Campaigners to fight on after planning approval given for leisure village in Warwickshire

Dec 14 2009 by Tom Scotney, Birmingham Post

He added: “With an existing employment hub at Long Marston, a permanent planning permission will provide certainty for the businesses currently located on site, helping to protect jobs and enabling employers to plan for their future growth.

‘‘Furthermore, the new homes planned will increase the opportunities for homebuyers in the district to get on or move up the property ladder, tapping into the pent up demand for residential properties in Stratford-upon-Avon. We will now continue to liaise with Stratford on Avon District Council as we await a decision from the Secretary of State on the masterplan – which is expected by the end of January.”

St Modwen acquired the 478-acre former MoD army base site in 2004. For a long time the site was lined up for one of the Government’s controversial eco-town developments.

Originally ten of the carbon-neutral developments were planned, drawing fury from locals at what was named the ‘Middle Quinton’ site. People living around the site set up an anti-development group and mounted a legal challenge to the scheme.

The eco-town plans were eventually scaled back to only four sites earlier this year, and St Modwen started to look for other potential uses for the Long Marston site.

Last week, in the Birmingham Post, Mr Dodds defended the new plans saying they would be vital to support employment in the region. St Modwen are backed by a number of employers in the local area.

St Modwen says the new site will safeguard hundreds of jobs. As well as the tourism accommodation and homes, the site will also feature an outdoor activity centre and caravan park, as well as football and cricket pitches and a rail heritage centre.

The firm is waiting for confirmation from the Secretary of State on whether to ‘call in’ the application for further consideration.