Publication (Regulation 19)

Overview Comment

This document is the fourth stage in preparing the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) – a new Plan for Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick Districts - and follows the previous three consultations namely, Scoping and Call for Sites in May 2021, Issues and Options in January 2023 and Preferred Options consultation in January 2025.

The new Local Plan will affect the way we live, work, visit and play in South Warwickshire to 2050. It will ensure that the necessary infrastructure and the right type and number of homes and employment sites are delivered to support the level of jobs we want to see across South Warwickshire to 2050. It also contains a number of planning policies that will be used to make decisions on planning applications such as for major schemes for new homes and schools as well as smaller projects such as householder extensions.

The SWLP sets out the overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places within South Warwickshire, and makes sufficient provision for housing, employment, retail, leisure and other commercial development. It proposes:

• sites for future development (known as allocations)
• planning policies that determine how our future development needs should be accommodated
• planning policies that set out minimum standards and requirements that development proposals must meet
• criteria-based planning policies used to make decisions on individual planning applications
• the list of infrastructure projects required to support the proposed scale of development.

It also establishes the planning framework for future Supplementary Plans and neighbourhood plans (the latter prepared by town and parish councils) that can set out additional local planning policies and proposals.

In preparing the SWLP, Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council have had regard to national planning policy including the standard method for calculating housing need.

For the SWLP to come into effect and be used to make decisions on planning applications, it must be examined by a government appointed Planning Inspector. The examination will confirm that the SWLP has been positively prepared and provides for an effective strategy for meeting our development needs. Please note: the SWLP is being prepared under the legacy plan-making system which applies the policies of the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

This is your opportunity to say whether you think the plan meets these tests, and if not, what changes you believe need to be made to it in order for the plan to be found ‘sound’.

Following this period for representations, the Councils will consider whether any changes should be made in light of your representations and then submit these, along with the representations themselves and the SWLP itself to the Planning Inspectorate for examination. You will need to indicate on the Representations Form if you wish to participate in the examination.

Following examination, the Inspector will publish their report. If approved, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils can then formally adopt the SWLP and bring its provisions and policies into force.

When to Have Your Say

The period for making representations on the Regulation 19 Publication Stage of the South Warwickshire Local Plan is from Tuesday 21^st July to Tuesday 8^th September 2026, 23:59pm. Comments received after the deadline will not be considered.

How to Have Your Say

The SWLP will form part of the statutory Development Plan and directly affect how land is used and therefore it is subject to a public inquiry known as an ‘Examination in Public’. The Inspector running the examination will scrutinise the plan against a number of legal requirements known as tests of soundness (see Figure 5 in Chapter 1).

Unlike the previous consultations, there are no consultation questions to be answered and comments (called representations) on this version of the SWLP must relate to these tests.

If you do not believe that the plan meets the tests, you then have the opportunity to set out what changes should be made for the plan to be found sound. The easiest way to submit representations is to use our online consultation portal at: https://southwarwickshire.oc2.uk/document/168

You can also complete the Representation Form and return via email. Please use a separate form for each representation. Paper copies of the Representation Form are available from the locations below or can be printed via the above link. Representation Forms can be sent to:

Via email: swlp@warwickdc.gov.uk

By post: SWLP Team, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HX

How to View the Publication Version

Online

The consultation content and supporting information is available to view at www.southwarwickshire.org.uk/swlp/reg19 or via Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick district council websites.

Paper Copies

Physical copies of the Publication Stage documents are available to view at*:

If you would like to purchase your own copy of the consultation document, please email the SWLP team at swlp@warwickdc.gov.uk or alternatively, contact the SWLP Team via 01926 450000.