The Issues and Options Consultation Statement has now been published. Head to the Issues and Options page to find out more.

This page shows the technical assessments undertaken to inform the development of the South Warwickshire Local Plan. The technical evidence has been organised to correspond with the Guiding Principles to help show how each objective has been considered.

Meeting South Warwickshire's Sustainable Development Needs

Title

Scope Date completed

Retail and Town Centre Uses Study vol. 1

Retail and Town Centre Uses Study vol. 2

An assessment that looks at the vitality and viability of town centres, their role within South Warwickshire, the existing supply and future needs, the capacity of the centres to accommodate these need and advice on future approaches. The body of the report can be found in volume 1, and appendices in volume 2.

January 2024

The Green Belt in South Warwickshire

A topic paper providing an introduction to the purposes of Green Belt, and choosing sustainable locations for growth.

October 2023

Critique of Coventry and Warwickshire Green Belt Review methodology

A critique of the methodology used in the 2015 and 2016 Green Belt Review carried out in the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region.

September 2023

Housing & Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) – Covering Coventry and Warwickshire

To outline (independently) what the need for housing and economic growth requirements across South Warwickshire are, based on robust evidence. This takes into account a wealth of evidence such as population, household and economic growth projections in order to assess the need for housing and employment up to 2050. The HEDNA has taken account of the data from the census in 2021.

An updated version of the HEDNA correcting arithmetic errors in relation to Strategic B8, and updating paragraphs regarding student housing has subsequently been published.

November 2022

Issues and Options Sustainability Appraisal (SA)

This is an assessment of the significant environmental, social and economic effects of the Local Plan. At this stage, it looks specifically at the emerging options. Sustainability Appraisal work will be ongoing throughout the plan making process.

The Scoping Report represents the first stage of the SA process. It sets the context and objectives, establishes the baseline and decides on the scope of the main SA report.

November 2022

Urban Capacity Study

To provide an analysis of the potential urban capacity of South Warwickshire on previously developed land in the existing built-up areas. The capacity of the existing urban areas will give an indication of how much of the growth may be accommodated without the need to utilise greenfield land. October 2022
Spatial Growth Strategy workshop outcomes A summary of the stakeholder workshops which were run to help inform the refined spatial growth options. September 2022
Evolving the Spatial Growth Options - the story so far

This topic paper describes the process by which the spatial growth options evolved between the Scoping and Issues and Options consultations.

August 2022
Scoping and Call for sites Sustainability Appraisal – Preliminary assessment of Growth Options Assessment of the significant environmental, social and economic effects of the Local Plan. Additional Sustainability appraisals will be conducted as the plan progresses. February 2021
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment

An assessment to determine the need for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation across the South Warwickshire Area up to 2050.

In Progress

A resilient and Net Zero Carbon South Warwickshire

Title Scope Date completed

Climate Change Emissions Assessment

Climate Change Emissions Assessment - Erratum 6/2/23

This work will be ongoing throughout the plan-making process. At this stage it undertakes a high-level assessment of the emerging 5 spatial strategy options, and the policy options in the Issues and Options.

An erratum to this report has been published, dated 6th February 2023.

November 2022
Climate Change Baseline Report The Climate Change baseline report sets out the context and starting point for the two authorities in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation and identifies opportunities to embed climate change considerations into the Local Plan. September 2022
Climate Change Impact Assessment – Growth Options assessment

Assessment to determine the impact of development on climate change.

February 2021
Climate Change evidence

- Assessment to identify broad locations that would be suitable for renewable and decentralised energy sources.

- Consideration of land typologies that could be protected and/or allocated to minimise carbon emissions.

In Progress

A well-designed and beautiful South Warwickshire

Title Scope Date Created
Guide to existing housing densities in South Warwickshire A guide to provide context to discussions of housing density, by illustrating the densities seen in a range of neighbourhood types in South Warwickshire January 2023
Heritage Assessments Desktop review of existing heritage assets within settlements considered in the Settlement Design Analysis. To ensure that heritage opportunities and constraints are considered in developing spatial options and wider policy considerations. September 2022

A healthy, safe and inclusive South Warwickshire

Title Scope Date Completed
Issues and Options Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) An assessment to ensure that equal opportunities have been taken into account in all decision making. December 2022
Equalities Impact Assessment – initial screening assessment Assessment to ensure equal opportunities have been taken into account in all decision making. Additional Equalities Impact Assessments will be conducted as the plan progresses. March 2021
Health Impact Assessment – initial screening assessment This is a tool to identify and optimise the health and wellbeing impacts of the Plan. Additional Health Impact Assessments will be conducted as the plan progresses. February 2021
Playing Pitch Strategy To assess the need for playing pitches across South Warwickshire in quantitative and qualitative terms. In Progress

A well-connected South Warwickshire

Title Scope Date completed
Settlement Design Analysis An analysis that looks at the structure and design of existing settlements to help identify where growth might be best integrated. The study examines the street pattern of the settlement, any physical barriers to movement which exist, local infrastructure provision, and density ranges.
January 2023
Bus Accessibility Mapping To demonstrate the areas of South Warwickshire best served by bus routes to different types of destinations. Conversely to examine ‘gaps' in bus services. This is primarily aimed at examining the ‘Main Bus Route' growth option identified in the Scoping Consultation. April 2022
Transport Assessment This will set out the transport issues in relation to development and identify measures that can deal with the impacts of schemes in relation to all modes of
travel.
In Progress

A biodiverse and environmentally resilient South Warwickshire

Title Scope Date completed
Issues and Options Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) An assessment to determine the potential effects of the Plan on protected habitats. November 2022

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) – Part 1

Stratford-on-Avon District SFRA

Warwick District SFRA

An assessment which looks at all known sources of flooding that could affect existing or future development in an area. October 2022

Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Green Infrastructure Strategy

An update to the 2013 sub-regional green infrastructure strategy In Progress
Water Cycle Study

This assesses the constraints and demands future development will place on existing water services infrastructure including waste and supply. In Progress
Biodiversity baseline update An update to baseline data using satellite imagery data and follow up on the ground assessments. Being updated across Warwickshire County being led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust In Progress

Future Work

The following technical assessments are likely to be required to help inform later stages of the plan. Once completed they will be available to view on this page:

Title Scope

Housing, Employment and Town Centres

Affordable Housing

Viability study regarding different possible approaches to delivery of affordable housing, including possible locational assessments
HELAA (Housing and Economic land Availability Assessment A high level assessment which considers the quantity and quality of sites that could be developed for housing, employment or other uses.
Greater Birmingham and Black Country Housing Market Area Future Study on addressing the housing shortfall for the Greater Birmingham and Black Country Housing Market area
Locational Employment Study Obtaining evidence to get an understanding on where employers across South Warwickshire want to be located, to understand future demands and expectations.
Infrastructure Delivery Plan

This will set out the strategic infrastructure requirements in order to deliver growth planned for within the Plan. This will likely need to consider a range of infrastructure needs including health, education, utilities.

Site Delivery & Viability Studies An assessment to ensure that sites critical to delivering the strategic priorities of the Plan are deliverable and viable.
Sports, Leisure and Built Facilities Strategy An assessment of the current facilities within South Warwickshire and to identify the likely additional need to support the Plan's growth strategy
Tourism Accommodation Assessment An assessment of the current visitor accommodation stock within South Warwickshire and to identify the likely accommodation demand and trends through to 2050.
Tourism Destination Management Plan The current Plan runs to 2025 and there will be a need, working with Shakespeare's England as part of any reorganisation of tourism delivery at the regional strategic level to prepare an updated strategy to inform the Local Plan.
Climate Change
MET Office Climate Analysis Information specific to South Warwickshire on climate change probabilistic projections
Climate Change Evidence

- An assessment on what 'net zero carbon' means and looks like for new developments in South Warwickshire

- Consideration of how the Plan can address retrofitting existing buildings to minimise carbon emissions and enable buildings to adapt to climate changes

- Climate change impact assessment of policies within the plan

- Viability implications of both the preferred growth strategy and specific policies within the plan related to climate change mitigation and adaptation

- Assessment into the extent to which the Local Plan can assist with carbon sequestration

- Offsetting evidence to inform Local Plan policies

Environmental
Air Quality Assessment

An assessment to look at the air quality impacts of the proposals in the Plan on Air Quality Management Areas in South Warwickshire

Landscape Character Assessment An assessment undertaken to help identify various landscape types with a distinct character that is based on a recognisable pattern of elements, including
combinations of geology, landform, soils, vegetation, land use and human settlement.
Strategic Environmental Assessment / Sustainability Appraisal (SA/SEA) Ongoing assessment of the significant environmental, social and economic effects of the Local Plan.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Part 2 An assessment which looks at all known sources of flooding that could affect existing or future development in an area.
Health
Health Impact
Assessment (HIA)
This is a tool to identify and optimise the health and wellbeing impacts of the Plan
Equalities
Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) Ongoing assessment to ensure equal opportunities have been taken into account in all decision making.
Heritage
Built Heritage and Archaeology site selection and impact assessments An assessment of the heritage and archaeological impacts of any detailed growth strategy proposals and identify any possible mitigation opportunities.
Misc.
Design Codes Work to identify design parameters / codes which could be for the whole of South Warwickshire and/or strategic development sites or localities
Green Belt Study A review which provides evidence of how areas perform against the Green Belt purposes set out in National Policy. This can be used alongside other evidence when looking at potential changes to the Green Belt.

Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA)

A standard approach to the assessment of housing and employment sites is being applied across Coventry and Warwickshire and a public consultation in respect of this methodology concluded in December 2021.
This sub-regional HELAA methodology sets out a high-level framework for assessing potential locations/directions for growth, within which individual Local Planning Authorities can tailor specific criteria to respond to their local circumstances. The tailored South Warwickshire Local Plan HELAA was endorsed at the Joint Cabinet/Executive Committee on 10 March 2022.

The HELAA has not yet been produced for South Warwickshire. It is expected that this will happen prior to the Preferred Options consultation.