FAQs
Key questions:
Isn’t the Masterplan just a proposal for one big housing estate?
No. The Masterplan proposes a new mixed-use village and extension of the Greenway. The land dedicated to housing makes up less than 10 per cent of the 478 acre site, the overall area of which equates to more than 470 football fields of space. The remaining land will be dedicated to leisure facilities which in addition to the 150 holiday homes, 150 self catering lodges, a leisure hub and an outdoor activity centre which could reflect another St. Modwen development; the Trentham Estate and Gardens in Stoke on Trent. The land would also be dedicated to local amenities, commercial/ employment space and rail based facilities. In addition, the Greenway will also be extended through the site which will encourage cycling and walking locally and to and from Stratford-on-Avon.
Housing
Looking at the responses received in reaction to the masterplan proposals, it appears that most people were in favour of the leisure and employment elements but against the residential. Wouldn’t it have made sense to provide a site made up of only leisure and employment uses?
With over 3,000 people on Stratford-upon-Avon’s residential waiting list, there is no doubt that the site is situated in an area where the need and demand for housing is high and where affordability concerns exist.
Fulfilling housing need is always a sensitive subject and with over 30 years of experience of creating sustainable communities, St. Modwen is very aware of this. However, there is no hiding from the fact that the district needs to identify locations for many new homes by 2026 – the site at Long Marston is well placed to satisfy some of this housing need.
How did you reach the figure of 500 houses?
This figure has been supported by an Assessment of Market and Affordable Houisng Needs carried out by Pioneer in April 2009. Furthermore, the location and size of the site suggests that up to 500 dwellings could be provided which would achieve the critical mass required to create a new community.
What will the houses look like? What mix will there be?
The housing mix would generally comprise family homes of two, three and four bedrooms.
Will there be any affordable housing?
In accordance with Stratford’s current housing policy, 35 per cent of the dwellings built on site will be affordable housing. In addition, a number of properties will be marketed to those who currently work on site and to those who live locally – perhaps with parents – but wish to purchase their own property.
Doesn’t 35 per cent equate to a large number of affordable housing?
This would provide 26 affordable houses a year (less than 7 per cent of the annual need).
How soon will these houses be available to buy?
It is difficult to be precise at this early stage, but possibly by late 2012.
You say that there is demand for housing in Stratford. Have you received any interest for the proposed housing?
Yes. A number of people have already been in contact with us asking when the houses will be available and we have had interest from social/affordable housing landlords, including Orbit. We have also entered into a joint venture with Persimmon Homes PLC to develop the first 300 homes.
Employment
How many people currently work on site?
At the time of submitting our planning application to Stratford-upon-Avon District Council, 532 people were employed on site.
Will there be any new jobs (on top of those are already on site) created as a result of the masterplan proposals?
We believe that as many as 170 additional jobs could be provided on site in connection with the planned leisure village, outdoor activity centre and rail based leisure activity. We would also expect as many as 300 additional construction jobs created as the site is developed.
Leisure
What leisure elements are you proposing as part of the development?
The leisure elements could include outdoor activities such as those found at another St. Modwen development, the Trentham Estate and Gardens in Stoke on Trent which boasts the UK’s first ‘barefoot walk’ a Monkey Forest, Aerial Extreme and attractive lake and garden walks.
In addition, the Greenway will be extended through the site which will encourage cycling and walking locally to and from Stratford-upon-Avon.
The leisure elements will also comprise 150 holiday homes, 150 self catering lodges, a caravan park and a central leisure hub facility which could include a number of uses such as reception, swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis courts and retail facilities. This is also the possibility of a community centre within the hub.
Why do you feel these are the most suitable for this development?
The site is located in an excellent position relative to the tourist destinations of Stratford upon Avon and the Cotswolds. Our research suggests that there is lack of suitable quality leisure accommodation in the area and we feel our scheme would help fill this void. Furthermore, we submitted the proposals for a leisure-led development only after a detailed public consultation exercise where the majority of local support was in favour of this element of the proposals.
Do you already have a leisure company lined up to fulfil this element of the development?
We will provide more details on this part of the site in due course. There is a possibility that St. Modwen would choose to develop the site itself. We have proved our capabilities in the leisure sector through the creation of the Trentham Estate and Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent. This 750 acre Estate offers one of the UK’s most diverse days out with a range of leisure activities for all ages. Currently in its sixth year of a ten year, £100m regeneration programme, it boasts the award-winning Trentham Gardens, featuring a new circular lake walk and the UK’s first ‘barefoot’ walk; an eclectic mix of shops and eateries in its Shopping Village; Monkey Forest and Aerial Extreme.
What happened to Center Parcs?
Center Parcs gave serious consideration to locating to the Long Marston site but eventually found an alternative site that was more in line with their requirements – both in terms of geography and size.
Amenities
Will there be any other local amenities provided as part of the masterplan such as local shops, schools etc?
As part of the central leisure hub there is a proposal to include some retail which will be for the use of all occupiers and residents on site, as well as people in the surrounding villages.