Infrastructure Protection

Infrastructure Protection Development within the areas protected for the transport infrastructure highlighted on the Policies Map will not be permitted where it could inhibit the effective delivery of the following schemes: A. Railway Related Schemes • Stratford to Honeybourne former railway – protecting the route of the former railway south of Stratford-upon-Avon to Honeybourne to facilitate re-opening • Long Marston Rail Centre - retain operational rail connection to the national rail network and safeguard the route as part of any wider re- instatement of the railway to Stratford-upon-Avon • Land protected for the provision of a railway station at Long Marston Airfield (Proposal LMA), adjacent to the former Stratford to Honeybourne line. • Widening of the rail corridor to double track the section of line between Coventry and Leamington stations, via Kenilworth, including a second platform at Kenilworth station. B. Sustainable Travel Initiatives • Broad Locations for sustainable transport facilities to serve people travelling into Coventry and the Warwick / Leamington / Kenilworth / Stratford-upon- Avon areas including: • A Multi Modal Transport Interchange to serve the University of Warwick and the wider Strategic Growth Area (South of Coventry), including provision for Park and Ride and associated bus services, an active travel hub, and future proofing for Very Light Rail and a heavy rail station on the Leamington Spa to Coventry rail line; and • A Park and Ride facility to serve the north of Leamington Spa (two areas of search are currently allocated on land near Bericote roundabout and Blackdown roundabout). An area of search for a P&R facility on the southern side of Stratford- upon-Avon in the vicinity of the Rosebird Centre, with 500 car parking spaces as shown on the Policies Map. • Former dis-used railway lines that have been identified in the Warwickshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan as potential future cross county active travel routes. C. Strategic Road Network In line with the application of the transport hierarchy, other mitigations will be considered before these, but land will be safeguarded for the following schemes: • Junction of A46 and A422 Alcester Road (Wildmoor) • Junction of A46 and A3400 Birmingham Road (Bishopton) • M42 Widening – land either side of Junction 3a to help reduce congestion where the M40 joins the M42 • Shipston Road / Seven Meadows Road – roundabout and approach widening to facilitate development south of Stratford-upon-Avon • M40 Junction 15 – widening of approaches to the junction and to the Warwick Bypass / Stratford Road roundabout. This is also dependent on mitigation at M40 J13/J14 through delivery of BIT.2. • Marraway (A46/Warwick Road) • Stoneleigh Interchange • A46 Billesley Crossroads • A46/A422 Evesham Road Roundabout • A46 Stanks – Capacity enhancements to ensure continued safe operation of the junction and minimise risk of blocking back on to A46; land requirements remain unknown until further design development. D. Major Link Development Roads (the Concept Masterplans provide more detail on these) • STR.2 – additional link to provide connectivity between the A3400 Shipston Road and A422 Banbury Road (subject to confirmation following current modelling). Upgrade of Pimlico Lane to improve connections to Wellesbourne Road. • Wellesbourne to M40 Junction 13 – provision of an improved link (using sections of the B4087 and routes through development parcels). This is predicated on: Improvements at M40 J13/J14 emerging through BIT.2, and Delivery of WEL.1 and WEL.6 at Wellesbourne. Some third party land may be required; alignments are still to be defined. • Connection from A3400 Birmingham Road (north of Henley-in-Arden) to the A4189 Hunger Hill / Henley Road, west of Henley-in-Arden – to facilitate delivery of HEN. • KEN.1 (south of Kenilworth) – link between Rouncil Lane and the C24 Warwick Road. • HAT / Dark Lane – major improvement extending beyond the site boundary from the B4439 Hockley Road to the A4189 Henley Road. • WAR.1 – link from the A4189 Hampton Road to Old Budbrooke Road through NSGL land at Stanks Farm. This would provide enhanced sustainable transport connections, including to Warwick Parkway and reduce impacts through Hampton Magna, Hampton on the Hill and at the Parkway junction. • BIT.2 – major infrastructure improvements to provide a new consolidated M40 junction to replace Junctions 13 and 14, with associated connections to the A452 and B4100. • Delivery of a new multimodal transport corridor through the COV .1 allocation area, linking Westwood Heath Road with the A46 Stoneleigh Junction. • STO1/3 - Stoneleigh Business Park Strategic Access Improvements / Stoneleigh Bypass. • BID.1 - Delivery of a link between B439 Stratford Road, and B4085 Honeybourne Road, through BID.1. This link will include the proposed new bridge and is intended to reduce traffic through the village centre and over the existing Bidford Bridge. E. Other Local Highway Schemes Local highway improvements identified as necessary through the Strategic Transport Assessment. Development proposals within or adjoining these schemes will be permitted where: 1. They would not prevent or materially hinder the determination of the final alignment or detailed design of the scheme 2. They would not prejudice or unreasonably constrain the delivery, operation or maintenance of the scheme and its associated mitigation; and 3. They are temporary, reversible or otherwise compatible development and would not hinder the future implementation of the scheme. Policy Justification 3.2.2 The policy is intended to prevent prejudicial development without unnecessarily sterilising land and provides a proportionate basis for protection of the proposals outlined above. 3.2.3 The NPPF (paragraph 111 (c)) allows Local Plans to identify and protect, where there is robust evidence, sites and routes which could be critical in developing infrastructure to widen transport choice and realise opportunities for large scale development. The Local Planning Authority will continue to