Whitnash

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section introduces the South Warwickshire Local Plan, prepared jointly by Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils to guide where and how new homes, jobs and infrastructure are built up to 2050. It describes an area of 488 square miles, mostly open countryside, containing towns such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa. Nearly a third of the area lies in the West Midlands Green Belt and 8% falls within the Cotswolds National Landscape. The area is a gateway to the West Midlands, with its strongest links to Coventry.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section describes South Warwickshire today. The area covers 488 square miles of mainly open countryside across the two districts, including towns such as Alcester, Kenilworth, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. It has good motorway and rail links between London and Birmingham, and 8% of it lies within the Cotswolds National Landscape. Nearly a third sits in the West Midlands Green Belt, which is designed to prevent urban sprawl. The area's strongest ties are with Coventry, as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out the full housing allocation schedule under Policy DS.7, covering dozens of settlements from Alcester to Whitnash with indicative minimum capacities and requirements on flood risk, landscape, heritage and access. It also lists custom and self-build sites, allocations carried forward from adopted local and neighbourhood plans, and a Traveller site at Harbury Lane providing permanent pitches, transit bays and a support hub once Leamington Football Club relocates. The justification explains proposals including the Stratford-upon-Avon Gateway, Studley regeneration, Chandos Street, Warwick's cafe quarter, St Mary's Lands and Myton Community Stadium.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section introduces support for development on land the plan has not specifically allocated, using a settlement hierarchy. Development is supported in principle within the built-up boundaries of the four Main Urban Areas: Kenilworth, Royal Leamington Spa and Whitnash, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. Small and medium schemes are supported in eight Main Service Centres, including Alcester, Southam and Wellesbourne, while only small-scale proposals are supported in a longer list of Local Service Centres such as Barford and Harbury.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets a settlement hierarchy for proposals on unallocated land. Development is supported in principle within the built-up boundaries of four Main Urban Areas: Kenilworth, Royal Leamington Spa and Whitnash, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. Small and medium-scale schemes are supported in eight Main Service Centres, including Alcester, Bidford-on-Avon, Shipston-on-Stour and Southam. Small-scale development only is supported in a long list of Local Service Centres, from Alderminster to Tredington.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section gives the full Policy DS.8 and its justification. Beyond the urban areas and service centres, Rural Service Centres, villages within the Green Belt or Cotswolds National Landscape, are limited to infilling only, and in the wider countryside proposals are judged against Policies DS.9 to DS.12. The plan relies on a small amount of windfall development, meaning schemes on sites it has not identified, and this policy provides the flexibility to handle them. Developers are expected to engage with the local community before submitting applications.