Warning ahead of vote for Rugby's local plan as row rumbles on
The councillor in charge of Rugby’s local plan this week told political rivals that opposing it would do more harm to rural areas than seeing it through.
Rugby Borough Council’s portfolio holder for growth, investment, digital and communications Councillor Louise Robinson (Lab, Admirals & Cawston) issued the warning in response to Conservative leader Councillor Derek Poole (Con, Wolston & the Lawfords) stating his group would vote against taking the current plan to a final public consultation later this month.
The matter was discussed by the cabinet – the panel of Labour councillors in charge of major service areas – ahead of the vote of all councillors on Wednesday, January 21.
A council’s local plan is a document that allocates future sites for new housing, infrastructure and employment with Labour taking power from the Tories during the process of Rugby’s refresh.
It has turned into a battleground with housing now proposed on the edge of rural villages as opposed to building new and larger settlements with dedicated infrastructure, such as Lodge Farm. The Tories have also argued more should be done to develop further in urban areas.
Scores of people turned out to object in March 2025 with so many attending that entry to the usually-empty public gallery was ticket only.
Council responses to the second consultation state that more has been done to develop in urban areas, and while Lodge Farm is seen as a “reasonable alternative”, it was ruled out due to issues including “highways impacts and viability challenges”.
In her introduction to cabinet, Cllr Robinson said “a whole raft of risks” were associated with not seeing through what she described as a “sound plan”, declaring a “high degree of confidence” in the work done by council officials and elected officials to get to this point.
The debate
Councillor Isabelle McKenzie (Lib Dem, Rokeby & Overslade) highlighted the “massive risk” associated with Rugby’s current position of not having five-year housing land supply, meaning developers have more scope to ask to build on land that is not currently allocated for housing.
Despite a “pretty arduous” past year, she argued “there is an awful lot to be proud of in this local plan”.
However, Cllr Poole described it as “a total waste of time for us”.
“You’ve hammered us in the rural areas, not once but twice,” he said.
“I have gone from 400 to 650 (new homes) and Brinklow is exactly the same. You’ve done us no favours whatsoever. I won’t be here (for the meeting) but my group will vote against it.”
Leader Councillor Michael Moran (Lab, Admirals & Cawston) hit back.
“The local plan is not intended to do you any favours, that’s not the point,” he retorted.
“I appreciate the local plan has been done in a way for the previous 20 years. I am very proud that this local plan has been done in a very arm’s length, professional way, one which has given the chance for evidence to come forward in a dispassionate and pure way in order to assess needs and demands.”
Describing the plan as “fantastic” but also “not perfect”, Cllr Moran expressed faith that it was the best it could be.
“Historically, Rugby has been massively overbuilt, way above the numbers required,” he continued.
“We have turned that around, the numbers are as tight as they can be, but we have done it in a way that protects key parts of the borough.
“Rainsbrook Valley is protected for the first time, parts of south Rugby around Dunchurch and the villages are protected. Yes, an element of housing needs to be allocated to certain villages, that comes with growth on a sustainable basis.”
Conservatives did 'not put forward any viable alternative'
Cllr Robinson concluded with concern that Cllr Poole and right-hand man Councillor Simon Ward (Con, Wolston & the Lawfords) were “clearly very focused on your ward”.
“That doesn’t demonstrate to me consideration of the bigger picture which is what we have to look at here,” she argued.
“If each councillor is just concerned about the impact for their ward and whether they will get elected next time, we won’t have a local plan.
“Development has to happen somewhere. If this plan fails – and it could, the votes are very tight in this chamber – through the Conservatives unilaterally deciding to vote it down then it will be for the Conservatives to explain when the applications come forward for all those sites in Brinklow, Wolvey, Hillmorton on the Rainsbrook Valley that we are looking to protect.
"The site at Lodge Farm would put massive pressure on Dunchurch. When I refer to Dunchurch and Hillmorton, I am talking about Conservative-held wards and I seem to care more about protecting them than the Conservative opposition.
“I hope there will be some sincere reflection and capacity to see the bigger picture, at the very least some willingness to consider abstaining from the vote to help ensure the local plan goes forward.
“Frankly, there is no viable alternative. The Conservative group has not put forward any viable alternative.
“All I have read from social media is a preference for sustainable urban extensions. That would only mean Lodge Farm or Cosford and they were massively unpopular options in the consultation.”
If voted through on January 21, the final consultation is scheduled to run from Monday, January 26, until Monday, March 9, informing what should be the last round of tweaks before it is sent to a national planning inspector to check it is sound and legal.