A local MP has "serious concerns" about the new South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) and the impact it could have on local villages in particular.

Warwick and Stratford District Councils are working on the major planning document which could ultimately govern where 35,000 houses are built in the area.

Nub News recently reported more possible sites for development have been put forward through the third 'call for sites' which formed the latest 'preferred options' public consultation.

This has included a huge piece of land around Shrewley, Beausale and Hatton - termed 'B1' in the SWLP documents.

Hatton had already been shortlisted as one of 12 potential 'new settlements' and described as one of the "more suitable" options.

Further land sites suggested around Hatton, Kingswood, Beausale and Shrewley (image via SWLP)

But with the SWLP now starting to take shape and officers at both councils set to decide which areas of land to include for development or not, Sir Jeremy Wright has raised concerns about the progress of the plan.

"As Member of Parliament for Kenilworth and Southam, I responded formally to the consultation on the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) preferred options," he told Nub News.

"While I acknowledge the need for strategic growth, I have serious concerns regarding the methodology that underpinned the consultation, its conclusions on new settlements, and the broader implications of the proposed strategy. 

"Specifically on this site, the classification of site B1 (Hatton) as 'more suitable' is inconsistent with sound planning principles because of severe infrastructure constraints, green belt designation, and reliance on an inadequate rail link.

"For these reasons, the conclusion that B1 is 'more suitable' should be reconsidered."

New Settlements

The first two calls for sites for the SWLP brought some 700 suggestions across Warwick and Stratford districts.

These were whittled down to 36 - including the 12 potential new settlements - for the consultation earlier this year.

The councils said not all the sites will be needed for new homes, which is one of the reasons they asked locals for their views.

Four of the 12 new settlement suggestions were considered more suitable: Hatton, Long Marston, Bearley and Wilmcote, and land south of Leamington Spa.

Hatton has been identified as one of the 'more suitable' locations for a new settlement (image via SWLP)

For Hatton, council documents revealed some 8,156 homes, a new secondary school and six primary schools could be built, with the station and the fact local landowners are pressing for development making it a more attractive option.

Local residents in Hatton have already rallied against the plans for Hatton saying the village cannot cope with that level of development.

Meanwhile around Leamington the 324 hectares could accommodate 6,480 homes in land which is not in the green belt.

When the consultation was launched in January, a joint statement from the two councils said: "The preferred options document identifies 24 potential strategic growth locations and 12 potential new settlement locations, which are an indication of where the councils consider large-scale strategic growth may best be located. 

"In addition, smaller scale growth is likely to be appropriate in other locations.

"Overall, the growth locations identified would accommodate significantly more than South Warwickshire's identified housing and employment needs, and therefore not all these locations will be allocated as a part of the plan making process.

"The SWLP team will be undertaking further analysis of the growth locations and potential new settlements to conclude which locations, and specific sites will be most suitable locations for the South Warwickshire's growth strategy."

Potential new housing sites around South Warwickshire (image via SWLP)

What comes next?

Following the latest consultation, the two councils will deliberate the findings of the consultation as it "aims to prioritise sustainable locations that benefit residents, businesses, and the environment".

After that the next version of the plan will be created and there will be another public consultation on this.

The next consultation is expected to take place at the end of 2025.

After the results of this are fed back, the SWLP will be nearing completion, and will be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. This could be in September 2026.

Already delayed, the SWLP will not be finished until the end of 2027 - providing the are no more hold ups.