Stratford Western Corridor W3 to Replace Plans for Stratford South Western Relief Road
Stratford-upon-Avon suffers from significant traffic congestion due to limited road capacity and restricted river crossings, particularly at Clopton Bridge. This congestion hinders movement and limits sustainable development.
In 2016, the Core Strategy identified a South Western Relief Road (SWRR) as essential to enable over 400 new homes at LMA. However, previous attempts to deliver the SWRR through planning and a 2018 Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid were unsuccessful. The town’s planned growth, as outlined in the SWLP, remains dependent on a new relief road.
Following an assessment of 35 corridor options in 2025, a western corridor (Option W3) emerged as the preferred solution. This route would run from the A46/West of Shottery Relief Road in the north to Campden Road (B4632) in the south, incorporating a new River Avon crossing and connecting to the B439 Evesham Road.
W3 scored highly across policy alignment, engineering feasibility, environmental criteria, and its effectiveness in relieving pressure on the western road network. It specifically supports development at LMA and improves connectivity between southern and western growth areas and the A46. A combined east-to-west solution was ruled out due to significantly higher costs and delivery risks.
Therefore, W3 represents the most effective, deliverable, and strategically important option for supporting Stratford’s long-term planned growth, assuming significant development at LMA is the chosen strategy.
The Original proposal for the Stratford South Western Relief Road near Stratford Racecourse now appears to be a dead duck and hopefully a more sensible route will be considered. What Effect Will No Stratford Relief Road Have on Shipston, Long Marston and Other Towns and Villages South of The River
Stratford-upon-Avon is grappling with significant traffic issues, stemming from its limited highway capacity and constrained river crossings, most notably Clopton Bridge. This chronic congestion impedes local movement and restricts the town’s potential for sustainable growth and development.
As early as 2016, the adopted Core Strategy recognized the critical need for a South Western Relief Road (SWRR) to facilitate the construction of more than 400 homes in the LMA area. Despite this clear directive, earlier efforts to implement the SWRR, including initial planning proposals and a 2018 Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid, proved unsuccessful. Consequently, the scale of development envisioned by the South Worcestershire Local Plan (SWLP) remains contingent on the construction of a new relief road.
In 2025, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted, assessing 35 potential corridor options for this vital infrastructure. The analysis concluded that a western corridor, known as Option W3, was the optimal choice. This proposed route would extend from the A46/West of Shottery Relief Road in the north, cross the River Avon, and connect to the B439 Evesham Road in the south, terminating at Campden Road (B4632).
Option W3 stood out from other proposals due to its strong alignment with existing policy, high engineering feasibility, favorable environmental impact, and its significant potential to alleviate congestion on the town’s western road network. Crucially, W3 directly supports the planned development at LMA and provides better access from southern and western growth areas to the A46. A more extensive east-to-west relief road was dismissed due to its substantially higher costs and increased implementation risks.
In conclusion, Option W3 is identified as the most effective, deliverable, and strategically important solution for enabling Stratford-upon-Avon’s long-term planned growth, particularly if substantial development at LMA remains the preferred growth strategy.
Stratford-upon-Avon’s traffic congestion, particularly around Clopton Bridge, is limiting development. A South Western Relief Road (SWRR) was identified in 2016 as crucial for over 400 LMA homes, but past attempts failed. Future development still hinges on this road.
In 2025, 35 options were assessed, with a western corridor (Option W3) chosen as the best fit. W3 would connect the A46 (north) to Campden Road (B4632, south), crossing the River Avon and linking to the B439 Evesham Road.
W3 scored highly for policy alignment, engineering, environment, and relieving western network pressure. It specifically supports LMA development and improves A46 connectivity for growth areas. Cost and risk ruled out an east-to-west solution.
Therefore, W3 is deemed the most effective and strategic option to support Stratford’s planned growth, especially if LMA development proceeds.