Plan to shape growth in Warwick district delayed

Councillors last week approved a revised timetable for its local plan, which sets out sites for new homes, shops and jobs.

Warning of possible challenges to the council’s housing figures, sites and the impact of the Coventry and Warwickshire Gateway scheme creating up to 14,000 jobs around Coventry Airport, development policy manager Dave Barber argued for time for “a full and robust evidence base” to be constructed before the draft submitted to the Secretary of State was prepared. He added infrastructure planning and a community infrastructure levy scheme, in which developers to contribute to schools and other services, had to be developed.

Adoption will only be delayed by a month but the draft plan and levy will be approved in May 2013, four months later than planned, with consultation in June and July and submission in September 2013. The plan would then face examination in public in December 2013 and January 2014, the inspector’s final report due in March or April 2014 and the plan adopted a month later.