Infrastructure & utilities

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 allocation sets out an assumed 1,250 homes on around fifty-two hectares near Cheddington station, which has direct trains to Milton Keynes in under 20 minutes and London Euston in about 50 minutes. It includes a primary school, a section of the Horton Bypass, a new railway bridge with a westbound road, and a 30mph limit on the B488. A landscape buffer must protect the neighbouring hamlet of Horton, and suitable natural green space is expected to be provided on site.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This allocation supports an assumed 365 homes on 9.15 hectares off Station Road, west of Cheddington village. The scheme must make good use of the station location and contribute to shared infrastructure, including the Horton bypass, a new railway bridge, a bus route to Aylesbury via Wingrave, and walking and cycling routes. The protected tree-lined frontage on Station Road must be kept and improved. Development must not prejudice the larger planned new settlement at Cheddington, and mitigation for the Chilterns Beechwoods protected area is required.

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 allocation supports the continued growth of Pinewood Studios at Iver Heath as a Strategic Employment Area and a hub of national and international importance for film, television and the creative industries. The main use will be creative industries production, along with supporting facilities, research, training and related digital uses such as data centres. Other uses will only be allowed if it is robustly shown there is no reasonable prospect of keeping the site for creative industry uses. Development must also improve sustainable transport links and protect wildlife at the neighbouring Black Park Country Park.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This allocation designates Westcott Enterprise Zone and Venture Park, a 268 hectare Strategic Employment Area expected to deliver approximately 65 hectares of employment land for research, industrial and distribution uses. Westcott is a nationally important centre for space, robotics, drones and advanced engineering, home to around ninety businesses. The policy takes a flexible approach, allowing supporting facilities and limited, time-restricted worker accommodation where needed for the site to function, but housing must stay subordinate to the employment role. Proposals must also improve sustainable travel links to Aylesbury, Bicester and the wider area.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains that the Development Management policies cover housing, employment, the natural and built environment, transport, infrastructure, community facilities and climate change. They set the standards, mitigation measures and design principles needed to make development sustainable and beneficial to communities. In line with national policy, they respond to local circumstances while staying consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework, and they will be applied in proportion to the scale and nature of each proposal.

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 policy requires affordable housing on developments of 10 or more homes or sites of 0.5 hectares or more. The rate varies by area: a minimum of 40% in the South, East and West (brownfield sites in the West subject to viability evidence), and 25% in the North and Central areas, rising to 50% on land in or released from the Green Belt. The tenure mix should be at least 60% social rent, 20% affordable rent and 20% shared ownership. Affordable homes must be spread through a development, look indistinguishable from market homes, and normally be built on site.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets out when developers must prove their scheme's finances. Proposals that meet the affordable housing and infrastructure requirements will not face viability testing. Where a developer offers less than policy requires, they must submit a fully transparent, unredacted open book financial viability assessment, independently reviewed at the applicant's expense. If contributions are reduced, the Council will secure review mechanisms so that any later improvement in viability delivers extra affordable housing or infrastructure. The policy also guards against sites being split up to fall below the 10-home threshold.

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.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy supports affordable homes on Rural Exception Sites, which are sites next to villages that would not normally get planning permission for housing. Schemes must meet a clearly evidenced local need, be of a size that suits the settlement, have access to local services, and be owned and managed by a Registered Provider so the homes stay affordable in perpetuity. A small amount of market housing may be allowed only where robust evidence shows a 100% affordable scheme would not be viable, and only at the minimum level needed.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy guides development on windfall sites, meaning unallocated sites that come forward unexpectedly within settlements. Development will be permitted where its scale, density and character fit the existing settlement, either within the built-up area or by consolidating the settlement pattern without harm. Proposals must not cause settlements to merge, must avoid significant harm to landscape, heritage, biodiversity and open space, and must have the infrastructure capacity to support them. The policy includes criteria for judging whether a site counts as being within a settlement.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out road safety requirements and the reasoning behind them. In urban areas, residential streets should be designed for 20mph, with continuous footpaths and cycleways connecting to the surrounding network. In rural areas, new accesses need good visibility and speed reduction where necessary, with the needs of horse riders and farm vehicles considered. Warwickshire County Council aims to cut deaths and serious injuries on its roads by 50% by 2030, working towards zero by 2050.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section describes the proposed Hatton New Community, a 262-hectare new settlement delivering at least 4,558 homes, with 4,000 built by 2050 and up to 5,250 possible. It includes two primary schools, a secondary school, a district centre, three neighbourhood centres, 2 hectares of employment land and at least 25 hectares of open space. Development runs in three phases from 2032/33 to 2056/7, with a new spine road bridging the railway and canal, major upgrades to Hatton Station, and a minimum density of 40 homes per hectare.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets the requirements for data centre proposals. Applicants must show that enough electrical grid capacity can be secured, that electricity, digital connectivity and water needs can be met, and that noise, air quality and visual impacts are properly mitigated. Back-up generators should not use diesel, and sustainable heating and cooling should be used where feasible. In sensitive locations such as the Green Belt, applicants must show the development cannot go in a less sensitive place, and all proposals must evidence the need for the facility and its local economic benefits.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy protects water quality in rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and groundwater. Development will only be supported where it does not harm surface or underground water bodies, and proposals should look for chances to improve water quality. Schemes affecting designated wildlife sites or water catchments must show how quality will be maintained and pressure on the wastewater network reduced. Extra safeguards apply in Drinking Water Safeguard Zones and Source Protection Zones, including restrictions on soakaways and infiltration drainage, and a Water Framework Directive assessment is required where development could harm a waterbody.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires development to deliver high-quality green infrastructure, the network of green spaces, trees, waterways and other natural features that benefits wildlife, flood management, health and recreation. Residential schemes of more than ten dwellings, or over 1,000 square metres of floorspace, must meet Natural England's Accessible Green Space standards and submit a Green Infrastructure Statement. These standards aim for good quality green space within a 15-minute walk of home. Green infrastructure must be managed for at least 30 years after completion, with arrangements to secure its management in perpetuity.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy resists the loss of existing accessible green space, including allotments, and the transfer of public green infrastructure into private gardens. Loss will be refused unless an assessment against Natural England's standards proves the space is surplus, the land makes no positive contribution to appearance, recreation or wildlife, it contains no priority habitats or species, and there is no cumulative harm to the local area. Any green space lost must be replaced with equivalent or better provision within the catchment of the space lost.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section covers proposal BIT.2 at Red House Farm, south-west of Bishop's Tachbrook. The 160-hectare site provides around 121 hectares of strategic employment land, totalling 3,750,000 sq ft of floorspace mainly for logistics and industry. The developer will fund a new M40 junction to replace junctions 13 and 14, plus a dual carriageway link road to Warwick and Leamington. The scheme also includes a Park and Ride, a central mixed-use hub, 39 hectares of green and blue infrastructure, and a travelling showpersons yard of at least 6 plots. Delivery runs from 2027 to 2034/35.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy sets out what development must do in or near the Colne Valley Regional Park, a park of over 10,000 hectares in the east of the county established in 1967. Development should maintain and enhance the park's landscape, waterways and biodiversity, provide countryside recreation that is accessible to all, and improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes. It should also support the rural economy, encourage community participation and help reduce pollution to the River Colne. A possible extension of the park to cover Fulmer parish is being considered.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out proposal KEN.1, land south of Kenilworth delivering at least 776 homes on 60 hectares between 2029/30 and 2036/37, at a density of at least 35 homes per hectare. A significant green edge will maintain separation between Kenilworth and Leek Wootton. A spine road linking Rouncil Lane and Warwick Road must come early in the development. A buffer to the north-west protects sightlines from Kenilworth Castle, and the site sits in a mineral safeguarding area for sand and gravel.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires all new developments, except householder applications, to follow a vision-led approach to transport that prioritises walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport before car use. Larger sites must provide safe walking and cycling routes, including safe routes to schools within statutory walking distance (2 miles for under 8s, 3 miles for over 8s), and fund new or improved bus services for at least five years. Requirements also cover travel plans, car clubs, mobility hubs, and changing and shower facilities in non-residential buildings over 2,500 square metres. Developments must not have an unacceptable impact on highway or rail safety.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy safeguards land for planned road schemes so that development cannot block their delivery. The protected schemes include several Aylesbury link roads, the Wing West Link Road, Buckingham South Link Road, Princes Risborough Relief Road, Whaddon and Horton bypasses, A421 capacity improvements and Winslow link roads. Development that would prejudice these schemes, or the Transport Improvement Lines shown on the council's website, will not be supported. Major sites must also identify, protect and help deliver strategic transport infrastructure where evidence shows it is critical.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section sets out proposal LEA.3 at Lillington, east of Leamington Spa. Of the 83-hectare site, 69 hectares leave the Green Belt for around 1,455 homes on 38 hectares, with 43 hectares of open space including a new Cubbington Community Park, delivered between 2031/32 and 2040/41. The scheme includes a two-form entry primary school and a small local centre. Open space keeps Lillington and Cubbington separate, and walking and cycling links must connect the site to Newbold Comyn and the surrounding countryside.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires development to be supported by adequate infrastructure, such as schools, healthcare, transport and utilities. Development will only be permitted where capacity already exists or the scheme delivers or funds what is needed, with delivery timed to match the growth it serves. Land must be safeguarded where infrastructure cannot be provided straight away, and linked sites must plan infrastructure jointly. A related policy (IN2) requires developments of 10 or more dwellings to provide healthcare and education infrastructure or financial contributions, calculated using set methodologies.

The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy requires developments to show they will have adequate water supply, foul drainage and sewage treatment capacity before homes are occupied, with phasing conditions used to enforce this. New buildings are expected to connect to mains drainage. The evidence shows 34 wastewater treatment works need upgrades to accommodate planned growth. A related policy (IN4) safeguards two strategic water sites: land at Galley Lane near Stoke Hammond for the Grand Union Canal water transfer project, and land west of Iver for a possible new drinking water treatment works.