Locals have been told this week yet another delay is hitting the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) - a major planning document which will govern development in the area for the next quarter century.

While Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils look set to push back the final public consultation on the plan, residents have been given a chance to see how the major document is shaping up.

This has included plans for thousands of new houses across South Warwickshire, both around existing towns and as two 'new settlements'.

SWLP does not just include new houses though; the councils need to provide new employment land across the region.

"Firstly, the SWLP is required to deliver a significant amount of new development over the period 2025-2050; 54,925 homes to meet local housing needs and up to 366 hectares of employment land to meet local strategic and non-strategic employment needs," a council report said.

In total, 16 different spots for new employment land have been earmarked.

In Warwick district these are at Red House Farm near Warwick and Leamington, Princes Drive in Kenilworth, Coventry Airport, Stoneleigh Park and two spots in Warwick - near Longbridge island and near Stratford Road.

The rest of the locations are all in Stratford district.

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The list of potential new employment land sites (image via SWLP)

Red House Farm is the largest earmarked site in Warwick, while Wellesbourne Airfield (at half the size) is the biggest further south.

The councils' report continued: "The selection of employment sites within the SWLP naturally provides for some overprovision of employment land.

"It is not unreasonable to assume that some of this overprovision can contribute to meeting the shortfalls arising from Coventry."

The next steps of the local plan will see locals consulted on the current draft version.

Final tweaks will then be made before the plan is submitted to the secretary of state for final approval. This needs to be done before December 31.

"It is the view of officers that the SWLP represents a sustainable solution to the development challenges facing South Warwickshire," the report continued.

"Recognising the unsustainability of such locations, it seeks to limit development across smaller rural communities.

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"This is particularly important in the current context of neither district being able to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing where all locations are at potential risk of speculative applications."

Potential development sites (housing and employment) in Warwick district (image via SWLP)