A scheme to construct 55,000 additional residences throughout southern Warwickshire will progress to a government-appointed examiner despite encountering strong resistance and a last-ditch effort to eliminate a controversial location.
Warwick District Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council both gave their endorsement for the South Warwickshire Local Plan to advance to Regulation 19 consultation following marathon four-hour sessions at each council on Wednesday.
The blueprint will now be forwarded to a planning inspector for ratification, although support was decidedly mixed.
The subsequent stage involves a further period of public feedback, though unlike prior consultation exercises, this will centre on whether the strategy is achievable and sound rather than soliciting opinions on particular locations.
Activists hoping to shield areas from construction will need to articulate their concerns in terms of whether housing can realistically be delivered there, rather than merely stating opposition.
The administrations steering both councils – the Green-Labour partnership in Warwick and the Liberal Democrats in Stratford – once again pointed to difficult circumstances.
Recent legislative changes have imposed upon the area a requirement to designate land for substantially more properties than when the planning process commenced in 2021, and neither district possesses a five-year housing supply, granting developers increased scope to obtain consent on land not allocated for residential use. The earlier this approach takes effect, the sooner these challenges will be addressed, and having a framework in place – even one proposing housing figures that no elected members support – enables the councils to require contributions from developers towards infrastructure.
The strategy must be filed by the end of December to be evaluated under current national rules, and missing this deadline would result in adapting to a new framework, potentially extending the timeline by several years.
Opponents maintain this has resulted in parts of the strategy being assembled hastily at the last minute, with certain elements likely to be dismissed by an inspector, compelling the councils to begin again regardless.
The viewpoint was also expressed that having no strategy carries similar, if not greater, risk than proceeding with a defective plan that includes viability concerns.
Stratford held its deliberations and vote in the afternoon, with the Conservative opposition proposing four modifications, the most substantial being the elimination of 2,200 homes from Bidford-on-Avon.
Councillor Daren Pemberton (Bidford East) assessed that £90 million would be necessary for two additional schools and another crossing over the River Avon to manage the heightened traffic, asserting this was impractical.
His stance received complete support from his 10 Conservative colleagues, three Green members and Reform UK. Both independent members chose to abstain, and the proposition was rejected with all 19 Liberal Democrats voting against it.
Deputy leader Councillor George Cowcher (Lib Dem, Wellesbourne South) indicated this was not an appropriate moment for individual councils to act independently and commented that every member could stand up and make individual requests about removing their own site from consideration. He noted that making individual exceptions was unsuitable at this juncture, and they were presenting an overall plan to address South Warwickshire’s requirements.
Cllr Pemberton responded by indicating that this was indeed a case of special pleading because introducing such an additional risk factor by suggesting the intention to secure infrastructure that has no prospect of being delivered in the context of a plan that confirms this cannot be achieved without that infrastructure was inappropriate. He maintained this was the wrong approach.
The existing joint-cabinet recommendations were then presented, with all 19 Lib Dem members present firmly endorsing the proposal.
This proved adequate to secure the outcome with 35 members present, though support also came from other directions.
The Conservatives were split, with newly-elected Councillor Janine Lee (Kinwarton), Councillor Ian Shenton (Wootton Wawen) and Councillor Linda Organ (Tanworth-in-Arden) alongside Green Councillor Dave Passingham (Shipston) and independent Councillor Trevor Harvey (Tredington) voting in support overall, despite having voiced their reservations.
Reform UK’s Councillor Ashley Jones (Salford Priors & Alcester Rural) opposed across all elements, as did independent Councillor Tony Bromwich (Southam West). The debate at Warwick District Council was equally intense and passionate, and while three Green backbenchers – Councillor Dominic Harrison (Warwick Myton & Heathcote), Councillor Alison Firth (Kenilworth Park Hill) and Councillor Kyn Aizlewood (Green, Kenilworth Abbey & Arden) – could not bring themselves to support the proposal, it was carried by 21 votes to 15 with two members abstaining.
Cllr Harrison abstained after declaring he could not give his backing to a plan that would significantly impact Hatton, where 4,000 residences are proposed.
Councillor Andrew Day (Con, Bishop’s Tachbrook), who led the council when this process commenced, was the sole member of his group to support the plan, on the basis that local decision-makers had at least participated in the process.
He raised the question of whether local residents or Westminster would shape communities. He argued that halting now and refusing to consult because it was not flawless would have consequences, and asked whether members were aware of what the new national rules would bring: diminished local influence, increased requirements that primarily benefited developers, and reduced environmental standards. He suggested those who chose to do nothing should be prepared for that outcome, while those wishing to remain engaged should support the plan.
The Liberal Democrats and remaining Conservatives voted against the strategy, while the remainder of the Greens, all Labour members, and the independents representing Whitnash and Warwick voted in favour of advancing.