Stratford-on-Avon District housing figure agreed

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has today, Monday 5 September unanimously recommended that 8,000 homes be built across the District over 20 years (from 2008 to 2028).

The proposed housing growth figure follows the publication of two key independent reports which provide evidence for the District's housing numbers and employment land requirements that will be used as part of the emerging Core Strategy.

Councillor Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “The reports form a significant piece of work and are 2 parts of the complete jigsaw that will go towards the development of the Core Strategy.  The reports have been carefully studied and we have to look at what our residents want and the type of homes needed for them to live and work in the District.

“We would like to encourage affordable family homes with the building of more three bedroom housing as well as the provision of extra care accommodation.  We also want to re-use brown field sites in preference to new green field sites and also take this opportunity to review our policy of redundant rural buildings.

“In coming to a decision, The Cabinet has estimated a lower net immigration with a need to preserve the special nature of our District, whilst protecting our countryside for future generations.  There will always be a natural need for new homes in any community but there is no need for mass building in Stratford-upon-Avon and any new housing should be dispersed across the District, especially in rural settlements."

The Cabinet also received the Employment Land study which provides a comprehensive and robust basis for considering the amount, types and broad location of additional employment land in the District from 2008 to 2028.  It will now inform the preparation of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

The Cabinet decision will now influence the emerging planning policies to be published for consultation in January 2012.

• This amounts to around 400 new build properties each year.
• 545 new build properties have already been delivered in the District during the period 2008-2011, and taking into account dwellings under construction and additional commitments, leaves a balance of 5,600 to be sought through the Core Strategy.