THE leader of Stratford district council has re-affirmed the authority’s commitment to maintaining the green belt between Redditch and Studley.
Speaking after the authority had agreed its Core Strategy – the planning blueprint for sustainable future development in the district up to 2031 – Councillor Chris Saint said: “The Green Belt between Studley and Redditch contributes to the purpose for which it was established. It is protected by the district council and is not under any threat.”
His comments come as developers in Redditch look to creep ever closer with plans to build at the back of the Alexandra Hospital and Winyates Green as well as further up the A435 at the Eastern Gateway on Gorcott Hill.
However under the Core Strategy approved by Stratford on Monday a key commitment was to protection of the Green Belt as well as protecting the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from inappropriate development.
Coun Justin Kerridge (Con, Studley & M/Green) said: “All along the National Policy Planning Framework has maintained the Green Belt and it has been well protected both nationally and locally.
“The housing allocation for Studley is remarkably low and in fact in the Green Belt review that was done both Studley and Alcester came in for special consideration.”
The passing of the Core Strategy is a major milestone for the council, earning it praise as a ‘front runner’ from the planning inspector and means it now has an up-to-date development plan that will form the starting point for the determination of planning applications.
Coun Saint added: “Stratford district has reached a key stage in its planning history. This is what we have been working towards – providing the planning vision for the next 15 years across the district.”
Highlights of the Core Strategy include:
Housing requirement – given the scale of growth involved, acceptance that it should include new settlements (now agreed at Gaydon Lighthorne Health and Long Marston Airfield) as well as dispersal to a significant number of existing towns and villages.
It also includes strategic employment allocations for Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Lagonda at Gaydon and allocations for employment land at Stratford, Alcester and Southam.
