South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP)
What is it?
Why is it significant for North Leamington?
Why is Old Milverton and Blackdown Parish Council concerned about the SWLP?
What is the parish council doing about it?
What can I do about it?
What is the history of the South Warwickshire Local Plan?
How does the SWLP relate to leaflets we have received from developers?
What is it?
The South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) is a long-term strategy that will shape where housing and employment development takes place across Warwick and Stratford districts for decades to come.
First launched in 2021, the plan is now nearing its final consultation stage. Later this year, it will be submitted to Government inspectors for approval, making this a critical moment for local residents to have their say.
Why is it significant for North Leamington?
The plan proposes large-scale development at LEA1 and LEA2. These sites cover 365 acres of land to the east and west of Kenilworth Road. They are earmarked for over 2,000 new homes, yet no supporting road infrastructure is planned.
This is not just any land:
- it is protected Green Belt
- it is highest quality agricultural land
- it has important heritage and biodiversity value.
Once lost, these assets cannot be replaced.
Why is Old Milverton and Blackdown Parish Council concerned about the SWLP?
Old Milverton and Blackdown Parish Council has actively engaged with the SWLP process since the beginning. However, despite repeated efforts, we have had no meaningful dialogue with those preparing the plan.
We are deeply concerned that:
- the plan assumes Green Belt development is unavoidable, without proper justification
- alternative, non-Green Belt sites have not been adequately explored
- detailed legal and technical evidence we submitted has not been addressed.
Like many residents, we feel this process has not listened to local voices. Instead, it appears to be driven more by developers than by the needs of the community.
What is the parish council doing about it?
We are taking action.
The Parish Council is working with two independent planning consultancies to rigorously review and challenge the plan. We believe the current proposals are inconsistent with national policy. In particular:
- development on high quality agricultural and green belt land should only happen as a last resort
- the required Sequential Test – to demonstrate that no better alternatives exist – has not been carried out.
This is a critical issue: suitable non-Green Belt sites are available.
We have formally submitted four key arguments to the SWLP team and are awaiting a response. We will continue to challenge the plan at every stage.
The plan is still in draft form and can be read here. Later this summer, it will move to the “Regulation 19 Consultation” stage. This is the final opportunity to influence the outcome before it goes to Government inspectors.
What can I do about it?
Your voice matters and it is needed now.
Please contact your elected representatives and tell them your views:
You can also use www.writetothem.com for guidance and quick access. Even a short email or letter can make a difference. Decision-makers need to hear clearly that local people care about this issue.
Please check back here for updates. When the Regulation 19 Consultation opens, we will provide clear guidance to help you respond effectively.
What is the history of the South Warwickshire Local Plan?
In 2017, these same sites were removed from the Local Plan by a Government inspector. We had hoped that this would protect the sites for the foreseeable future. However, in 2021 the process restarted, and these sites are once again under threat. The current local plan is being prepared jointly with Stratford District Council and will cover the period from 2025 to 2050.
Despite our consistent engagement, our key concerns have not been addressed or engaged with. We believe this raises serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the process.
Our track record of engagement is as follows:
July 2021 – Scoping and Call for Sites Consultation
Worked with a planning consultancy and submitted a letter setting out why Green Belt development should be avoided.
September 2022 – Publication of Submitted Sites
Provided further analysis and a follow-up letter.
March 2023 – Issues and Options Consultation
Submitted a detailed response, including local feedback and expert planning advice.
March 2025 – Preferred Options Consultation
Submitted a detailed response, a summary of key arguments and further technical planning advice.
June 2026 – Draft Regulation 19 Plan
Shared findings from an independent Green Belt Review that we commissioned.
How does the Local Plan relate to leaflets we have received from developers?
Both LEA1 and LEA2 are subject to speculative and premature consultations by property developers seeking to submit outline planning applications before the local plan is published. The arguments above can be applied to these potential submissions and we will respond along these lines to any official planning application. It appears that the developers seek to take advantage of the sites being included in a draft local plan as evidence that they will be in the final plan. We believe that this is circumventing due process.
Updated: June 15th 2026