacent to either the A3400 Birmingham Road north of the A46 or via Billesley Road/The Ridgeway without the need to acquire third party land. Providing a safe crossing of the A46 would be challenging and likely require a grade separated crossing in the form of a bridge if feasible, which would be costly. Subject to feasibility work it may be possible to provide a route under the A46 adjacent to the railway line at Stratford Parkway, but this is likely to reduce the directness and therefore attractiveness of the route.

Rail

The site is well-related to two stations on the rail network, these being Wilmcote on the Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham (North Warwickshire) line and Bearley on the Stratford-upon-Avon to Leamington Spa line. Wilmcote has an hourly train service provided by West Midlands Trains between Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham and Kidderminster, with a service every two hours between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa provided by Chiltern Railways. Bearley is also served by the service every two hours between Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa, along with a small number of West Midlands Trains services between Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham (via Dorridge). The travel time from Wilmcote to Birmingham (via Henley) is around 50 minutes. The travel time to Leamington Spa from Bearley is around 25 minutes. The site is also located in reasonable proximity to Stratford Parkway and Stratford Town stations (3-5 miles away), both of which benefit from being served by the two trains per hour towards Birmingham (via Henley-in-Arden or Dorridge). Warwick Parkway is also located within a relatively short driving distance from the site, which offers frequent rail services towards Solihull, Birmingham, Banbury and London Marylebone.

There are some issues around seating capacity on certain peak-hour trains on the North Warwickshire line, although this is helped by the second train service each hour between Birmingham and Stratford which travels via Dorridge and Solihull.

Passenger facilities at both Wilmcote and Bearley are relatively limited, particularly at Bearley due to its current footfall. Access by means other than a car to either station is currently challenging, and there is limited formal parking. There is an aspiration to electrify the Snow Hill lines including the North Warwickshire line and increase the train frequency between Stratford and Birmingham to two trains per hour via Henley-in-
Arden. It is envisaged that this additional service would be limited stop to offer an attractive end-to-end journey time for users.

Both stations have the potential to serve the transport needs of the new settlement, although of the two Wilmcote currently has the better train service offer. Key to both stations will be the provision of a dedicated car park/transport interchange with appropriate access to the station platform(s). From the indicative masterplan for the site there appears to be land around both stations which could be used for these purposes, including space for secure cycle parking. The current footbridge linking the two platforms at Wilmcote (which is a Grade II Listed Building) would need to be upgraded to full ‘Access for All’ standards including lifts. Similar provision at Bearley will not be required due to it being located on a single line, however careful thought will be needed regarding the pedestrian route from the proposed car park to the station platform to ensure it is fully accessible.

On-board passenger count data from the Train Operator would be required to ascertain the level of overcrowding on current (peak-hour) services. Securing a stop at Wilmcote for the second Birmingham service (via Dorridge) and/or the second train per-hour via Henley-in-Arden would be highly desirable to give a train frequency level that both encourages rail use and discourages trips being made to Stratford Parkway/Stratford Town stations to access these frequencies. Based on the current rail service pattern, the modal share for rail trips would be strong towards southern and central Birmingham, but less strong towards other key areas such as Solihull and UK Central without driving to other stations or interchange within Birmingham.
Additional calls by West Midlands Trains services at Bearley (peak and off-peak) would improve this position and the combined rail offer of the two stations generally.

The key infrastructure upgrade of both stations set out above should be both deliverable and affordable, although the listed status of the footbridge at Wilmcote may have challenges with regards to an ‘Access for All’ upgrade. The decisions around any train service improvement to provide a half-hourly service to/from Birmingham at Wilmcote as well as electrification of the Snow Hill lines will rest with DfT and the West Midlands Rail Executive. Whilst a decision to proceed with a new settlement option in this area would make a positive contribution towards the business case for these improvements, it is unlikely to be the deciding factor. It is recommended therefore that a proactive dialogue with WMRE be instigated should this settlement option proceed to the next stage of assessment.

Car parking charges at both stations will be required to ensure parity with Stratford Parkway and therefore minimise abstraction. It should be noted that improvements to these stations may draw additional traffic into the area, and as a result parking
restrictions may be required in Wilmcote and Bearley villages to protect residents from station car park overflow issues.

Bus


The existing X20 Stratford-upon-Avon – Henley-in-Arden – Solihull inter-urban service operates along the A3400 every hour on weekdays and every two hours at weekends. Other bus services are relatively limited in this area apart from the 229 circular route between Stratford-upon-Avon, Wilmcote, Aston Cantlow, Bearley and Snitterfield. The rail services at Wilmcote and Bearley stations (detailed above) provide a significant element of the current public transport offer for local residents.

The new settlement should be served by bus through an amalgamation of Service X20 (which provides access to major trip generators for retail and leisure amenities such as The Maybird Centre in Stratford and Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull) and Service 229 to create a high-quality bus offer for residents of the new settlement. This would serve the development directly by diverting from the A3400 using Featherbed Lane and the proposed spine road. The intention would be to extend the route to Birmingham Airport (at the northern end) and the Rosebird Centre (at the southern end). Diversion of the existing X16/X18 to serve the site is unlikely to be feasible, and as such trips by bus from the new settlement towards Warwick/Leamington Spa will therefore either need to be undertaken via an interchange within Stratford-upon-Avon or by train.

The funding provided by the developer would function as "kickstart" to position Service X20 towards being operated on a fully commercial basis by the time the support funding ended. Part of the funding should be used for marketing to promote the enhanced bus service, including information provision directly to new residents on occupation. A fare promotion over a set period should also be considered for the new bus service serving the site to encourage patronage and facilitate modal shift, with the funding being used to reimburse the bus operator for reduced ticket sale revenue over the promotional period (in accordance with a Minimum Subsidy contract).


Provision of high quality bus stops with shelters, Real Time Information and raised kerbs, along with bus priority measures on the route of the amalgamated X20/229 service and within the new settlement should be provided. This will include locations within the West Midlands Combined Authority area, therefore the involvement of Transport for the West Midlands (TfWM) and Solihull Council in the development of this route should be sought.

As noted earlier, bus/rail interchange facilities should be provided at Wilmcote and Bearley rail stations, including bus shelter(s), Real Time Information displays and signage.

In the event of all-electric buses being used to run the new high-quality bus service, it is deemed unlikely that charging infrastructure would be required for installation at the proposed development site, as bus operators involved in electric bus provision schemes in Warwickshire (i.e. Coventry All-Electric Bus City Scheme and Warwickshire Zero Emission Bus Scheme) have a strong preference towards such infrastructure being provided at their depots and at bus stations for operational and security purposes. Notwithstanding, it is possible that the developer would be asked to make a financial contribution towards the provision of charging infrastructure at a bus depot or bus focal point, if a decision is taken by the County Council that all-
electric bus specification fleet should be used to operate the amalgamated bus service.

The proposed enhanced bus service and associated infrastructure improvements should be deliverable, affordable and viable in the long term if planned and promoted properly.

Highway (Strategic)

The site is located close to the A46 trunk road, which provides direct access to the M40 at Junction 15 (Longbridge), the M6/M69 at Junction 2 (Coventry) and the M5 at Junction 9 (Tewkesbury). The M40 and M6 provide access to the M5/M6/M42 Motorway Box and UK Central. There are no designated Major Road Network (MRN) routes within this part of Warwickshire, although the A435 MRN is accessed from the A46 at Alcester/Oversley Green. The A3400 which travels through the site links to M40 Junction 16 near Hockley Heath which is a restricted movement junction (northbound on/southbound off) and to M42 Junction 4.

The section of the A46 in the vicinity of the site is a wide single carriageway road, with three principal junctions at Marraway (A439), Bishopton (A3400) and Wildmoor (A422), all of which are at-grade roundabouts. The Wildmoor junction is due to be upgraded shortly as part of a s278 scheme associated with local development and the construction of the West of Shottery Relief Road (WSRR) in Stratford-upon-Avon. North of Marraway the A46 is of dual-carriageway standard to M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge). West of Wildmoor the A46 is single carriageway as far as Oversley Green (Alcester) where it becomes wide single.

The key issues on the SRN in this area relate to the inconsistent standard of the A46 and performance/interaction of the three junctions. As noted above, the A46 is of mixed standard with single, wide single and dual provision. This has impacts on the capacity of the route as well as its safety, particularly on the wide single/single carriageway sections due to overtaking. The three junctions have a strong inter- relationship due to their proximity, and as such any improvement of one will have implications for the others. Because of this, National Highways has historically looked at the performance of the junctions as a package, recognising the need for a joined-up strategy along this section of the A46. Linked to this is a wider concern from the County Council over the interaction of the junctions with the Local Road Network (A439/A3400/A422) and the capacity/safety of the A46 between Wildmoor and Oversley Green/Alcester. These issues have been raised consistently by the County Council through the various Road Investment Strategy/Route Strategies processes over the last 10 years.

The proximity of the new settlement option to the SRN is likely to have a major impact on the A46, not only at the A3400 Bishopton junction but also Marraway, Wildmoor and the wider A46 connections north towards Warwick (including M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge)) and west towards Alcester – particularly when considered with other SWLP allocated sites in terms of cumulative impacts. There could also be impacts at the A46 junctions/side-roads located at Billesley, Binton and Snitterfield from traffic attempting to avoid the three main junctions or heading north towards Warwick/Leamington Spa or west towards Alcester/Evesham/Redditch.
A major improvement of the A46 will be needed at Bishopton (grade-separation), which in turn will require Marraway and Wildmoor to be improved due to their interaction in traffic terms – collectively at a very high cost (>£250m). It is recognised that some apportionment of costs will be needed with other major sites across the SWLP area, although the share for the Bearley/Wilmcote site will be high due to its proximity/impact.

As noted above, the Wildmoor junction is due to be upgraded as part of a s278 scheme – albeit that it will remain an at-grade junction. Should this site go forward to further assessment, proactive engagement with National Highways will be required to assess the impact of a new settlement option in this area on the three A46 Stratford junctions (A439/A3400/A422), as well as M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge) and the A46 between Stratford and Alcester.

Any major improvements to the A46 SRN required as a result of the assessment are likely to be very costly and will need to be considered in light of other significant transport and other infrastructure requirements to understand overall viability. The impacts from this site (and therefore cost apportionment) are likely to be high due to the scale of the development and its proximity to the A46.

Highway (Local)

The site is well-related to the Local Road Network in terms of the A3400, which provide links towards Henley-in-Arden and Hockley Heath (north) and Stratford- upon-Avon town centre (south). Prior to the opening of the M40 in the early 1990’s, the A3400 was a trunk road (A34), linking Birmingham with Oxford. As noted earlier, it provides access to the Strategic Road Network in terms of M40 Junction 16 and M42 Junction 4 (north) and the A46 (south). It also provides access to Stratford Parkway station and Stratford Park and Ride at Bishopton. The proposed West of Shottery Relief Road (which will be numbered the A4131) is a committed scheme which is due to be delivered within the next 2-5 years. This route is expected to have both a local and strategic function, providing access into the residential development parcels on land to the West of Shottery and linking the A4390 and B439 Evesham Road with the A46 at Wildmoor.

The key issues on the Local Road Network in this area principally relate to the A3400 in terms of impacts in Henley-in-Arden at the A4189 crossroads and within the town centre, interaction with the A46 at Bishopton (including access to Stratford
Parkway/Park and Ride) and traffic levels between the A46 and Stratford town centre (Birmingham Road).

The capacity of the A3400/A4189 signal controlled junction in Henley-in-Arden has been fully maximised and cannot be increased further. An improvement scheme for the Birmingham Road as the busiest arterial route within Stratford-upon-Avon is currently being delivered in phases by the County Council, recognising its important role as both a destination for significant retail and employment facilities and a key distributor route to access the SRN. The enhancements aim to improve the capacity and performance of the route, whilst also providing better active travel provision in the corridor.

Apart from the A3400 and proposed A4131, the area is served by a network of ‘C’ class lanes which are not designed to carry large volumes of traffic. Our understanding of existing traffic from this area heading towards Warwick/Leamington Spa is that it tends to use the rural routes (Langley Rd via Norton Lindsey or via Bearley and Snitterfield) rather than the A46. Similarly, traffic heading south and west uses the lanes to access the Billesley and Binton junctions on the A46 (which have known casualty issues) rather than routing via A3400 to the A46 – even in
uncongested conditions. It is not clear how a developer would mitigate these issues, as improvements to the A46 are unlikely to provide sufficient benefit to draw trips away from the rural routes.

The new settlement site is likely to have a major impact on the A3400 corridor, including within Henley-in-Arden and Stratford-upon-Avon (Birmingham Road and wider town centre network). The low bridge on the A3400 adjacent to Bearley station could have site construction issues that will push more traffic through the A46 Bishopton junction.

It will be extremely challenging to provide further mitigation on the A3400 Birmingham Road beyond the current improvement schemes being implemented by the County Council to accommodate the trip demands associated with the new
settlement. A cumulative impact assessment of other major growth within Stratford- upon-Avon and south of the river and at Henley-in-Arden will be required once the wider SWLP Spatial Strategy has been agreed.
Improvements to the three A46 Stratford junctions will require suitable provision for the Local Road Network (A439/A3400/A422). Good access to Stratford Parkway/ Stratford Park and Ride and the Industrial Estates off Bishopton Lane/Timothy’s Bridge Road will need to be maintained in any major improvement scheme at the Bishopton junction.

The impacts of the site on local roads within and around Wilmcote, Bearley, Aston Cantlow, Wootton Wawen, Norton Lindsey and Snitterfield will need to be assessed and mitigated, including impacts at the A422 Alcester Road/The Ridgeway junction.

Further improvements to the A3400 beyond those already being implemented by the County Council between the A46 and Stratford town centre are likely to be both expensive and challenging to deliver, as will improvements within Henley-in-Arden and at the A46 Bishopton junction.

A package of local junction/traffic calming improvements will be required which should be affordable within the overall IDP. Some third-party (non-highway) land may however be needed to deliver certain schemes. Junction improvement schemes which interface with the A46 SRN will carry a high cost and require agreement with
National Highways.

Education Impacts

Overall numbers would suggest the need for a new secondary school for 4,500 new dwellings although this is probably at the lower number of new homes that we would require to support a new secondary school.

The site falls within the priority area for two secondary schools, Stratford School and Henley High. We could look to expand Henley High School but not Stratford School which has already undergone significant expansion with more works planned. The delivery of a new school could support a shrinking of the geographic spread of the priority area for Stratford School and this would then support the provision of school places for the growth already planning within the town. Henley High is a relatively small school, and we would not want the delivery of a new school to have an adverse impact on the existing school.

At primary level we would suggest the need for 2 or 3 new primary schools for 4,500 new dwellings. There could be the possibility of relocated and expanding an existing school which currently operates at 0.5 forms of entry.

The possibility of delivering all through schools to be considered, i.e. co-location of at least part of the primary offer with new secondary facilities.

There is an assumption that all new primary facilities will include early years facilities and Special Resource Provision facilities.

There is an assumption that all new secondary schools will provide for sixth form teaching on site and that there will also be a Specialist Resource Provision included.

Henley does not have a sixth form so pupils would need to travel to Stratford to access post-16 facilities. The County Council does not offer free transport for Post- 16 students.