Around 20,000 responses were received to the latest public consultation into the new South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP).

At the start of the year residents across Warwick and Stratford districts were asked for their views on 36 potential new housing sites across the region, including 12 potential 'new settlements'.

Local opinion has also been sought on potential renewable energy sites as well as spots for gypsy and traveller plots.

And in figures released by Warwick District Council last week it was revealed 19,367 responses were received from 4,682 via the online portal.

A further 1,402 submissions were made by email or were handwritten, meaning the total number of respondents was 6,084.

All the responses will now be collated as the council works to put together the new local plan.

Not all the 36 housing sites will be needed to meet the councils' housing needs in South Warwickshire.

"Smaller scale growth" is likely to be needed in other locations; these locations were not indicated in the latest consultation.

But residents still have a long time to wait before they will find out where Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils will allocate for around 35,000 homes over the next 25 years.

Already delayed, the SWLP will not be finished until the end of 2027 - providing the are no more hold ups.

Potential new housing sites around South Warwickshire (image via SWLP)

Over the coming months, the two councils will deliberate the findings of the consultation as it "aims to prioritise sustainable locations that benefit residents, businesses, and the environment".

After that the next version of the plan will be created and there will be another public consultation on this.

The next consultation is expected to take place at the end of 2025.

After the results of this are fed back, the SWLP will be nearing completion, and will be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. This could be in September 2026.

After that the Secretary of State will spend months considering the proposals, although only minor changes are likely at that point.

A consultation could then take place on these minor changes before the plan is adopted in December 2027.

Residents have already been consulted on the SWLP, having been asked to put forward a series of potential development sites across South Warwickshire.