Major Investment Sites

Policy DS.10 Major Investment Sites In accordance with DS.3, the following Major Investment Sites as identified on the Policies Map, will be safeguarded for future employment, research and investment. Additional employment land is being provided at certain Major Investment Sites in accordance with Policy DS.5. A. Gaydon (Proposal MIS.A) • The existing Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Lagonda employment sites to the southwest of the B4100 at Gaydon will be safeguarded for automobile research and manufacturing uses. • 124.5ha of additional land will be safeguarded for automotive related employment uses adjacent to the existing JLR site at Gaydon • 7.5ha of additional land to the west of the B4100 adjacent to the existing AML site will be safeguarded for automobile research and manufacturing. • Development of the MIS should be in accordance with Proposal GAY. • Consideration will be given to the preparation of a Local Development Order (LDO) for the site to provide certainty to both the businesses and residents regarding future investment. B. Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre (Proposal MIS.B) The Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre will be safeguarded for rail-based and rail- related employment, research and investment including supply chain uses, as the UK’s only looped standard gauge test-track. The operational rail connection to the national rail network will also be safeguarded. C. South of Coventry including Coventry Airport (Proposal MIS.C) • Land in the vicinity Coventry Airport is safeguarded for strategic employment Use Class B2 and B8 uses, as set out in Policy DS.3 (COV .4 and COV .5). At COV .4 (Gateway South) specific requirements include: o Delivery of 90ha Country Park o Retention of existing employment uses on site o Delivery of 71.8ha of strategic employment uses (Use Class E(g), B2 and B8) o Delivery of site to be in accordance with Outline Consent Ref: W/18/0522 and subsequently approved Reserved Matters At COV .5 (Whitley South) specific requirements include: o Delivery of 16.3ha of strategic employment uses (Use Class E(g), B2 and B8) o Delivery of site to be in accordance with Outline Consent Ref: W/16/0239, subsequently approved Reserved Matters and Full Planning Permission Ref: W/25/0816 • Land at Coventry Airport is allocated to support the growth of the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector and associated innovation activities • Development of Coventry Airport should be in accordance with Proposal COV.2 – Coventry Airport. D. Stoneleigh Park (Proposal MIS.D) • The existing employment site at Stoneleigh Park is safeguarded for employment uses for Use Class B2, Use Class B8 and Use Class E(g) uses. • The existing site of Stoneleigh Park will be intensified to provide approximately 5.4ha (net) of additional industrial employment land for Use Class B2, Use Class B8 and Use Class E(g) uses. • Development of the site should be in accordance with Proposal STO.3 – Stoneleigh Park. E. University of Warwick Main Campus (Proposal MIS.E) • 62ha of land at the existing University of Warwick Main Campus is safeguarded for education and research and development related uses • Future development of this site should be in accordance with this Concept Masterplan. Proposals not addressed by the Masterplan will be considered on their merits and assessed against all other relevant development plan policies. Proposals will be viewed positively where they help contribute to the University delivering a world-class educational campus with the necessary supporting facilities. F . University of Warwick - Wellesbourne Campus (Proposal MIS.F) • The existing development at Wellesbourne Campus site will be safeguarded primarily for employment and research and development uses, in accordance with the Policy DS.5 for Local Employment, Proposal WEL.1 and as per the Wellesbourne Campus Concept Masterplan and Character Areas Plan shown in Section 8.22. • 47.5ha (27ha net of currently undeveloped land) is allocated primarily for research and development uses in accordance with the Concept Masterplan and Character Areas Plan shown at Section 8.22. • Further expansion of the Campus site beyond the Concept Masterplan area will be explored with the University of Warwick. Proposals not addressed by the Concept Masterplan will be considered on their merits and assessed against all other relevant development plan policies. Proposals will be viewed positively where they help contribute to the University delivering a world-class research and development focused campus with the necessary supporting facilities. G. Wellesbourne Airfield (Proposal MIS.G) • The aviation function of the airfield will be safeguarded in accordance with the Memorandum of Understandings signed August 2019 and August 2022. Proposals for development associated with aviation activity requiring planning permission will be permitted subject to them not having an unacceptable effect on the environment of adjacent areas and on local residents and businesses. The eastern part of the existing Airfield (as shown on the Policy Map) will be repurposed for up to 65ha of employment uses (Use Class B2, B8, E(g) uses subject to evidence that the operational viability of the Airfield will be maintained and that the employment development proposed would specifically enable the relocation of the runway and the establishment of a more viable airport on a smaller footprint. • Development of the site should accord with Policy DS.6 Local Employment. • Opportunities should also be sought to incorporate an increased understanding of the history of the airfield. H. Fen End ~ former Honiley Airfield) (Proposal MIS.H) • The existing development on this site will be safeguarded for employment uses relating to the automotive and motorsport sectors. • Further intensification/expansion of the existing development for employment uses may be supported, subject to demonstrating that very special circumstances exist to justify development within the Green Belt. The range of uses on the site will be restricted to the automotive and motorsport sectors. Policy Justification 2.9.4 National Planning Policy focusses on achieving sustainable development and is underpinned by an economic objective which requires planning policies and decisions to create conditions where businesses can invest, expand and adapt, offering significant weight to support economic growth and productivity. Policies are also directed to set out a clear economic vision using criteria and identification of strategic sites over the plan period. 2.9.5 The intention of this policy is to ensure that a sufficient amount and range of employment land is both retained through appropriate existing employment sites and provides opportunity for continual expansion of the existing major employers within South Warwickshire to meet the required need across the plan period. The major investment sites (MIS) identified within this policy and their delivery would contribute to other Economic Policies within this plan and therefore the submission of planning applications on the MIS identified should conform with the package of economic policies within the SWLP . 2.9.10 The MIS identified within the policy will also be protected for employment use. The policy outlines the general support for the expansion of identified MIS and where appropriate opportunities for growth, which may be located on adjacent and functionally appropriate surrounding land. 2.9.11 Other policies within this Plan may also relate to the MIS and should be referred to separately in consideration of any proposals affecting the MIS. These include Policy DS.5 Locations of Local Employment as well as specific Site Proposal policies, where relevant. Proposal MIS.A - Gaydon (Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Lagonda) 2.9.12 This automotive hub is home to the iconic British brands Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Aston Martin Lagonda. Through the SWLP , there is an opportunity to capitalise on the existing economic base and grow this area with further automotive- related employment land. This part of South Warwickshire has the potential to intensify use of the site, and exploit the interrelationships with automotive and advanced engineering, especially in respect of alternative fuel technology. 2.9.13 Additional land is allocated at this location specifically for the expansion of JLR and Aston Martin, to support the growth of these regionally and nationally important employers. This involves, for Jaguar Land Rover, the allocation of 51ha of strategic employment land for general industrial and logistics uses, and 73.5ha specifically for testing tracks. 7.5ha is allocated for the expansion of Aston Martin Lagonda for industrial and logistics uses. Proposal MIS.B - Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre 2.9.14 The Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre is the UK's only looped test track and with its connection to the national rail network, provides a unique opportunity to act as a catalyst for growth in the rail technology sector. Proposal MIS.C - South of Coventry Area including Coventry Airport 2.9.15 The area of South Warwickshire to the south of Coventry has started to see considerable change. The sub-regional employment site to the south of Jaguar Land Rover's Head Quarters at Whitley is allocated for E(g), B2 and B8 class uses and comprises SEGRO Park and Whitley South. Outline planning permission has been granted for development and the parcels form part of the wider West Midlands Investment Zone. 2.9.16 The former Coventry Airport is also located adjacent to the sub-regional employment site and also forms part of the West Midlands Investment Zone. This site has already been accounted for within the strategic site supply for Area 7 of the West Midlands Strategic Employment Sites Study under its extant planning consent for the development of a Gigafactory – a large-scale battery manufacturing facility (Planning ref: W/21/1370). Whilst delivery of a gigafactory remains the primary objective for the site, it is considered appropriate to broaden the scope of potential uses on site to include other advanced manufacturing activities to afford sufficient flexibility. Full details of this site allocation are included within the separate site Proposal COV .2. 2.9.17 Significant transport infrastructure improvements have been implemented, including a new bridge over the A45 and transport improvements to connect JLR/Whitley Business Park to the new sub-regional employment site comprising Whitley South and Coventry Gateway. 2.9.18 Further transport investment is being considered in the area. A new bridge deck and signalised gyratory system will be delivered at the Stoneleigh Junction of the A46. The potential for a new railway station near Kenilworth is being explored as part of a wider multimodal transport interchange comprising bus-based park and ride and very light rail provision. The interchange would be served by a new multimodal transport corridor connecting the improved A46 Stoneleigh Junction to Warwick University and Westwood Heath Road, thereby addressing highway capacity, public transport and active travel deficiencies within the area and improving to access to employment opportunities. Proposal MIS.D - Stoneleigh Park 2.9.19 Stoneleigh Park is located to the east of Kenilworth and south of the village of Stoneleigh, home to the headquarters of the Royal Agricultural Society for England and a number of other agricultural and countryside organisations. The park hosts a wide range of shows and events and is an established part of the rural economy both locally and nationally. 2.9.20 The site will be significantly impacted by HS2 as it intersects Stoneleigh Park. This necessity for change to the site means that the Local Plan provides an opportunity to reassess the use and purpose of the site and the density of development. The expansion of the existing site is considered appropriate to provide further opportunities for employment in this location. Proposal MIS.E - University of Warwick Main Campus Area 2.9.21 The University is a leading employer in South Warwickshire and plays an important role within the local economy as well as being of national and international importance. The campus has been developed following a Masterplan approved in 2009 that has now largely been implemented. A further planning application granted in 2019 enabled construction of two major projects. 2.9.22 The University has aspirations to continue to improve and develop its campus and therefore the Plan will need to ensure that the aspirations of the University can be met, whilst ensuring any negative impacts of growth are mitigated. The relevant authorities worked closely with the University to develop a Concept Masterplan for the site. 2.9.23 The Concept Masterplan provides a framework for guiding the level and broad location of growth on the main University of Warwick campus. Proposals outside of the Masterplan area will be viewed positively where they help contribute to the University delivering a world-class research and development focussed campus with the necessary supporting facilities. Proposal MIS.F - University of Warwick, Wellesbourne Campus 2.9.24 The Local Plan seeks to support and develop the integral relationship between the university campus and nearby Wellesbourne Airfield site, with the campus growing as a centre for cross-fertilisation research and development in high-tech automotive, battery and biosciences. The proximity of an operational airfield would hold the potential that aviation technology could add to these scientific endeavours. 2.9.25 Development of the site should accord with the Concept Masterplan and Character Areas Plan. Proposals outside of the Masterplan area will be explored with the University and will be viewed positively where they help contribute to the University delivering a world-class research and development focussed campus with the necessary supporting facilities. Proposal MIS.G – Wellesbourne Airfield 2.9.26 Wellesbourne Airfield is an important local aviation asset, and its retention as a functional airfield will be a critical consideration for any further development of the site. 2.9.27 However, it is considered that the airfield site has the potential to accommodate employment development, included in use class B2, B8 and E(g) uses. This would involve the relocation of the existing runway to allow for this employment development to the east of the site. Any such employment development would be subject to demonstrating that this would not threaten the viability of the remaining airfield or aviation function of the site. Proposal MIS.H – JLR Fen End (former Honiley Airfield) 2.9.28 The former military airfield has been used for a variety of aeronautical and automotive uses since the 1950s and most recently for vehicle testing and research and design associated with the automotive industry. It is unique in allowing the co-location of research and development facilities together with a test track for off road testing. 2.9.29 National planning policy allows for limited infilling or the partial or complete redevelopment of previously developed sites within the green belt (whether redundant or in continuing use) that would not cause substantial harm to the openness of the green belt. 2.9.30 However, the Council recognises that this site has a unique and important role in the local and subregional economy. It is considered that there may be very s