Despite Lib Dem resistance Rugby Local Plan approved including Lodge Farm
At a special Rugby Borough Council meeting on Wednesday 21 June 2017 at the Benn Hall the Rugby Borough Local Plan, which sets out all the sites in the borough which will be allocated for housing and employment land, was approved by a majority of Councillors and will be sent to Government for examination.
The amendment to remove Lodge Farm from the plan received support from Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors but was narrowly defeated by 20 votes to 18.
For: Councillors Cade, Mrs Crane, Douglas, Miss Dumbleton, Gillias, Leigh Hunt, Keeling, Lewis, Mrs Nash, Mrs New, Pacey-Day, Mrs Parker, Mrs Roberts, Roberts, Roodhouse, Mrs Roodhouse, Sandison and Stokes - 18 votes
Against: Councillors Allen, Mrs Avis, Brader, Mrs Bragg, Brown, Butlin, Cranham,
Ms Edwards, Ellis, Mrs Garcia, Miss Lawrence, Lowe, Mistry, Poole, Ms Robbins, Mrs Simpson-Vince, Srivastava, Mrs Timms, Ms Watson-Merret and Dr Williams - 20 votes
The Local Plan as a whole allocates all the sites throughout Rugby Borough to deliver 12,400 homes by 2031, with space for up to 15,000 homes. It also includes proposals for 110 hectares of employment land and more than 8000 square metres of retail space.
Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors had a free vote but overall did not support the Local Plan as a whole because of major concerns about not having enough land for schools, the need for further scrutiny on transport and the sustainability of the project.
For: Councillors Allen, Mrs Avis, Brader, Mrs Bragg, Brown, Butlin, Cranham, Ms Edwards, Ellis, Mrs Garcia, Gillias, Leigh Hunt, Keeling, Miss Lawrence, Lowe, Mistry, Pacey-Day, Poole, Ms Robbins, Mrs Simpson-Vince, Srivastava, Stokes, Mrs Timms, Ms Watson-Merret and Dr Williams - 25 votes
Against: Councillors Cade, Mrs Crane, Douglas, Miss Dumbleton, Lewis, Mrs Nash, Mrs New, Mrs Parker, Mrs Roberts, Roberts, Roodhouse, Mrs Roodhouse and Sandison - 13 votes.
The Local Plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State in July and an independently-appointed Government inspector will then call an examination in public, expected to take place later this year.
The inspector decides which issues require special hearings and will invite speakers to present relevant evidence.
See the Council Papers here: