Local Plan evidence base

Introduction

This page publishes documents which form the evidence base for the proposed submission Local Plan.

The evidence is being published now (December 2025), principally for the information of Cabinet and Council. Cabinet and Council will consider a report in January 2026 which will seek approval to commence public consultation on this latest version of the plan.

View the cabinet report, including the proposed submission Local Plan
View the online policies map (opens new window)
The evidence base supporting the proposed submission Local Plan can be viewed by following the links below/right

The opportunity to provide feedback on the emerging Local Plan and the evidence base will be provided in the period of public consultation (see potential dates below), subject to the approval of Council. Therefore, we are not inviting feedback at this time, and any received outside of the public consultation period may not be considered.

The timetable for decision-making is summarised below:

What is happening?	When is it happening?
Publication of Cabinet report, including the proposed submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan. The evidence documents on this page support this.	19 December 2025
Cabinet meeting – to consider the report and make a recommendation to Council.	06 January 2026
Council meeting – to decide whether to commence public consultation on the proposed submission Local Plan.	21 January 2026
Public consultation period (subject to the decision of Council)	26 January 2026 – 09 March 2026

View information on previous rounds of consultation on the Local Plan

The following evidence has informed the proposed submission Local Plan put forward for the consideration of Cabinet and Council in January 2026.

Development needs

View or download the following documents on Development needs

Document	Description	Date completed
Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) Report	The HEDNA provides an assessment of the need for housing, economic growth potential and employment land across Coventry & Warwickshire. It considers the scale of overall housing need, the need for different types of homes, and the state of the housing market, as well as the broader economic dynamics and growth potential of the sub-region.	November 2022
Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA) Executive Summary	This document provides a summary of the HEDNA report described above.	November 2022
Updated Housing Needs Evidence	A report that updates the housing needs evidence for the borough in the Coventry and Warwickshire Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment 2022.	September 2025
West Midlands Strategic Employment Sites Study (WMSESS) Report	This is a study of strategic employment sites across much of the West Midlands. It provides recommendations about the number and type of sites required to support the continued economic growth of the region.	August 2024
HEDNA – WMSESS Alignment Paper	This paper addresses the overlaps between the aforementioned HEDNA and WMSESS to provide aligned recommendations about employment land needs.	November 2024
HEDNA – WMSESS Alignment Paper Addendum	This report summarises the key issues arising from a review of representations made regarding the HEDNA-WMSESS Alignment Paper and sets out key issues requiring further consideration.	November 2025
Homes-Jobs Alignment Paper	This paper considers the alignment between homes and jobs with the findings of the strategic Housing Market Area evidence.	December 2025
Office Needs Assessment Update	This assessment reviews and updates the findings of the HEDNA in relation to office space needs.	November 2025
Gypsy and Traveller, Travelling Showperson and Houseboat Accommodation Assessment	This assessment identifies the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers, travelling showpeople and houseboat occupants, and makes recommendations for how this need can be met through planning policy.	February 2025
Gyspy and Traveller Supply Position Note	Outlines the identified supply of Gyspy and Traveller pitches for the new local plan period.	December 2025
Development Needs Topic Paper	This paper provides a summary of the Council’s position on the future development needs of the borough with a focus on housing and employment land.	December 2025
Whole Plan Trajectory (Detailed)	This document outlines the trajectory for housing development across the new local plan period. It is a more detailed version of the trajectory that is presented in Appendix 1 of the plan.	December 2025

Strategic assessments

View or download the following documents on Strategic assessments

Document	Description	Date completed
Sustainability Appraisal	This document identifies reasonable alternative spatial options capable of delivering the borough’s housing and employment needs.	December 2025
Local Plan Viability Study	This report tests the ability of developments to accommodate policies outlined in the Pre-Submission plan alongside prevailing rates of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), as well as alternative contributions towards community infrastructure through a range of Section 106 contributions.	December 2025
Infrastructure Delivery Schedule	The Infrastructure Delivery Schedule specifies what infrastructure is required to support development and outlines how it will be provided.	December 2025
Green Belt Contribution Study: Strategic Assessment	This study assesses the contribution that Green Belt land within the Borough makes to the five Green Belt purposes as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).	October 2025
Green Belt Contribution Study: Stage 2 Site Contribution Assessments	Following on from the Strategic Assessment, this second stage Green Belt study provides more detailed analysis of land within sites that are being promoted for development.	December 2025
Strategic Transport Assessment	This document assesses the impact of various growth scenarios on the key transport corridors and locations for all modes of transport across the borough.	December 2025
Strategic Transport Assessment Non-Technical Summary	This document provides a brief non-technical summary of the Strategic Transport Assessment’s methodology and key findings.	December 2025
Strategic Transport Assessment Addendum	This STA addendum documents the effect that the proposed Regulation 19 submission sites will have on the operation of the transport network inclusive of the revised plan period (running to 2042).	December 2025
Strategic Transport Assessment South West Rugby Employment Sensitivity Test	Further transport analysis in response to amendments to the development quantum planned for the South-West Rugby Employment Phase II site.	December 2025
Rural Sustainability Study Report	This document reports the results of a study of the borough’s rural settlements. It records the access that each settlement has to services and facilities, public transport and the internet, then ranks their sustainability based on this information.	December 2024
Urban Capacity Study Report	This study seeks to quantify the potential for accommodating new homes on land and buildings within the built-up area of Rugby.	November 2025
Urban Capacity Study Proformas	This document contains the proformas for all of the sites considered within the Urban Capacity Study.	November 2025

Site selection

View or download the following documents on Site selection

Document	Description	Date completed
Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) Appendix 4, Proformas Appendix 5, Maps	The HELAA is a technical report that provides information on the range of sites which are available to meet the need for housing and employment land. The assessment covers sites put forward by landowners and those identified by officers through desktop review.	December 2025
Housing and Economic Land Availability (HELAA) Addendum	This addendum covers 11 additional potential development allocation sites plus four Gypsy and Traveller pitch sites. These sites were either submitted by promoters after the original Call for Sites or have subsequently been modified since the HELAA was produced.	October 2025
Stage 2 Site Assessment Report	This document reports on the detailed assessment of sites identified in the HELAA as not being developable without changes to policy. The assessments are primarily composed of technical analyses of constraints and opportunities.	December 2025
Spatial Strategy and Site Selection Methodology Summary	This document summarises the stages undertaken for the site selection process and development of reasonable alternative spatial strategy options.	December 2025
Green Belt Exceptional Circumstances Topic Paper	This topic paper sets out the council’s position on exceptional circumstances justifying changes to Green Belt boundaries.	December 2025
Transport Network Analysis Methodology Note Site Ranking by Congestion Level Baseline Data Tables Baseline vs BSIP Measures Data Tables	These documents provide an initial assessment of the transport network implications resulting from the delivery of potential development sites identified by the Council through the "call for sites" process.	February 2025

Centres

View or download the following documents on Centres

Document	Description	Date completed
Retail and Town Centre Uses Study Report Appendix 1, Study Area Appendix 2, Household Survey Results Appendix 3, Rugby Town Centre Healthcheck Appendix 4, Quantitative Retail Tables Appendix 5, Quantitative Leisure Tables Appendix 6, Proposed Boundaries	This study considers the need for additional retail and leisure facilities in the borough and assesses the vitality and viability of Rugby town centre.	October 2024
Local Centres Study Report	This study assesses the vitality of a range of potential local centres in the borough, records opportunities for their improvement, and recommends which locations should be formally designated as centres within the local plan’s settlement hierarchy.	September 2024

Document

Description

Date completed

Retail and Town Centre Uses Study Report

Appendix 1, Study Area

Appendix 2, Household Survey Results

Appendix 3, Rugby Town Centre Healthcheck

Appendix 4, Quantitative Retail Tables

Appendix 5, Quantitative Leisure Tables

Appendix 6, Proposed Boundaries

This study considers the need for additional retail and leisure facilities in the borough and assesses the vitality and viability of Rugby town centre.

October 2024

Local Centres Study Report

This study assesses the vitality of a range of potential local centres in the borough, records opportunities for their improvement, and recommends which locations should be formally designated as centres within the local plan’s settlement hierarchy.

September 2024

Climate and environment

View or download the following documents on Climate and environment

Document	Description	Date completed
Ecological Constraints Assessment	This report assesses the ecological constraints at 53 ecologically sensitive HELAA sites, identifies potential impacts of development, and outlines recommendations for mitigating impacts.	October 2025
Ecological Constraints Assessment, Technical Advice Note for Site 50	This note provides further assessment of ecological constraints at site 50 (Prologis Park Ryton West, Ryton-on-Dunsmore) which complements the information provided in the full Ecological Constraints Assessment document.	January 2025
Ecological Constraints Assessment, Technical Advice Note for Sites 50, 71, 121, 133 and 315	This note provides further assessment of ecological constraints at sites 50, 71, 121, 133 and 315 which complements the information provided in the full Ecological Constraints Assessment document.	August 2025
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Screening Report	This document screens the preferred options plan to identify whether it contains any aspects which may lead to a ‘Likely Significant Effect’ at any sites deemed to be of international importance to rare and vulnerable species of birds which have been given special protection as important conservation areas.	February 2025
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Appropriate Assessment	This document provides an ‘appropriate assessment’ of the likely significant effects identified by the HRA Screening Report.	December 2025
Renewable Energy Potential Mapping Methodology	This document explains the methodology used to identify suitable broad locations for renewable energy development based on their technical potential.	August 2024
Renewable Energy Analysis Map	This map shows the broad locations suitable for renewable energy development identified through an application of the methodology explained in the previous document.	August 2024
Sub-regional Green Infrastructure Strategy	This strategy seeks to provide evidence to support the preparation of plans, policies and strategies relating to Green Infrastructure within the sub-region of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. It specifies how Green Infrastructure can be delivered with the help of landholders and other relevant stakeholders.	August 2024
Net Zero Evidence Report	This document provides evidence that justifies the proposed policy on net zero carbon buildings.	November 2025
Net Zero Evidence - Carbon Budget Assessment	This document explores whether Policy CL1 can be demonstrated to be necessary in order for Rugby to remain in line with its net zero ambition.	August 2025

Heritage and landscape

View or download the following documents on Heritage and landscape

Document	Description	Date completed
Heritage Assessment	This document assesses the potential heritage impacts of development at 30 sites where designated heritage assets are present or in close proximity.	December 2025
Landscape Character Assessment	This assessment identifies and explains the unique combination of elements and features that distinguish the landscapes found within the borough.	January 2025
Landscape Sensitivity Assessments, Larger Sites	This document assesses the resilience or robustness of landscapes to potential changes arising from development proposals. It is intended to help decision makers understand how landscapes may be affected. The focus is on 33 larger sites/groups of sites.	March 2025
Landscape Sensitivity Assessments, Larger Sites, Post-mitigation Assessments	This document re-assesses the landscape sensitivity of eight large sites (73, 96, 121, 130, 253, 316, 325, 328) in light of additional landscape evidence submitted by site promoters.	December 2025
Landscape Sensitivity Assessments, Smaller Sites	This document assesses the resilience or robustness of landscapes to potential changes arising from development proposals. It is focused on 64 smaller sites and was produced in-house by RBC planning officers.	November 2025
Validation of Landscape Sensitivity Assessments, Smaller Sites	This document provides an independent review of the Landscape Sensitivity Assessments that were conducted by RBC planning officers.	December 2025
Rainsbrook Valley Landscape Sensitivity Assessment	This document reports on an assessment of the landscape sensitivity of the Rainsbrook Valley.	December 2025
Areas of Separation Study Report	This study assesses areas between Rugby town and its nearby villages, identifying the boundaries and characteristics of potential ‘areas of separation’.	November 2025

Water

View or download the following documents on Water

Document	Description	Date completed
Stage 1 Water Cycle Study Report Appendix A10, Water Quality Maps Appendix A11, A3 Mapping Pack	This study assesses the impacts that future development within the sub-region of Coventry & Warwickshire could have on water supply, wastewater collection and treatment and water quality. It is required to assess the constraints and requirements that will arise from potential growth on the water infrastructure.	August 2024
Stage 2 Water Cycle Study Report	This study assesses the impact that several potential growth scenarios in Rugby borough could have on the water infrastructure and water environment of the sub-region. It is more focused than the prior Stage 1 study.	December 2025
Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Report Appendix A, Interactive Flood Mapping Appendix B, Data Sources Appendix C, User Guide Appendix D, Flood Alerts and Flood Warnings Appendix E, Summary of Flood Risk Appendix F, Cumulative Impact Assessment	This report provides a robust evidence base on flood risk in the borough. It is intended to assist in the management of this risk by informing decisions, including the selection of sites for development and formation of planning policies.	October 2022
Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Report	The Level 2 SFRA provides detailed assessments of eight sites identified as having significant flood risk and/or access and egress issues.	To be published before 21 January 2026
Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Sequential Test Report	This document applies the flood risk sequential test to allocations made by the local plan.	To be published before 21 January 2026

Wellbeing

View or download the following documents on Wellbeing

Document	Description	Date completed
Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy, Assessment Report	This report presents a supply and demand assessment of playing pitch and outdoor sport facilities in the area.	July 2023
Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy	This document presents a strategy for the provision of playing pitches and outdoor sports facilities across the borough, including: a vision for the protection, improvement and development of provision; a series of sport-by-sport recommendations; and prioritised area-by-area and site-by-site action plans.	July 2023
Note on Calculation of Playing Pitch Costs	This document explains how the playing pitch costs that are set out in the appendices of the Pre-Submission Local Plan have been calculated.	October 2025
Open Space Quality Audit Report Executive Summary Drawing 1, Open Spaces Drawing 2, Quality Audit Drawing 3, Value Audit Drawing 4, Indices of Multiple Deprivation and Quality Drawing 5, Indices of Multiple Deprivation and Value	This report assesses the quality and value of open spaces across the borough. It recommends standards to be pursued and makes recommendations for how poor quality and low value open spaces can be improved.	March 2025
Open Space Study Report	Incorporating the results of the quality audit provided above, this study quantifies the current provision of open space across the borough, proposes updated open space standards, and applies these standards to identify areas of deficiency.	December 2025

Other papers

View or download the following documents on Other papers

Document	Description	Date completed
Equality Impact Assessment	An Equality Impact Assessment for the Pre-Submission Local Plan.	December 2025
Local Plan Consultation Statement	This document summarises and responds to the representations made regarding the Preferred Options Consultation Document.	December 2025
Duty to Cooperate Compliance Statement	This statement will demonstrate how the Council has engaged with neighbouring authorities on cross-boundary issues.	To be published before 21 January 2026
Education Topic Paper	This report explains how the future need for school spaces is modelled and then presents the results with commentary on their likely implications.	December 2025
Nationally Described Space Standards Report	This document reports on whether properties within developments granted planning permission over the last five years have met the Nationally Described Space Standards.	February 2025
Houses in Multiple Occupation Topic Paper	This topic paper provides an overview of the status, issues and impacts of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within the Rugby Borough area and the policy implications this could have.	October 2025
Windfall Allowance Report	This document reports on the number of small site windfall completions recorded in the borough over the last ten years. Its purpose is to indicate whether the estimation of 50 small site windfall completions per year used for the emerging plan is accurate.	September 2025
The Development of Rugby Borough 2011-2024 Topic Paper	This topic paper provides a brief overview of how Rugby Borough has changed between the years 2011 and 2024, with a broad focus on demographics, housing, the local economy and the built environment.	September 2024
Rugby Parkway Station - Safeguarding Land for Future Expansion	This document puts forward the case for safeguarding land adjacent to the proposed Rugby Parkway Station to enable its potential future expansion.	October 2025
Nuneaton Parkway Safeguarding document	This document puts forward the case for safeguarding land for the proposed Nuneaton Parkway railway station	December 2025

Preferred Options consultation responses

View or download the responses to the Preferred Options consultation from the following groups and organisations (excluding responses from individuals):