'Serious issues' remain with housing plan

"Serious issues" remain with the plan outlining future developments in part of Warwickshire, a council leader said.

The South Warwickshire Local Plan, being drawn up by Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon district councils, must include the land set aide for more than 55,000 homes to be built on, before it is submitted to the government by the end of 2026.

The authorities recently delayed consultation on the final version after a planning inspector said there were "very small margins of comfort" in the proposed housing numbers.

During a recent meeting, Warwick District Council was told the intention was to have both councils approve the document by mid-July.

Warwick District Council leader Ian Davison, of the Green Party, said the local plan, which would detail developments in south Warwickshire up to 2050, had been his main focus.

He described the Labour government's housing numbers for the area as "absurd" but said land needed to be allocated.

There were still "serious issues to be addressed", Davison added, including the potential success of new developments, and he said the process to draw up the plan was "getting very close to the wire".

"I do apologise for the extra work and meetings for us all," he told Wednesday's meeting.

"However, I trust you all agree that the local plan has such a profound effect on the lives of many of our residents that we must do all we can to improve it."

The final version of the local plan was due to be published on Friday and would then go before Warwick District Council's scrutiny panel on 13 July.

A joint-committee made up of councillors from Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon would then meet to discuss the document on 14 July.

It was then hoped the plan would be approved by Warwick on 15 July and Stratford-on-Avon on 16 July, before it was submitted to the government's planning inspectors.

Councillor Chris King, of Warwick District Council, said there was a "huge amount of work" going on and described it as a "moving feast".

"We have to try to get the plan through in the best way we can and I think we are making great strides at the moment," he added.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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