Alcester Neighbourhood Development Plan Review

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been notified by Alcester Town Council that the Alcester Neighbourhood Development Plan is currently being reviewed.

Alcester Town Council are proceeding to public consultation following approval of the changes proposed by the NDP Review Steering Group. Further information can be found on the Alcester Town Council website.

As part of the NDP review, Stratford-on-Avon District Council has completed an initial Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) screening exercise. SDC will consult on the need for a SEA and HRA with the Environment Agency, English Heritage and Natural England when the Alcester NDP consultation commences on 15 December 2025.

Alcester Neighbourhood Plan has now been 'made'

Stratford-on-Avon District Council resolved that the Alcester Neighbourhood Plan was 'made' on 12th July 2021. It is now formally part of the District Council's development plan and will be used to assist in making decisions on planning applications within the area.

• Made Version - July 2021

'Yes' vote at referendum

On Thursday 6 May 2021, voters in Alcester voted ‘yes' to the Neighbourhood Plan.

• 79.7% (1548 people) of those voting said ‘Yes'
• 20.3% (394 people) of those voting said ‘No'
• The turnout was 39.4%.

Plan to proceed to referendum

The Alcester Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined between October 2019 and January 2020. The District Council received the Examiner's report on 13 January 2020. The Examiner's report recommended that, subject to some proposed modifications, the Plan should proceed to referendum. The District Council agreed with the Examiner's report and has endorsed the Plan to proceed to a referendum to be held on Thursday 6 May 2021.

The polling stations will be at:

• Alcester Methodist Church, Priory Road Alcester, B49 5DX
• Alcester Guide and Scout Centre, 28 Moorfield Road, Alcester, B49 5DA
• Eric Payne Community Centre, St Faiths Road, Alcester, B49 6AG

The question on the ballot paper will be as follows:

“Do you want Stratford-on-Avon District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Alcester to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

A number of documents (referred to as ‘specified documents' in the Neighbourhood Planning regulations) are listed below to assist voters.

Specified Documents

• Referendum version of the Alcester Neighbourhood Development Plan
• Independent Examiner's Report
• Schedule of responses to the Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 16)
• District Council's Decision Statement (responses to proposed modifications)
• Information for Voters' booklet

Examiner's Questions

The examiner asked for clarification from Alcester Town Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council on a number of matters following a preliminary review of the document and its evidence base. The letter can be viewed below.

• Examiner's Questions - November 2019

The response of Alcester Town Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council to the Examiner's initial questions is provided in the following document.

• Alcester Town Council and Stratford District Council response letter to Examiner

The following documents also form part of Alcester Town Council's response, and are referenced in the above response.

• Document 1 - Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Leaflet
• Document 2 - Map

Examination

Following completion of the Regulation 16 (Formal Submission) consultation in July this year, the Alcester Neighbourhood Plan was sent for examination by an independent examiner. The Examiner's letter confirming how he intends to conduct the Examination can be read below.

• Alcester NDP - Examiner's Letter - October 2019

Formal Submission consultation

In accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), Stratford-on-Avon District Council held a public consultation on the Submission Draft of the Alcester Neighbourhood Development Plan prior to its submission for Independent Examination. The consultation ran from 30 May until 5.00pm on Friday 12 July 2019.

The Submission Draft Plan and associated consultation documents can be viewed below:

• Alcester NDP - Submission Version - March 2019

Supporting Documents

• Basic Conditions Statement - March 2019
• Core Documents List
• Consultation Statement - April 2019

Consultation Statement Appendices

• Appendix 1 - Stage 1 initial Questionnaire
• Appendix 2 - Stage 1 Questionnaire results
• Appendix 3 - Where we are now leaflet June 2014
• Appendix 4 - Our Alcester Roadshow poster
• Appendix 5 - Our Alcester stage 2 roadshow results
• Appendix 6 - Our Alcester Business questionnaire
• Appendix 7 - Where we are now leaflet November 2014
• Appendix 8 - Our Alcester Schools questionnaire
• Appendix 9 - Older Persons questionnaire
• Appendix 10 - Alcester NP Stage 1 Consultation Report
• Appendix 11 - Our Alcester household questionnaire
• Appendix 12 - ANDP questionnaire Results
• Appendix 13 - ANDP questionnaire results Newsletter 2015
• Appendix 14 - Infrastructure Parking forum 2017
• Appendix 15 - Alcester HNS Survey form July 2017
• Appendix 16 - Alcester HNS Report Sept 2017
• Appendix 17 - Emerging Policies Document Sept 2017
• Appendix 18 - Analysis Table Emerging Policy Document
• Appendix 19 - Summary of comments Emerging Policies
• Appendix 20 - Issues v Objectives Policies 14.08.18
• Appendix 21 - Collated responses to consultees
• Appendix 22 - Alcester NDP summary document
• Appendix 23 - Alcester NDP Reg 14 advert - Herald

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)

• SEA and HRA Screening Document - December 2018
• Stratford District Council conclusion on SEA Screening - March 2019

Pre-Submission Draft consultation

The Pre-Submission Draft of the Alcester Neighbourhood Plan was published for a six week period of consultation between 29 September 2018 and 16 November 2018 in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

• The District Council's comments on the Plan following endorsement at Cabinet on 10 December 2018.

Neighbourhood Area designation

The Alcester Neighbourhood Plan Area was designated on 13 January 2014. Alcester Parish Council was the relevant body that applied to the District Council for designation. The area application documents can be found below:

• Alcester Neighbourhood Area Application - September 2013
• Alcester Neighbourhood Plan Area Map - September 2013
• Alcester Neighbourhood Plan Area Report - January 2014
• Alcester Area Designation confirmation - January 2014

Find out more

• Back to main neighbourhood planning page

This page can be accessed quickly using the short link www.stratford.gov.uk/alcesternp