THE controversial South Western Relief Road and Long Marston Airfield development is one step closer to becoming a reality.
Cala Homes submitted plans for the Long Marston Airfield Garden Village scheme of 3,100 homes along with the road to Stratford District Council – both which were included in the council’s core strategy, which shapes the future of the district until 2031.
The developers already have outline planning approval for the first phase of 400 homes at Long Marston Airfield. This second application is for the rest of the Garden Village, which delivers the remaining homes along with shops, a community centre, a GP surgery and primary and secondary schools.
Feedback from a consultation event held last November found residents were keen on a mix of housing and Cala says it has responded by providing a larger number of smaller homes. Traffic on the B4632 Campden Road has also been addressed, with improvements proposed along the route at Clifford Chambers.
The second application is for the South Western Relief Road (SWRR), which developers say will help with the amount of traffic generated by the Garden Village.
If given the green light the two mile road would run between Shipston Road near Orchard Hill Farm, and Luddington Road.
Developers say they listened to public views at an exhibition earlier this year, which focused on the design of the road, and have incorporated them into the final design.
It includes a double arched bridge, which townspeople felt would be conventional and elegant. Arches were chosen for the viaduct and stone-clad façade panels have also been incorporated to help to blend the road into the local landscape.
The height of the proposed acoustic barrier has also been lowered and low level lighting chosen to minimise visual impact.
Cala spokesman Michael Emett said: : “We have spent the last few months working hard to ensure our final proposal for Long Marston Airfield Garden Village delivers a new, vibrant and sustainable community to help meet Stratford district’s long-term development needs, and the SWRR proposal puts forward the most appropriate design to help mitigate the traffic impact of the development.
“The public had strong opinions on many aspects of the SWRR proposals presented and we have tried, where possible, to incorporate the suggestions made into the final application. “They will of course be able to provide further feedback on the proposals via the district council’s website, as part of the consultation process.”
