Other

ID sylw: 107234

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Oxfordshire County Council

The quantum of housing development to be provided for in this Joint Local Plan is substantial, particularly given the intention for this Local Plan to cover the period to 2050. Draft Policy Direction 1 says: 'The South Warwickshire Local Plan will make provision for the delivery of at least 1,679 dwellings per annum, in line with the HEDNA; with sufficient flexibility to accommodate up to 2,188 dwellings per annum, in line with the 2024 NPPF Standard Method. This equates to at least 41,975 dwellings over a 25-year plan period from 2025-2050, with sufficient flexibility to accommodate up to 54,700 dwellings. After accounting for existing commitments, and an assumed windfall allowance, there remains a "to find" figure of 15,532 dwellings (HEDNA) or 28,257 dwellings (2024 Standard Method). This to find figure represents the scale of development to be accommodated by the SWLP.'

The figure of 2,188 is made up of the NPPF Standard Method figures of 1, ,126 for Stratford-on-Avon and 1,062 for Warwick. We understand that this Local Plan will need to set a housing requirement in accordance with that Standard Method figure. Draft Policy Direction 4 indicates that there may, in addition, be a requirement to provide for unmet housing needs from Coventry and Birmingham, which should be further considered prior to the Local Plan progressing to Regulation 19.

At this stage we don’t have specific comments on the strategic growth options but are willing to engage in discussions if needed. We note that there are
no emerging spatial strategy growth options close to Oxfordshire’s boundary and therefore this Local Plan should not result in direct impacts and costs to Oxfordshire
County Council.

Other

ID sylw: 107235

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Oxfordshire County Council

We support the intention, as set out in Policy Direction 2, to choose to allocate one or more new settlements based on which are in the most sustainable location or locations where they can be developed to a suitable minimum size to provide the required infrastructure for substantial internalisation of trips.

Other

ID sylw: 107236

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Oxfordshire County Council

Significant amounts of local industrial need are identified, as well as 75-125ha of strategic employment need. A Strategic Rail Freight Interchange is also identified as being needed, but at this stage the location has not been decided.

Other

ID sylw: 107237

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Oxfordshire County Council

Railway lines and roads, such as the M40, A44, A429 and A423 are the key transport links between this Joint Local Plan area and Oxfordshire. Growth in the South Warwickshire Local Plan area may result in additional capacity issues on these routes, which will have implications for Oxfordshire residents.

The Chiltern Mainline travels through the South Warwickshire Local Plan area as well as Oxfordshire with stations such as Oxford, Bicester North, Banbury and Leamington Spa. Improvements to the stations and the trains will be needed to cater for growth.

Although the North Cotswold Line passes to the south and west of the South Warwickshire Local Plan area, it can be expected that people will travel to stations on that line, for example at Honeybourne and Evesham, in order to travel to locations on that line between Oxford and Worcester and connections onward. Oxfordshire County Council, with partners including Warwickshire County Council, is seeking that the Department for Transport give its support to the Strategic Outline Business Case which the North Cotswold Line Taskforce has produced, for the infrastructure improvements to allow a second service every hour between Worcester and London Paddington. The pamphlet available online notes that the North Cotswold Line's potential to sustainably support economic and housing growth is severely limited by its current hourly service. Increasing the frequency to every 30 minutes can be achieved relatively simply, requiring less than ten miles of track doubling together with additional platforms at Hanborough in Oxfordshire and Pershore in Worcestershire.

The South Warwickshire Local Plan High Level Transport Assessment, by Jacobs for Warwickshire County Council dated 29 August 2024, considers rail infrastructure needs, but focuses on the West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy. We think that further work on wider rail infrastructure needs will be needed prior to completing the Regulation 19 Local Plan.

Other

ID sylw: 107238

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Oxfordshire County Council

We note that the North Cotswold Line has a spur connecting from Honeybourne to the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre. The Preferred Options document proposes to safeguard the innovation centre site for 'rail-based employment and research and development' as set out in Draft Policy Direction 14. The spur does not provide for passenger services, and north of the innovation centre, the former railway line no longer exists and has been replaced by the Stratford Greenway, which is a popular cycling route to Stratford-upon-Avon. We are aware that Stratford-on-Avon District Council received in October 2024 a refreshed strategic outline business case for re-opening the Stratford- upon-Avon to Honeybourne Railway Line, which advises on the need for a Worcester- Stratford-Leamington sub-regional transport strategy to identify which investments in transport infrastructure and services are needed having regard to growth proposals in the area. We agree that additional research is needed, particularly given the option of strategic growth at Long Marston, which is identified as one of the four 'more suitable' new settlements in the Preferred Options consultation, building on existing development at Long Marston and Meon Vale.

Other

ID sylw: 107239

Derbyniwyd: 26/02/2025

Ymatebydd: Oxfordshire County Council

The South Warwickshire Infrastructure Delivery Plan, available on the technical evidence webpage, refers to the Warwickshire County Council Rail Strategy adopted in July 2020 saying that the majority of the rail network in Warwickshire is operating at capacity and improvements are needed. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan will need to be revised to make it clear what transport infrastructure improvements are needed to cater for the level of growth in the South Warwickshire Local Plan and seek that such improvements are a requisite for development.