The Need for New Homes.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council is currently preparing a joint Local Plan with Warwick District Council. In total, the Councils are required to deliver 54,925 new homes over the period 2025 – 2050. This equates to c. 2,197 new homes per year.
Within the Regulation 19 draft version of this plan, land to the east of Southam forms part of allocation reference SOU.1, which in total comprises 3,122 homes to be delivered across three parcels of land. An extract from the plan showing these land parcels is provided below.
Specifically, the allocation requires the following to be delivered:
Minimum of 3,122 new homes, to be delivered within the plan period).
2.8 hectares of non-strategic employment land.
13 pitches for Gypsies and Travellers (shown with a red star on the below plan)
3 no. primary schools (2 forms of entry initially with scope for expansion to 3FE).
1 no. new Secondary School (expansion of Southam College by 1 FE will also be required).
2 local centres, incorporating convenience retail, health, and community facilities.
Sports provision in accordance with Policy ID.15.
A network of multi-functional green spaces.
Provision of on-site bus infrastructure.
Active travel links to Southam Town Centre.
The Council is proposing to submit the Plan for independent examination before the end of 2026. It is anticipated that the examination will take place throughout 2027 with adoption in spring 2028.
Given the advanced stage of the Plan, Barwood Land intend to submit a planning application at the end of this year, with the determination to run in parallel to the Local Plan examination process. This is to ensure that the site starts delivering houses as soon as possible.
As you review our proposals, you will note that, despite the Local Plan indicating 13 pitches for Gypsies and Travellers on Barwood Land’s site (denoted by the red star in the plan above), this is not currently proposed to form part of the outline planning application.
The Council’s 2026 Gypsy, Traveller, Travelling Showpeople and Boat Dwellers Accommodation Needs Assessment identifies a need across South Warwickshire, but recommends meeting this need via (or connected with) existing sites. It does not identify a Southam-specific need and it is Barwood’s view that the evidence does not demonstrate that 13 pitches within SOU.1 are appropriate. Barwood Land would be interested to understand where the community feels these pitches should be located.