EW STRATFORD-ON-AVON

CASE STUDY

Expert Witness

Stratford on Avon, UK

Project Type
Examination in Public
Client
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Location
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK
Keywords
  • Spatial options assessment
  • Core strategy
  • Strategic allocations
  • Airfield redevelopment 

Sustainability Appraisal of a Core Strategy for a large rural district which has attracted considerable developer interest due to its location in the West Midlands and connectivity with key economic centres of Birmingham and London.

Lepus represented Stratford-on-Avon District Council at Examination in Public (EiP) as an expert witness for the SA process that was undertaken alongside preparation of the Stratford-on-Avon District Core Strategy. The EiP was a well-attended event with strong numbers of representations and attendees in the public gallery. Several national house building developers were represented, with extensive attendant legal support. Statutory bodies and non-governmental bodies also attended to contribute to the hearings which took place over four weeks.

Procedural matters in relation to the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) process were discussed in the early stages of the EiP before examination of the site specific analysis. It yielded topics of discussion in relation to landscape quality (the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), cultural heritage in terms of listed buildings (Burton Dassett Windmill and Beacon, Grade II Listed) and ridge and furrow field systems, and biodiversity matters (Racecourse Meadow SSSI).

The first round of hearings concluded that further work was necessary in terms of revisiting the housing numbers contained in the plan. This necessitated further SA work, all of which was conducted using the same sound SA methodology that has been used in earlier stages of the process. A second round of hearings was held a year later before the plan was subsequently found to be sound by the Inspector; and approved and adopted by the Council in July 2016.  

The Examination in Public is led by a Planning Inspector who will identify the matters and issues affecting the plan’s soundness. These will provide the focus for the examination. To find out more about EiP, please visit our services page or click here.

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