AN ATTEMPT to block plans for a controversial new village has failed at a council meeting to decide the future shape of the borough.
At a special Rugby Borough Council (RBC) meeting yesterday (Wednesday June 21), the Rugby Borough Local Plan – which sets out which sites in the borough will be allocated for housing and employment land – was approved by councillors and will be sent to government for examination.
Coun Emma Crane proposed an amendment to remove Lodge Farm – a mooted new 1,500-home garden village to the south west of the A45, near Grandborough – from the plan, but was narrowly defeated by 20 votes to 18.
Allocating sites throughout the borough to deliver 12,400 homes by 2031, the submission Local Plan also allocates 110 hectares of employment land and more than 8000 square meters of retail space.
The accompanying infrastructure delivery plan identifies additional facilities at the Hospital of St Cross, primary and secondary schools, doctors surgeries, and highway improvements, all at the request of statutory consultees such as the NHS and Warwickshire County Council.
The plan is the product of years of detailed work, including reports, studies and wide-reaching consultation on issues including housing numbers, growth distribution and site options.
It will be submitted to an inspector who will assess the plan for soundness based on its supporting data and evidence, community involvement and compliance with national policy.
The inspector will then decide if the Plan requires any changes.
RBC growth and investment spokeswoman Coun Heather Timms said: “Submitting the Rugby Borough Local Plan to the Secretary of State is a significant step towards delivering planned, sustainable growth with the supporting roads and other infrastructure that we need.
“It also places us in a stronger position when dealing with unplanned speculative development.
“If the inspector agrees the Plan is sound, we hope to bring it before the council to adopt in Spring 2018.”
The plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State in July. An independently appointed government inspector will then call an examination in public, expected to take place later this year. The inspector decides which issues require special hearings and will invite speakers to present relevant evidence.
Everyone who made representations in previous consultations will be notified and details will also be published on the council website at www.rugby.gov.uk/localplan.
