Upper Lighthorne is a new, purpose-built settlement located to the east and north of Lighthorne Heath, within Stratford-on-Avon District. The development is being delivered over a number of phases and is designed to become a thriving, sustainable community with homes, services, green spaces and facilities to support everyday life.
Planned as a distinct settlement rather than an extension of an existing village, Upper Lighthorne plays an important role in meeting housing and infrastructure needs across South Warwickshire.
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Community Facilities and Infrastructure
As the settlement grows, significant investment is being made in local infrastructure and services, supported through planning obligations requiring the developers to provide or pay towards such provisions.
Village Centre and Community Facilities
A future village centre will provide the heart of Upper Lighthorne and is planned to include:
- A community hub - view the timescale for delivery of the community hub here
- GP practice (St Wulfstan)
- Space for neighbourhood policing
Stratford-on-Avon District Council is working in partnership with the NHS, Warwickshire Police, local councils and residents to ensure these facilities respond to the needs of the community.
Warwickshire County Council are also delivering a replacement school for the existing Lighthorne Heath Primary School that will be within the village centre and will allow for the expansion of the school as the settlement grows.
The outline planning permission for the site allows for a range of commercial uses to be delivered including a large food store, children's nursery, café and other retail and commercial elements.
The northern part of the new settlement also includes a Community Hall and two small retail units, one of which is currently proposed to house a temporary GP facility (St Wulfstan) up until the point that the main GP building is available for use in the village centre.
Open Spaces Recreation and Leisure
Plans for Upper Lighthorne include:
- Play areas throughout the whole settlement
- Outdoor and Indoor Sports facilities both in the northern part of the site and on land to the west of Lighthorne Heath village
- Public open spaces, green corridors and areas for nature
- Allotments and informal recreation spaces
These elements are designed to support health, wellbeing and social connection
Roles and Responsibilities
The delivery of Upper Lighthorne involves a number of organisations, each with specific responsibilities to ensure that homes, infrastructure and services are provided in a coordinated way.
|
Organisation |
Main responsibilities |
Key infrastructure and services |
|
Stratford-on-Avon District Council |
Planning authority; securing developer contributions; delivering community facilities; facilitating social cohesion |
Planning permissions, Section 106 agreements, community hub provision, support to the emerging community |
|
Warwickshire County Council |
County-level services and infrastructure |
Roads and public transport, education facilities, public health, social services |
|
Developers and landowners |
Delivering development in line with permissions |
New homes, on-site roads, drainage, open space, play areas, affordable housing (managed by Registered Providers) |
|
NHS partners Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) |
Planning and commissioning of healthcare services |
GP practice healthcare provision (St Wulfstan) |
|
Warwickshire Police |
Community safety and neighbourhood policing |
Local policing facilities within the community hub |
|
Upper Lighthorne Town Council |
Representing residents; managing local amenities |
Community engagement, local spaces and facilities |
|
Upper Lighthorne Community Champion |
Supporting and representing the local community |
Community engagement and support |
Who to contact
If you have questions about Upper Lighthorne, the most appropriate organisation to contact will depend on the nature of your enquiry:
- Primary School Construction (Warwickshire County Council): Mark Evershed - markevershed@warwickshire.gov.uk
- Village Centre Commercial Buildings (RPG): Victoria Walker - victoria.walker@rpgproperty.co.uk
- Village Centre Commercial Buildings (Hinton Group): info@hintongroup.co.uk
- Village Centre Community Hub, including GP, Police Safer Neighbourhood office facilities & community centre (Stratford-on-Avon District Council): projects@stratford-dc.gov.uk
- Windmill View Community Hub (Homes England): Ragu Sittambalam - Ragu.Sittambalam@homesengland.gov.uk
- Temporary and long term healthcare facility (Homes England & St Wulfstan): cwicb.istwulfstan@nhs.net
- Management Company (Trust Green): Customer.care@trustgreen.com
Planning applications updates
View live planning application updates on our website here
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Village Centre Design Brief been approved?
Yes, the Village Centre Design Brief is approved and can be viewed via the District Council's E-Planning Portal by putting in the reference 15/00976/OUT > click on Documents > Select Category > CONDITIONS 013 > choose School Design Brief 19 December 2025 version E-Planning
Has the School Design Brief been approved?
Yes, the School Design Brief is approved and can be viewed via the District Council's E-Planning Portal by putting in the reference 15/00976/OUT > click on Documents > Select Category > CONDITIONS 014 > choose Village Centre Design Brief 24 October 2024 version E-Planning
Has the Primary School planning application been approved?
Yes, the Primary School location, design and details have been approved and can be viewed via the District Council's E-Planning Portal by putting in the reference 25/01382/REM E-Planning
Who is responsible for delivering the Primary School and when will it be open?
Warwickshire County Council as Education Authority are responsible for building and opening the school. It is understood (as at April 2026) that the school construction will start in early 2027 with a target date for completion of Easter 2028. For further information please contact WCC.
What facilities will the Village Centre area have?
Aside from the Primary School there is also permission in principle to provide a Community Hub, a food store, a café, a nursery, a care home, residential housing and the option for other commercial premises.
What will the Community Hub provide and when will it be open?
The Community Hub is a joint project, led by Stratford-on-Avon District Council in partnership with the Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Integrated Care Board (for Healthcare provision) and Warwickshire Police. The final details of the services and facilities within the Hub are yet to be agreed but liaison with the local population and stakeholders (such as Upper Lighthorne Town Council) has taken place and will continue before a final decision is taken on what will be provided. The District Council is working with the owners, promoters and other developers of the village centre area to deliver the Hub but no date can currently be given for this to open.
When will the food store, café, nursery and other commercial uses be open?
The delivery of commercial premises is affected by market forces and financial viability factors that are outside the control of the District Council.
We are however working closely with the landowners, promoters and developers of the village centre area to facilitate provision of commercial premises as soon as possible. We hope to provide a Timetable of Key Events to give further information on development delivery in the near future.
Are there any other community or commercial facilities in the area?
Yes, Lighthorne Heath village has a Village Hall and a shop. Lighthorne village has a pub, church and Village Hall. Gaydon has a Pub, church community shop and Village Hall.
The northern part of the Upper Lighthorne new settlement which is owned by Homes England will have a Community Hub and two retail units, one of which has permission to be used as a temporary Primary Healthcare (GP) facility which is hoped to be run by St Wulfstan Surgery and be open by early 2027. Avon Valley Bowls Club is also another community venue.
When will the Doctors Surgery be open?
We are working closely with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to ensure that a GP surgery is part of the Community Hub in the village centre area but cannot currently provide a clear timeframe for this delivery.
There is however permission for a building on the Homes England land to the north of the village centre to be used as a temporary Primary Healthcare (GP) facility which will be run by St Wulfstan Surgery and be open by early 2027. Homes England, the developers and the ICB/St Wulfstan Surgery will deliver this facility.
Page last updated on 22/05/2026