Stratford's planning blueprint is finally rubber stamped

THE long-awaited core strategy for the Stratford-on-Avon district was finally adopted this afternoon, Monday – protecting the area at last from the so-called “rapacious developers”.

Approval was given to the strategy – which will form the basis of planning policy up to 2031 – at a special meeting of Stratford District Council.

Councillors voted in favour of the strategy by 30 to 2.

The two dissenting councillors were Cllr Christopher Mills (Cons, Kineton) and Cllr Molly Giles (Cons, Shottery).

Cllr Mills voted against because of his objections to the scheme for a 3,000-home new town at Gaydon and Lighthorne Heath (GLH) and Cllr Giles because of her complaints about alleged lack of consultation over proposals for a relief road through Luddington as part of the project to build 3,500 homes on Long Marston Airfield.

Protesters from Luddington staged a demonstration outside the district council’s headquarters in Stratford ahead of the key council meeting.

Until now the Stratford district has been vulnerable to developers because of its lack of a new Local Plan and arguments over whether it has had a five-year supply of housing land.

As a result, planning officers have often granted appeals by the builders against refusals of planning applications by the district council’s planning committees.

For a full report and reaction see Thursday’s .