Infrastructure & utilities

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires development to protect, improve and extend green and blue infrastructure, meaning natural assets such as open spaces, trees, rivers and canals. Schemes must secure management and funding for these features for at least 30 years. Proposals should contribute to strategic opportunities identified in the evidence, such as restoring ancient woodlands, a River Avon Linear Park and better access to the canals. Design must respond to local landscape character, connect habitats, use native and climate-resilient planting and help reduce flood risk.

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 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 policy supports the provision, improvement and protection of arts and cultural facilities and creative industries. Proposals must suit the character of the area, avoid harm to residents, public safety and neighbouring uses, and consider access by all forms of transport. Temporary arts uses of vacant sites are supported in principle. Losing an existing arts or cultural facility will be resisted unless it is shown to be unviable, replaced with an improved offer, clearly beneficial to remove, or offset by a contribution to another local venue.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the arts and culture policy. It applies the agent of change principle, meaning whoever introduces new development near an existing venue is responsible for managing its impact on that venue. Arts and cultural facilities include performing and visual arts studios, creative workspaces, museums, theatres, cinemas and music venues. The plan notes that arts and culture are important to the local economy and identity, and supports temporary use of empty buildings for pop-up exhibitions and performances.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section introduces the renewable energy policies. Both Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils have declared climate emergencies. Stratford-on-Avon aims to be carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030 and to cut district-wide emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Warwick District Council has committed to cutting energy use and emissions from its public buildings and council housing. Much of the area's carbon comes from transport, and limited power supply also needs addressing to support economic growth.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy protects existing large-scale renewable energy infrastructure, including solar farms, wind turbines, battery storage, heat networks, bioenergy plants and green hydrogen production. These assets are safeguarded from development that would harm their operation, safety, maintenance or future adaptability. They can only be lost where they are no longer needed, replaced with equal or greater capacity, or outweighed by overriding public benefits with compensation. Nearby development must show it will not reduce efficiency, for example by overshadowing solar panels or disturbing wind flow to turbines.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section adds further protections for renewable energy infrastructure. Repowering, life extension and co-location of technologies, such as solar with battery storage, are supported where they raise output without unacceptable impacts. Grid connections, substations and cable routes are safeguarded, and maintenance work by network operators is supported in principle. Where infrastructure is no longer viable, a decommissioning and restoration plan is required, prioritising biodiversity, soil recovery and, where appropriate, restoring farmland. Community benefits such as local energy tariffs may also be considered.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires affordable workspace in larger employment schemes. It applies to developments of 1,000 square metres or more of employment floorspace, including major mixed-use schemes. At least 10% of the floorspace must be affordable workspace, let at rents at least 20% below average market rents and secured permanently through planning obligations. It should normally be provided on site; where that is shown to be unfeasible, off-site provision or a payment may be accepted. Exceptions must be justified by a robust viability assessment, with review mechanisms possible.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains why affordable workspace is needed. Over 80% of firms in South Warwickshire are micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees, and these are most exposed to rising property costs. The South Warwickshire Affordable Business Study (2026) found a constrained supply of quality office and industrial space, affordability pressures for small firms and start-ups, and limited new development because of viability. Viability testing suggested large industrial sites could deliver 10% affordable workspace at 60% of market rents.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains how the town centre policy will be applied. In the main urban centres, at least 50% of units in Primary Shopping Areas should remain in retail use. It sets out the hierarchy of centres, with Leamington Spa and Stratford the most significant, Warwick and Kenilworth serving more local needs, and smaller rural towns such as Alcester and Southam acting as Local Centres. Evidence shows a need for 7.1 hectares of office land, about 57,900 square metres, up to 2050, to be met mainly through conversions rather than new site allocations.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the reasoning behind the space and accessibility standards. The population aged 65 and over is projected to rise 53% in Stratford-on-Avon district and 43% in Warwick district between 2025 and 2050, with large increases in people with mobility problems. The evidence therefore recommends all new homes meet the M4(2) adaptable standard, plus 2.5% of market homes and 5% of affordable homes built as wheelchair user dwellings, equal to around 44 extra wheelchair homes a year. Exceptions are possible where site constraints such as flood risk or heritage make compliance impossible, but robust evidence is required.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out the detail and justification for the affordable housing requirements. Evidence identifies a need for 1,237 affordable homes a year across South Warwickshire, about 56% of the total housing need of 2,197 homes a year. On schemes of 10 or more homes, affordable housing should normally be built on site, while smaller schemes in rural areas pay a financial contribution instead. Some development types, such as holiday lets, mobile homes and residential annexes, are exempt. Affordable homes will be secured in perpetuity through Section 106 legal agreements, and requirements are subject to viability.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section gives the detailed rules and reasoning for rural exception sites. Housing need must be evidenced by a proper survey of residents, normally valid for five years, with future occupiers showing a strong local connection through birth, residence, work or family. Some market housing may be allowed to make a scheme viable or meet a surveyed local need, but never more than 50% of the homes. A Section 106 agreement will secure occupancy, tenure and long-term management. The policy exists because high prices and restricted supply make affordable housing especially hard to deliver in rural areas.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out the full specialised housing policy and its evidence. It includes affordable housing rules for older persons' schemes: 37% for retirement or sheltered housing and 21% for extra care housing, both subject to viability, with none required from care and nursing homes. It describes the main types of older persons' housing, from age-restricted market homes through to nursing homes. The over-65 population is projected to grow 53% in Stratford-on-Avon and 43% in Warwick by 2050, creating a need for around 3,592 housing-with-support units, 1,361 housing-with-care units and 1,707 care bedspaces.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy supports Build to Rent housing, which is purpose-built rental housing kept under single ownership. Schemes must provide high quality homes that contribute to mixed and balanced communities, be under unified ownership and management with on-site management, and consist of self-contained homes let separately. A Section 106 legal agreement will secure the management and letting arrangements, covenants and any clawback if homes are sold early. Affordable homes must be provided as Affordable Private Rent at the levels set in Policy HO.3.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets rules for permanent residential moorings for people living on boats. In built-up areas, moorings must not harm navigation or safety, must maintain the character and biodiversity of the waterway, and need good walking, cycling and public transport access, safe vehicle access, well-designed parking and proper utilities including water, electricity, sewage disposal and laundry facilities. In open countryside, permanent moorings are only allowed within recreational mooring basins, where at least 50% of existing leisure moorings must be kept and external lighting limited to what safety requires.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the boat dweller policy. The Housing and Planning Act 2016 requires councils to consider the needs of people living on inland waterways. An assessment identified a need for 35 permanent residential moorings across the two districts to 2050, but a local marina has since secured a certificate confirming no limit on its permanent moorings, providing enough supply to meet that need. The policy therefore acts as a framework for judging any future proposals as boat dwelling continues to evolve.

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 policy tackles embodied carbon, the emissions created by making materials and constructing buildings. Demolishing a building of 100 square metres or more must be justified, for example on feasibility or poor energy efficiency grounds. Major schemes of 10 or more homes or 1,000 square metres should set out the steps taken to reduce embodied carbon. Large schemes of at least 100 homes or 5,000 square metres must submit a calculation using the RICS Whole Life Carbon method, meeting upfront carbon targets of 600 kgCO2e per square metre for houses and non-residential buildings and 500 for flats.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out the full requirements of Policy NZ.7 on local energy systems for major development. Applicants must submit a feasibility and viability assessment covering heat networks, on-site renewables, heat pumps, storage and embodied carbon. They must also carry out thermal masterplanning, which maps heat demand and safeguards routes for future energy infrastructure. A clear order of preference applies for heating, starting with connection to a heat network and ending with other systems only where better options are unworkable. Schemes must also plan for grid capacity, energy resilience and long-term management.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the policy on local energy systems for minor development. As well as encouraging measures such as solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage, it supports sharing energy infrastructure across neighbouring sites where this causes no unacceptable harm to amenity, landscape or the environment. Energy equipment must be sensitively designed to limit impacts on landscape, heritage, noise, air quality, biodiversity, flood risk and neighbours. The justification notes that decentralised energy helps achieve net zero, eases pressure on the electricity grid and avoids locking in high carbon systems.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out when a Health Impact Assessment is required with a planning application. The thresholds are residential schemes of 10 or more homes or 0.5 hectares, non-residential schemes of 1,000 square metres or 1 hectare, hot food takeaways within 400 metres of schools and places where young people gather, and betting shops. Developments causing significant harm to health, or the loss of educational, health, leisure or community facilities or public open space, will not be supported without mitigation. Local life expectancy slightly exceeds the England average.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the policy on altering existing buildings. Replacement dwellings are only appropriate where the existing home is unsuitable for retention, and must be well sited, well designed and not significantly larger than the home replaced. The existing dwelling must have lawful use as a home and not have been demolished or abandoned before the application is decided. The justification notes that managing housing stock reduces the loss of homes, and that conversions can add to housing supply as windfall sites, though intensification can affect neighbours and local infrastructure.