Next Steps For The South Warwickshire Local Plan

Joint Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council Release:

At the individual Full Council meetings of Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils that took place on Wednesday 15 July, Councillors gave their recommendation for the next stage of the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) to be presented to the public for consultation, following agreed revisions in several key areas.

This Regulation 19 consultation is being undertaken on behalf the Government’s Planning Inspector and is focused on specific issues, namely whether the plan meets legal requirements, shows effective joint working between councils and has been properly tested in terms of soundness. It gives residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to have a final say before the document it is submitted to the government for independent examination.

The South Warwickshire Local Plan will guide where new homes, businesses, employment and infrastructure are located across the combined Stratford and Warwick District boundary areas up to 2050. It aims to ensure that development is carefully planned and supported by the necessary infrastructure including roads, schools, health facilities and green spaces to meet the future needs of local communities.

Both Councils have been working on the development of the new South Warwickshire Local Plan since 2021, there has been extensive public engagement at every stage, with the latest Preferred Options consultation in 2025 generating more than 22,000 responses.

The Period of Representations (Regulation 19) is now live and runs for a period of 7 weeks from Tuesday 21 July 2026 until 23:59pm on Tuesday 8 September 2026. During this time, any person or organisation may make representations.

The consultation document and supporting information is available to view on the SWLP Regulation 19 webpage.

Printed copies of the consultation will be made available at various locations.

In person events:

• 5th August 4-7pm – Southam Community Centre
• 10th August 4-7 pm – Bidford Parish Council Meeting Room
• 12th August 4-7pm – Talisman Square, Kenilworth
• 20th August 4-7pm – Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon
• 26th August 4-7pm – The Bandstand, Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa

Please note that the above events are drop-in sessions.

Online events

• 30th July 2026 12:30-2pm Registration required
• A further date for an online event to be confirmed.

Responses to this consultation may be submitted in the following ways:

• Through the SWLP online consultation portal
• Via email to swlp@stratford-dc.gov.uk
• Or by post to Planning Policy Team, Stratford on Avon District Council, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HX.