Salford Priors Parish Council Respond to SWLP Preferred Options Consultation

Please see below responses from Salford Priors Parish Council:

 Do you broadly support the proposals in the Vision and Strategic Objectives: South Warwickshire 2050 chapter? Yes

• Balanced and sustainable approach to growth is essential to ensure that new development meets the diverse needs of our local communities while maintaining the character of our area.
• It is also important to ensure that the accommodation needs of gypsy, traveller, and travelling show-people communities are met in suitable locations, with access to essential services and facilities.
• Any new development must be accompanied by appropriate investment in local infrastructure, including healthcare, education, and community services, to support both new and existing residents.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 3- Small Scale Development, Settlement Boundaries and Infill Development? Yes

• Balance the need for housing delivery with the protection of local housing needs and the appropriate scale of development for each settlement.
• Review of the settlement hierarchy should ensure that any reclassification reflects local infrastructure capacity, environmental constraints, and community sustainability.
• Neighbourhood Development Plans as a mechanism for allocating housing and employment land in smaller settlements is welcome, as it allows communities to shape development in a way that meets local needs.
• Site selection must consider local infrastructure, services, and environmental impact to prevent overdevelopment in inappropriate locations.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 5- Infrastructure Requirements and Delivery? Yes

• There must be stronger guarantees that these contributions will be sufficient, timely, and directly benefit the local area.
• Too often, infrastructure delivery lags behind housing development, placing increased strain on local roads, healthcare, schools, and public services before mitigations are in place.
• The A46 corridor must be carefully considered to ensure they provide genuine benefits to local communities, rather than simply facilitating through-traffic at the expense of local road networks and environmental quality.
• Any transport upgrades serve local needs first, rather than prioritising regional and national traffic movements.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 6- Safeguarding land for transport proposals? Yes

• Support, in principle, the proposed road and rail projects, their successful implementation depends on a robust and fully costed delivery plan that prioritises local needs and mitigates potential negative impacts.
• Relief road projects, require thorough evaluation to ensure they provide long-term congestion relief without exacerbating environmental and community impacts.
• A fully costed and transparent delivery plan, including clear timelines, funding sources, and impact assessments, is crucial to ensuring these infrastructure projects deliver real benefits for Stratford-on-Avon District and the wider county.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 5- Infrastructure Requirements and Delivery? Yes

• There must be stronger guarantees that these contributions will be sufficient, timely, and directly benefit the local area.
• Too often, infrastructure delivery lags behind housing development, placing increased strain on local roads, healthcare, schools, and public services before mitigations are in place.
• the A46 corridor must be carefully considered to ensure they provide genuine benefits to local communities, rather than simply facilitating through-traffic at the expense of local road networks and environmental quality.
• Any transport upgrades serve local needs first, rather than prioritising regional and national traffic movements.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 7- Green Belt? Other

• SWLP must fully reflect the significant changes introduced in the 2024 NPPF, particularly the new concept of “Grey Belt” land.
• While the reclassification of certain Green Belt land may provide flexibility for development, it is essential that this does not lead to an automatic presumption in favour of development.
• SWLP must continue to uphold the fundamental principles of Green Belt policy—preventing urban sprawl, protecting the countryside, and encouraging regeneration of brownfield sites within urban areas first.
• SWLP to direct growth to the most sustainable locations while maintaining the integrity of the wider Green Belt.

 Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction-8- Density? Other

• Setting clear density guidelines will help create balanced, attractive, and sustainable places while ensuring that new developments respond appropriately to their local context. Any policy should provide flexibility for site-specific considerations while ensuring that density levels support long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
• Density policies should also prevent excessive land consumption and sprawl, encouraging well-designed, sustainable growth that contributes positively to rural communities.

The policy needs to carefully managed to avoid overdevelopment, ensure high-quality design, and maintain adequate green space and infrastructure capacity.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy- A- Providing the Right Size of Homes? Yes

• Ensuring that new homes are appropriately sized to meet local demand is crucial for delivering sustainable and inclusive communities.
• Flexibility should be maintained to allow for well-evidenced exceptions where different layouts may better serve specific local needs, such as single-occupancy or specialist housing.
• The commitment to Accessible Living Standards is welcomed
• To effectively meet local demand, policies should be supported by up-to-date evidence on demographic trends and housing needs, ensuring that new homes reflect both current and future requirements of the community.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction 9 – Using Brownfield Land for Development? Yes

• By prioritising brownfield land for development is a positive step toward reducing pressure on greenfield sites and making efficient use of previously developed land.
• Ensuring that brownfield sites outside urban areas are assessed for their sustainability aligns with the need for well-planned growth that supports infrastructure, services, and accessibility.
• Plan proposals must be supported by robust infrastructure planning and service provision to avoid creating isolated or car-dependent communities.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction-31- Sustainable Transport Accessibility? Yes

Future developments should prioritise sustainable transport by integrating dedicated cycle lanes, pedestrian paths, and well-connected public transport. Secure cycle parking, robust EV charging infrastructure, and public transport links to key locations should be included. Measures to minimise car dependency, such as car-sharing schemes and reduced parking provisions, are essential. Infrastructure should support individuals with disabilities, ensure equitable access, and promote affordable public transport for all. These steps will foster an inclusive, accessible, and environmentally responsible community. For the Parish of Salford Priors ensuring that public transport links effectively serve the towns of Evesham, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Honeybourne Railway Station is essential.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction-34-Vale of Evesham Control Zone? Yes

Retention of the Vale of Evesham Control Zone is essential:

• The policy remains necessary to manage business-related HGV movements effectively and mitigate environmental and infrastructure-related concerns. Retaining the policy will ensure continued protection for the region’s residents and road networks.
• The policy seeks to control the number of additional HGV movements within the area resulting from business developments.
• The policy thereby seeks to reduce the impact of HGV vehicles on local communities.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction-38 – Biodiversity Net Gain?
Other

Support for the 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirement and exploring a higher target to enhance local biodiversity. A 30-year habitat management commitment is essential for long-term ecological benefits. While on-site BNG should be prioritised, we recognise challenges for smaller developments. Off-site biodiversity units should be secured locally first, avoiding reliance on statutory biodiversity credits, which risk biodiversity loss within our parish. # We advocate for community-led conservation, habitat restoration, and rewilding projects to strengthen local ecosystems. Policies should be practical, enforceable, and tailored to rural needs to ensure effective long-term environmental stewardship.

 Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction-42-Trees, Hedges and Woodland?
Yes

Support the inclusion of a local tree policy that prioritizes the retention of existing trees, woodlands, and hedgerows, recognising their invaluable ecological, environmental, and community benefits that take decades to fully develop. In supporting sustainable growth, all development proposals should be required to incorporate new tree planting to enhance sites, contributing to the green infrastructure. It should seek to address disparities in tree canopy cover across the district foster, healthier, more diverse, climate-resilient tree population. By working inclusively with Local Communities / Parish Councils, ensuring that tree preservation and planting efforts reflect the unique character and needs of each area.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Policy Direction 43e Allotments, Orchards and Community Gardens?
Other

Our rural parish supports the retention of existing allotments, recognising their value for food security, well-being, and biodiversity. The NPPF (para 96) highlights the need for healthy, inclusive places, emphasising allotments and green spaces in reducing health inequalities. New developments should prioritise on-site food-growing spaces, with off-site alternatives only where fully justified. Orchards should include local and climate-resilient species with long-term management plans. Biodiversity should be enhanced through ponds, hedgerows, and bee-friendly habitats. Developments must also promote walkability and cycling to ensure accessibility and protect our parish’s rural identity and sustainability.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction-48- Protecting and Enhancing Landscape Character?
Yes

Salford Priors as a rural parish prioritises protecting the landscape by ensuring development respects local character, heritage, and tranquillity. Proposals must avoid landscape harm, with refusal being the default unless an evidenced local housing need justifies it. High-quality landscaping is required to mitigate impacts, prevent coalescence, and enhance amenity. Major developments may require Landscape Visual Impact Assessments, and a minimum five-year maintenance plan should be explored. The NPPF (paras. 135 & 187) supports visually attractive, well-integrated designs that protect valued landscapes and biodiversity. Evidence should be gathered to ensure future development remains appropriate, sensitive, and sustainable.

Do you agree with the approach laid out in Draft Policy Direction-49- Agricultural Land?
Yes

Support protecting the best and most versatile (BMV) agricultural land to ensure local food security, sustainability, and reduced reliance on imports. Lower-grade land (Grades 3b, 4, and 5) is more suitable for non-food crops and renewable energy projects. However, strict protection may limit rural housing and infrastructure growth, requiring clear justification for any development on BMV land. The cumulative loss of farmland should be monitored, with brownfield redevelopment prioritised. We advocate for balanced policies that support sustainable development, rural livelihoods, and environmental resilience, ensuring farmland remains a valuable long-term resource.