STRATFORD ON AVON NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
SECTION 8: ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Objective
Policies
8A: Ensure adequate open space and green
areas
8A-P1 Protect existing open spaces and green
areas
8A-P2 Provide open spaces in allocated
development areas
8A-P3 Provide open space in windfall
development sites
8A-P4 Provide new food growing space, such as
allotments
8B: Improve open spaces and green areas
8B-P1 Provide suitable protection for local
wildlife sites
8B-P2 [Proposals for specific sites]
8C: Maintain the town’s natural environment
and protect its biodiversity
8C-P1 Protect existing trees and plant new ones
8C-P2 Safeguard and enhance the town’s
biodiversity and natural habitats
8D: Ensure high quality sports facilities are
available within the town – To be added?
8D-P1 To be added?
8E: Ensure new development is adapted for
climate change
8E-P1 Climate change risk assessment of new
developments
8F: New developments should address any
flooding or drainage problems
8F-P1 Incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage
Systems (SUDS) into all new development
8F-P2 All new development proposals to include
a drainage strategy
8G: Encourage energy efficiency and sustainable
development
8G-P1 New buildings: sustainable construction
8G-P2 Prepare Sustainable Stratford Plan
Objective 8A: Ensure adequate open spaces and green areas
Stratford’s green spaces are the single most important thing that people like about the town. They
were highly rated by one in six respondents in the survey of views carried out in early 2012 – a
higher proportion than any other aspect of the town.
Policy 8A-P1 Protect existing green spaces
The following green spaces will be retained and protected.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
All existing Green Belt which falls within the boundary of this plan
The river and canal corridors
The Racecourse Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Site
Welcome Hills and Clopton Park Local Nature Reserve
Bordon Hill Local Wildlife Site
The stretch of “The Greenway” which falls within this plan
[All areas of flood plain that have been designated Flood Zone 3 by the Environment Agency]
8.1 NOTE FOR DISCUSSION. Areas A, C, D and E have legal status which gives them some degree of
protection. Areas B and E do not have any specific legal status, and we may need clearer definition of
what is protected. Area G actually overlaps some of the other areas (B, C, F?) – so how is this best
handled?
Version 8 of the draft Neighbourhood Plan contains a longer list of green spaces which it says are
protected. This is as follows. Are there additional areas we should include in Policy 8A-P1?
The existing Green Belt areas that fall within the boundary of this plan - ABOVE
All school playing fields – SPORTS GROUNDS
Shottery Fields - ?
The area between Shottery, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Bordon Hill - ?
Bordon Hill itself - ?
The Canal Corridor (as defined in Section 3 of this plan) - ABOVE
The environs of the non-green belt land around the new Waitrose development - ?
The flood plain of the River from Alveston to Claverdon - ?
The Fields from Tiddington to Banbury Road, bounded by Pimlico Lane to the east - ?
The land between Mount Pleasant and the bypass - ?
Stratford's Sporting Facilities – The Race Course - The Rugby Club – its Football fields –
Stratford-on-Avon Golf Course – Stratford Tennis and Cricket clubs – SPORTS GROUNDS
Green space to be allocated to the Station approach - ?
Grove Road - ?
Seven Meadows to Weir Brake Lock including the arable land between The Rec and Seven
Meadows Road - ?
The Welcombe Hills -?
All riverside fields between the Tiddington Road and the River - ?
The Greenway & Warwick Road Lands – GREENWAY ABOVE
Policy 8A-P2 Provide green spaces in allocated development areas
Developers must provide for publicly accessible open space in the areas covered by site-specific
policies in Section 3. Wherever possible, these green spaces should connect to other green spaces.
8.2 NOTE FOR DISCUSSION. It is intended that site-specific plans will be prepared to guide the
development of certain areas, and that these will be included in Section 3 of the Neighbourhood Plan.
This policy sets a general framework for these plans, requiring that green space is included within
them and that the design of the developments should aim to connect up areas of green space. The
actual wording, however, will depend of the detail included in plans in Section 3, which may include
green space planning.
Policy 8A-P3 Provide open space in windfall development sites
For sites of 0.4 hectares or more, publicly accessible open space that is appropriate to the character
and location of the site should be provided in accordance with Stratford-on-Avon District Council
standards.
8.3 NOTE FOR DISCUSSION. This policy copies one from the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. Its aim is to
guide the provision of open space in the development of windfall sites. The Thame document refers
to District Council standards: we need to check if SDC has such standards.
Policy 8A-P4 Provide new food growing space, such as allotments
All housing development of more than [25] homes should ensure each home has a minimum of [20]
square metres garden or growing space, either as part of the property or in the form of nearby
allotments.
8.4 NOTE FOR DISCUSSION. A research report carried out to provide background to SDC’s Core
Strategy found under-provision of allotments in Stratford (details to be checked and provided). The
Town Council has been trying for some time to secure new sites for allotments, but with little success.
This policy would require developers of larger housing sites to provide gardens or their equivalent in
allotments. An alternative approach, as used in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, is to designate
allotment areas in site-specific plans – but this would require such sites to be identified.
Objective 8B: Improve open spaces and green areas
Although a number of areas have been identified as important green areas, some lack legal
protection, while others could benefit from improvements.
Policy 8B-P1 Provide protection for local wildlife sites
The following areas will be declared Local Nature Reserves.
A. Warwick Road Lands Local Wildlife Site
B. Bridgetown Woodland and Meadowland
8.5 Although these two areas have been identified as important for retention for the benefit of local
wildlife, they currently lack the protected status of a Local Nature Reserve.
NOTE FOR DISCUSSION: We may need to identify these sites on a map. Are there any other sites to be
included?
Policy 8B-P2 [Proposals for specific sites]
[The Thame Neighbourhood Plan includes a number of specific proposals for improving named areas
of green or open space within the town. Do we wish to include any such proposals in the Stratford
Neighbourhood Plan?]
NOTE FOR DISCUSSION: There may be ideas for one or more of the sites listed in Version 8 of the
draft Neighbourhood Plan and given in the Note for Discussion for Policy 8A-P1 above?
Objective 8C: Maintain the town’s natural environment and protect its biodiversity
Trees bring a number of benefits, many of which will be more important in future years because of
climate change. They reduce the effects of flash flooding, they provide shade and keep places cooler
in summer, and they help to preserve biodiversity. Trees also create a sense of place and have a
positive impact on people’s physical and mental health. Equally important are other habitats.
8C-P1 Protect existing trees and plant new ones
All new development will be expected to protect mature trees. Where this is not possible, new trees
should be planted to replace those lost. New developments should incorporate the planting of
appropriate native trees and shrubs in their plans.
8.6 Plans for new developments should include areas for trees and shrubs, which should be
integrated into the overall purpose and structure of the development. Where an area for
development includes existing mature trees, plans should be based on the assumption that these
trees will be preserved.
8C-P2 Safeguard and enhance the town’s biodiversity and natural habitats
Proposals for new developments should take into account the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and
show what effect, if any, they will have on local biodiversity. Where plans involve a loss of
biodiversity or habitat, appropriate habitat should be created in mitigation.
8.7 Habitats such as trees, woods, meadows, water and scrubland can be found with the town. It is
important to preserve a wide range of habitats if the town’s biodiversity is to be maintained and
enhanced. Where developments would involve a loss of habitats, developers should include
proposals for mitigating any loss of biodiversity.
Objective 8D: Ensure high quality sports facilities are available within the town
To be added?
8D-P1 To be added?
Text to be added?
8.6 NOTE FOR DISCUSSION The current draft of the Stratford Neighbourhood Plan says nothing about
outdoor sports facilities and whether these need preserving or improving. There was a short
reference to public views about sports facilities in the consultation report prepared last year, but this
hasn’t been picked up the draft Plan. Should we include anything? If so, what? Or just assume that
sports facilities are generally sound? The Note for Discussionunder Policy 8A-P1 above includes a list
of areas of open space included in Version 8 of the draft Neighbourhood Plan; this includes a number
of outdoor sports facilities.
Objective 8E: Ensure new development is adapted for climate change
For Stratford over the next 20 years, climate change is likely to mean increased risk of extreme
weather: heavy rain leading to flooding, heat waves which threaten health, especially for older
people. Beyond Stratford, efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change will tend to increase the
costs of fossil fuels, affecting energy and transport bills.
Policy 8E-P1 Climate change risk assessment of new developments
All new development should be subject to an assessment of the risks posed by climate change – in
particular, the risks posed by flooding, heat waves and higher energy costs. Where the assessment
highlights risks, developers will be expected to include actions to mitigate such risks in their
development proposals.
8.7 Risk assessments should be undertaken by a suitably qualified assessor who is independent of
the developer. Developers may prepare their own proposals for mitigation of identified risks, but
these proposals should show how the proposals relate to generally accepted good practice.
Objective 8F: New developments should address any flooding or drainage problems
Stratford has experienced many incidents of flooding over the past few years: major flooding along
the River Avon and more small-scale flooding elsewhere in the town. New development must not
make flooding worse. New developments should therefore aim to reduce the risk of flooding in the
area through the layout and design of the development, and through the appropriate application of
sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).
8F-P1 Incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) into all new development
All new developments must incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems to reduce the run-off
of surface water.
8.8 The SUDS must be designed to complement existing drainage systems and must meet any
requirements set by the relevant regulatory authorities. New developments should seek to maximise
opportunities for ground water retention and minimise the risk of storm flooding.
8F-P2 All new development proposals to include a drainage strategy
All proposals for the development must include a Drainage Strategy which sets out the approach to
SUDS, the approach to foul drainage, and any implications for existing drainage systems.
8.9 Applicants will be expected to have sent the Drainage Strategy for comment to the relevant
regulatory authorities – currently, the Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water, and Warwickshire
County Council – before it is submitted with a development application.
Objective 8G: Encourage energy efficiency and sustainable development
The energy used in buildings accounts for a significant proportion of our carbon emissions. New
buildings can be designed to minimise their use of energy and, in some circumstances, to generate
energy from renewable sources. We must also look for opportunities to improve the sustainability
of the town as a whole – not only improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings but also
seeking to reduce carbon emissions from transport and other sources.
8G-P1 New buildings: sustainable construction
All new developments will meet the minimum requirements in force at the time through the Code
for Sustainable Homes [and its equivalent for non-domestic buildings – REFERENCE TO BE CHECKED].
Development plans for sites in Section 3 will be expected to include proposals for exceeding these
standards
8.10 Text to be added
8G-P2 Prepare Sustainable Stratford Plan
Developer contributions will be sought to meet the costs of preparing and implementing a
Sustainable Stratford Plan.
8.11 It is standard practice to require developers to prepare travel plans for proposed new
developments. The proposed Sustainable Stratford Plan will build on these initiatives, seeking to
encourage [list taken from Thame Neighbourhood Plan]




the use of local shops and facilities
reuse and recycling of waste, including commercial waste
walking, cycling and the use of public transport
actions to reduce the use of energy and water.
NOTE FOR DISCUSSION: The Thame Neighbourhood Plan includes more detail about developer
contributions and implementation. Should we add more here? Should we have links to initiatives in
other parts of the Plan?