Major plans for up to 5,000 homes on the edge of Rugby have been recommended for approval next month

Major plans for up to 5,000 homes on the edge of Rugby are expected to be approved next month.

As well as thousands of homes, the South West Rugby site will also include schools, a GP surgery and a new fire station, among other things.

The revised supplementary planning document setting out the framework for the development of the South West Rugby site looks set to be considered by the council's cabinet on June 7.

Council planners are recommending that councillors approve the plans at the meeting.

The South West Rugby Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) plays an important role in delivering the 5,000 new homes and 35 hectares of employment land earmarked for the 390 hectare site - between Cawston, Bilton and Dunchurch - in the borough's Local Plan.

It details how - and when - the site's schools, green spaces, district centre, GP surgery, fire station and play areas should be delivered alongside housing and employment developments, and places protections on woodland, wildlife and potential sites of archaeological significance.

The SPD includes a 15-metre woodland 'buffer zone' to protect the ancient woodland at Cawston Spinney, as recommended by Natural England, together with plans to transfer the management of the spinney to the council's parks and grounds team via a future Section 106 agreement.

A spokesperson for Rugby Borough Council said: "A landscaped buffer zone between the site and Dunchurch has been included in the SPD to protect the village's character and identity, and the buffer incorporates a 'green corridor' connecting Cawston Spinney to Cock Robin Wood."

The SPD also details the timetable for the delivery of the South West Rugby Spine Road Network, which includes three new roads to link the site to the A45/M45, the A426 and the B4642.

The council launched a public consultation on the draft South West Rugby SPD in October 2019, but amended the document following changes to national planning policy guidance and receiving feedback from residents, statutory consultees and developers.

A further public consultation on the amended draft SPD took place in October 2020 and modifications have now been made to the document.

Homes England, a public body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, has acquired land totalling 65 hectares on the site from Warwickshire County Council, and expects to deliver 900 homes.

A report to the meeting of the council's cabinet on Monday June 7 recommends the council now adopts the South West Rugby SPD.

Cllr Jill Simpson-Vince, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for growth and investment, said: "The South West Rugby site has a key role to play in driving the borough's growth and economic recovery following the pandemic, and the SPD provides an important framework for the site's development, including the delivery of infrastructure.

"Creating a cohesive and sustainable community in South West Rugby has always underpinned our work on the SPD, and the revised draft took on board comments and responses we received from residents, developers and statutory consultees during the consultation in 2019, and incorporated minor, technical amendments reflecting changes to national planning policy guidance.

"The revised SPD going to cabinet includes further modifications and clarifications made following the consultation in October, all of which have been listed in the report, and I'm pleased we're now in a position to recommend the adoption of the SPD for South West Rugby."

Residents can read the cabinet report on the council's website: www.rugby.gov.uk/cabinet