Health, schools & community

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section contains the full Policy DS.4 and its justification. Every New Settlement and Strategic Growth Location must agree a masterplan with the council before any planning application, deliver roads, schools, healthcare and utilities early with clear trigger points, and secure developer contributions through legal agreements. Sites must create walkable 20-minute neighbourhoods, provide affordable housing and deliver Gypsy and Traveller pitches before a set share of market homes are occupied. New settlements will deliver at least 4,000 homes, and delivery will be overseen by boards, site delivery officers and community champions, with long-term stewardship of community assets.

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 presents the full Rural Economy policy and its justification. Beyond farming and tourism, it supports other rural businesses through building conversions and small-scale expansion where sites can be reached without a car. Larger proposals of regional or national significance should go to the Core Opportunity Area, and locations elsewhere must be justified. The evidence shows 91 agri-tech businesses in South Warwickshire supporting 1,610 jobs, and national policy backs the sustainable growth of all types of rural business.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out the settlement gap policy and its reasoning. In Areas of Restraint, large-scale development will only be permitted where it brings clear community benefits, supports the plan's objectives, and no suitable alternative site exists nearby. These areas are not landscape quality designations. They protect open land in and around settlements, such as river valley corridors, because of its contribution to a settlement's character and form. Agricultural and recreational uses, allotments, cemeteries and small farm additions may still be appropriate.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section gives the full well-designed places policy and guidance on applying it. Beyond context, identity, built form and movement, schemes must weave in natural features, create safe and welcoming public spaces, provide healthy living conditions with good light, storage and accessibility, and use resources efficiently with long-term stewardship planned. Design Statements should tell the design story and show how talks with parish councils, police, heritage bodies and county services shaped the scheme. National policy says permission should be refused for poor design.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section opens the chapter on delivering infrastructure. During consultation, residents consistently raised concerns that existing infrastructure lacks capacity and that new development would make things worse. The plan therefore requires housing and employment growth to be supported by the infrastructure needed to serve it, including roads, schools, health services and community facilities, with development contributing to that provision.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out timing expectations for different types of infrastructure on new developments. Community facilities must come with the first phase, and open space should be ready for the earliest occupiers rather than left to the end. New schools should be provided early because off-site schooling harms community building. Drainage and flood works are installed early and must be defect free, utilities including broadband must be in place before occupation, and public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure is prioritised to establish sustainable travel habits from the outset.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section introduces the transport infrastructure policies. The plan is built on the idea of 20-minute neighbourhoods, where daily needs can be met close to home, and new infrastructure is planned to achieve this for new and existing residents. Where journeys are needed, walking, cycling and public transport are encouraged through new facilities and the safeguarding of existing routes. Some highway improvements and mitigation are also needed and land is protected for them.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy protects land needed for future transport schemes from development that could block their delivery. Protected projects include reopening the Stratford to Honeybourne railway, a new station at Long Marston Airfield, and double-tracking the Coventry to Leamington line with a second platform at Kenilworth. It also safeguards land for a multi-modal transport interchange near the University of Warwick, park and ride sites serving Leamington and Stratford-upon-Avon, disused railway lines earmarked as future walking and cycling routes, and improvements to key A46, M40 and M42 junctions.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section lists the full set of protected transport schemes and explains the approach. Alongside rail, park and ride and strategic road junction schemes, it safeguards major link roads tied to specific development sites, including routes at Stratford-upon-Avon, Wellesbourne, Henley-in-Arden, Kenilworth, Warwick, Stoneleigh and Bidford, and a new consolidated M40 junction to replace Junctions 13 and 14. Development in these areas is only permitted where it would not hinder a scheme's design, delivery or operation, or is temporary or reversible. The aim is to prevent prejudicial development without needlessly sterilising land.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires development to prioritise walking, cycling and public transport to encourage a shift away from private car use, with sustainable transport made inclusive and accessible to all. Proposals must be in sustainable locations that minimise travel distances and maximise sustainable travel, with safe and convenient links that integrate with existing networks. They must be backed by transport evidence, such as Transport Statements or Assessments and Travel Plans, demonstrating that opportunities for sustainable transport are delivered.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out the full sustainable transport policy and guidance. Major developments must provide direct, high-frequency public transport links, segregated walking and cycling routes, and barrier-free access for elderly, disabled and low-income users. Sustainable transport corridors are planned along key routes, including south of Coventry, west of Warwick, and south of Leamington. Cycle and bus infrastructure must follow national design guidance, and high frequency means a bus every 15 minutes or a train every 30 minutes at peak times.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires electric vehicle charging infrastructure that exceeds national minimum standards. Delivery is prioritised in public car parks and in areas of terraced or social housing where home charging is not possible, with access for all tenures. Housing schemes with communal or unallocated parking must provide active charging points for at least 20% of unallocated spaces, with all remaining spaces wired for future connection. Non-residential developments with 10 or more spaces must provide charging appropriate to the use, going beyond Building Regulations requirements.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out the full Park and Ride policy. Alongside the Stratford-upon-Avon sites, including a possible 500-space facility near the Rosebird Centre, it supports a public transport interchange south of Coventry serving the University of Warwick, a potential 500-space facility linked to the Coventry and Warwick Investment Zone, and sites north of Leamington, west of Warwick and south of Leamington. Development near these areas of search must not obstruct future delivery. Locations were identified with Warwickshire County Council and are at different stages of development.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the green and blue infrastructure policy and sets measurable standards. Major developments must provide a green and blue infrastructure strategy. Commercial schemes must achieve an Urban Greening Factor score of at least 0.3 and residential schemes at least 0.4. Tree canopy must cover at least 14% of commercial sites and 20% of residential sites, or improve on existing cover if that is greater. These networks support wildlife, manage flood risk, store carbon and provide accessible space for recreation.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets further open space requirements and explains how they apply. Developments must provide 0.86 hectares of community growing space, including allotments, per 1,000 households, and 0.5 hectares of play provision for children and teenagers per 1,000 people. Major schemes must submit an open space and play assessment. Off-site provision or payments are only accepted where on-site provision is genuinely not achievable. Student housing, care villages and retirement communities must contribute, and major commercial schemes may also need to provide open space.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires development to protect existing public open space and provide new space for growing communities. Existing open spaces can only be lost if they are shown to be surplus or replaced with equivalent or better provision. Major developments must provide 5.67 hectares of accessible greenspace per 1,000 people, made up of parks and gardens (1.4ha), recreation grounds (0.5ha), natural and semi-natural greenspace (3.17ha) and amenity greenspace (0.6ha). Smaller schemes contribute pro rata, and all open space must remain publicly accessible permanently.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets accessibility standards for open space and play areas. Every home in a major development must be within reach of a neighbourhood greenspace and a local or doorstep greenspace, with catchments ranging from 200 metres for a doorstep space to 5,000 metres for a district space of 100 hectares. Play areas have their own catchments, from 100 metres for small local play areas to 1,000 metres for larger equipped ones, and community growing spaces should be within 1 kilometre of new homes. Design should follow recognised guidance, including inclusive play and provision suited to teenage girls.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets out who will own and look after public open space created by development. Open space will be offered to the town or parish council or the local planning authority, along with a 30-year maintenance payment from the developer. A management and maintenance plan is required, including yearly joint inspections with the council. Handing open space to a private management company is only allowed in exceptional circumstances, after both the council and a residents' association have declined it. Open space must stay publicly accessible permanently.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains how the open space stewardship policy will be enforced. Where a private company manages open space, the council keeps the right to inspect it and require remedial work, backed by planning enforcement if needed. If a residents' association route is used, the space should transfer to it within 5 years of the last home being occupied. The council may decline to adopt open space where costs or practical difficulties are too great. Detailed standards and methods for calculating maintenance sums are set out in Annex C of the plan.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section introduces the community and leisure infrastructure policies. It explains that sustainable communities need access to facilities that support daily life and residents' health and wellbeing. The policies that follow protect existing sport, recreation and leisure facilities and secure new ones, protect community facilities such as local shops, halls and pubs, and support the area's arts and culture offer across South Warwickshire.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy protects sport, recreation and leisure facilities and requires new housing to support them. Facilities can only be lost if an equivalent replacement is provided, they are shown to be surplus, the benefits of the proposal clearly outweigh the loss, or the facility adds no real value to the area. New facilities must meet recognised sporting standards and be reachable by public transport, walking and cycling. Major developments must provide facilities on site or pay towards off-site improvements, calculated using Sport England's tools.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the evidence behind the sport and leisure policy. The Playing Pitch Strategy and Built Facilities Strategy inform decisions on protecting and providing facilities. Sport England's calculators estimate how many pitches and buildings a new development's population would need and the associated costs. Where a scheme is too small to justify a whole new pitch or facility, a contribution towards improving an existing site is recommended instead. The approach follows national planning policy on access to sport for health and wellbeing.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy protects community facilities that serve local needs. A facility can only be lost if a viability assessment confirms it has no realistic prospect of continuing, it has been actively marketed for at least 12 months at a realistic price for its lawful use, and similar facilities are easily accessible nearby or a comparable replacement is provided. Proposals for new or improved community facilities will be supported where they promote healthy, inclusive and safe communities.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains which buildings count as community facilities and how any loss must be justified. The list includes local convenience stores, community halls, pubs, libraries, places of worship, local health facilities and nurseries, though it is not exhaustive. Applicants seeking to close a facility must supply at least two years of audited accounts, show they explored ways to improve viability, and normally provide five years of maintenance evidence. A marketing statement must set out the asking price, any price changes and all offers received.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section introduces the plan's approach to employment and road freight. It notes that employment sites can harm the road network if transport is not considered early, and that rising demand for large storage and logistics sites has increased lorry traffic. Policy EC.7 asks new employment development to improve sustainable transport access, cut freight carbon and support electric freight vehicles. Schemes that significantly increase freight movements must provide lorry parking, large developments need Travel Plans and transport assessments, and freight vehicles should avoid residential areas wherever possible.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets criteria for new Gypsy and Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots. Sites must avoid significant harm to heritage, ecology and landscape designations, be a reasonable distance from schools, GP surgeries, shops and community facilities, and not be visually intrusive. Private sites are limited to a maximum of 15 pitches. Sites also need safe road access with turning and parking space, plus adequate water, electricity, drainage and waste services. Any permission will include conditions limiting pitch numbers and restricting occupancy to the travelling community.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires new non-residential buildings of 100 square metres or more, where viable, to achieve net zero operational energy use. Space heating demand must be no more than 15 kWh per square metre a year in schools and light industrial buildings. Total energy use targets are 52 kWh per square metre a year for primary schools and 35 for unrefrigerated light industrial buildings, while other uses must disclose their energy use and keep regulated energy within 30. On-site renewable electricity must match the building's annual total energy use, and targets can be met as a site-wide average.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the non-residential net zero policy in detail. Buildings must not use fossil fuels except for safety-critical backup, and schemes of 1,000 square metres or more should follow an assured performance method through design and construction. Where on-site renewables fall short, developers must pay an offset contribution, starting at £2.03 per kWh, ring-fenced for local renewable energy projects. Building-mounted solar panels are preferred, standalone commercial power stations do not count towards the target, and accurate energy prediction methods such as Passivhaus Planning Package or CIBSE TM54 are required rather than standard building regulations calculations.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section introduces the chapter on enhancing South Warwickshire's built and natural environment, starting with the natural environment. It notes that key habitats and species are in worrying decline locally, and that development under the plan must not come at nature's expense. Instead the plan will protect and enhance existing ecological assets and include proposals for country parks and biodiversity enhancement areas. It previews policies on protected sites, nature recovery, Biodiversity Net Gain, trees and hedgerows, landscape management and farmland.