Local Plan: more land needed for jobs to keep pace with demand

The forecasts include the ramifications for the Warwick District Council area with the building of a massive technology and business park by Coventry Airport.

Setting aside land for employment takes into account the 2011 census and the housing and growth forecast by the district council and Coventry City Council.

The district council area’s economy is expected to continue to out-perform the West Midlands, with particular strengths in vehicle building, advanced manufacturing and engineering.

The district is home to the Warwick Manufacturing Group which is a hotbed of innovation, the Serious Games Institute and agriculture-focused jobs in science, research and development at Stoneleigh Park.

Based on forecasts the report said employment is expected to increase by 11.6 per cent – 10,200 jobs – up to 2029.

Options for employment land of up to eight hectares – the approximate size of eight football pitches – include land to the south of Gallows Hill, opposite Warwick Technology Park.

Another option is north of Gallows Hill, adjacent to Warwick Technology Park.

While eight hectares of development land at Thickthorn, next to the A46-Kenilworth bypass, is also earmarked for employment, which could be offices.

The report identifies “poorer quality” employment areas which may be suitable for redevelopment.

The 19.5 hectares include Sydenham Industrial Estate, Cape Road-Millers Road in Warwick, Common Lane, Kenilworth, and Montague Road Industrial Estate, Warwick.