Issue and Options 2023

I am writing in relation to the current local plan consultation process and the overlap that this may have with the development of the Thames Valley rail corridor, and specifically the requirement to double-track the line between Coventry and Leamington Spa in order to deliver improvements. As you may be aware, Midlands Connect is the Subnational Transport Body for the Midlands. Established in 2014 our voluntary partnership stretches from Lincolnshire in the East to Shropshire in the West. As such, we have a clear mandate from government to plan for and advise on the strategic connectivity needs of the people living, working in and visiting the Midlands. We have reviewed the South Warwickshire Local Plan with great interest and in particular we wanted to highlight our work on the rail corridor between Coventry and Leamington Spa and the potential requirement for the development of land along this line to allow for double-tracking which would facilitate an increased service. Thames Valley corridor and implications for South Warwickshire Local Plan In April 2022 we published our Strategic Transport Plan which sets out our priority rail corridors for the region. Our Midlands Engine Rail (MER) programme includes the rail growth corridor which stretches from the Thames Valley to Birmingham. This corridor plays a key role in supporting transport connectivity within the Midlands Connect geography, providing access to the hubs of Coventry / Leicester and Birmingham / Solihull / Black Country. This corridor runs through South Warwickshire, and particularly for the purposes of this local plan through Coventry and Leamington Spa. A summary is available on our website. This rail corridor also features prominently in Network Rail’s West Midlands Strategic Advice, published in 2022. There are currently three trains every hour (per direction) between Leamington Spa and Coventry (one long distance, one local and one freight). Network Rail, on behalf of Midlands Connect, produced an Outline Business Case (OBC) which sets out the economics of introducing one additional train service each hour between Leamington Spa and Coventry, this which would form a diversion of the Cross Country service from Reading to Newcastle. The document also outlined a more expansive option to deliver up to three additional trains per hour, giving a total of six trains per hour (per direction). The line between Leamington Spa and Coventry is currently single track between Milverton Junction (north of Leamington Spa) and Gibbet Hill Junction (south of Coventry), with a loop at Kenilworth. To facilitate the operation of a 4 trains per hour (TPH) service double tracking would be required between Milverton Junction and Kenilworth. To deliver more than 4 trains per hour will require full double tracking between Leamington Spa and Coventry. The latter option will require some temporary and permanent land take on the section between Kenilworth and Gibbet Hill Junction. Unfortunately, until there is further funding committed (the scheme has been submitted to Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline but no date for funding announcements is known) the specifics of the land requirement are not known. However, broadly, it requires a small widening of the rail corridor so that there is space for a two-track railway. As such, Midlands Connect would advocate that any future decisions around land use in the corridor avoid a scenario whereby new development is permitted immediately adjacent to the single track railway, and that this potential development is kept under consideration as the local plan is developed. Midlands Connect, working with its partners, including West Midlands Rail Executive, Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council, is currently undertaking further feasibility work to examine the benefits of full double tracking, including associated capacity requirements in the Coventry area. Importance of this corridor for the region The development of this line which will increase the direct links between key centres on this line is important for the South Warwickshire region for a range of reasons. It will support: - growth of the area to the north of Kenilworth and south of Coventry where we understand a master planning process is already in progress. - the aspirational development of a station near to Warwick University as per the West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy. - frequent access to Birmingham and the Birmingham Airport area and connectivity into HS2. As well as supporting economic growth in these areas it provides local populations with access to employment, education and leisure opportunities and supports sustainable methods of travel throughout the region. I am happy to discuss this scheme with you if further information is required to ensure this land is available for future development. I will certainly keep you up to date with any significant progress. The Outline Business Case was finalised in early 2020, ahead of the Covid Pandemic, and hence some of the train service specification assumptions now require re-visiting. I have shared copies of this letter with Warwickshire County Council who support this scheme, and also Network Rail who have developed the proposals with us. The letter has also been shared with West Midlands Rail Executive who share our aspiration for this scheme to come to fruition as soon as possible. 1 https://www.midlandsconnect.uk/media/1708/birmingham-airport-connectivity-report.pdf 2 The Outline Business Case was finalised in early 2020, ahead of the Covid Pandemic, and hence some of the train service specification assumptions now require re-visiting.