Site Location and Context
Background
The site is approximately 4.4 hectares on the western edge of Stratford-upon-Avon, just south of Evesham Road (B439). It is a single arable field that gently slopes from the lower slopes of Bordon Hill towards the east. Existing hedgerows and trees form strong boundaries. The land sits next to the town’s edge and recent housing at Whittington Way and Shottery, so it reads as a logical and contained extension of the town.
Stratford has a full range of shops, schools, healthcare and leisure facilities. Most everyday needs are within walking or cycling distance, and the town centre and railway station are also easy to reach. Bus stops on Evesham Road near Limes Avenue are about 400 metres from the site and are served by regular services to Stratford, Bidford and Evesham.
There are no public rights of way across the field, but there is a good local network nearby, including National Cycle Network Route 5 to the south. The proposals will add new permissive footpaths through the development and improve links along Evesham Road. This includes wider shared paths for walking and cycling to the Luddington Road roundabout and, if needed, a signal-controlled crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
The layout will be landscape-led. Existing hedgerows will be kept and strengthened. New homes will be focused on the lower parts of the slope to protect views and the setting of Bordon Hill. The scheme will include new green spaces, children’s play, sustainable drainage features and strong tree and shrub planting. On adjoining land under the applicant’s control, new woodland and meadow or orchard planting will increase wildlife value and create a greener western approach to Stratford, with new permissive paths offering views back towards the town. Overall, this is a well-located site for new homes that can be delivered sensitively and in a way that supports the local community.
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Planning Policy
Stratford-on-Avon District Council is the local planning authority. The development plan includes the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy 2011–2031, adopted in July 2016. Settlement boundaries are set by the Core Strategy and confirmed locally through neighbourhood planning. The Core Strategy planned for growth across the district, with most new homes focused on Stratford-upon-Avon and the main towns, and further growth directed to larger villages.
Because the Core Strategy is more than five years old, national policy says that if the Council cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites, the most important policies for deciding the application may be treated as out of date and the “presumption in favour of sustainable development” can apply.
In December 2024, the Government changed the way local housing need is calculated. Under this updated approach, Stratford-on-Avon District’s need is about 1,126 homes per year. Following these changes, a recent planning appeal decision for Bordon Hill concluded that the Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply. The inspector found the supply to be between 2.74 and 4.23 years, depending on the assumptions used, which is below the five-year requirement and therefore a clear shortfall.
Stratford-upon-Avon is a highly sustainable location with strong services, schools, jobs and transport. Delivering new homes here can help meet district needs, including affordable housing, so that more local people can live and remain in the community. Our proposals respond to this by providing a well-connected scheme with a mix of homes to meet local needs.
