The Settlement Hierarchy is a key component of the Local Plan strategy for delivering a sustainable pattern of development. It has been formulated to steer most development to the Main Towns, where housing, employment, shopping, recreation, entertainment, public services and other facilities can be provided close together, in locations that are most easily accessible to the whole of the Borough’s population. It also seeks to avoid stimulating pressure on the Green Belt around Coleshill, and to make suitable provision for development necessary to sustain rural communities by focussing rural housing development and supporting facilities on a network of Local Service Centres, with only limited development provision in other smaller settlements identified with a development boundary on the Proposals Map. Elsewhere, other than where specifically provided for in the Plan, development will be limited to that requisite for agriculture, forestry or other uses that can be shown to require a rural location. 

Category 1 -
The Main Towns:

Category 2 -
Green Belt Market Town:

Category 3 -
Local Service Centres

Category 4 -
Other settlements with a development boundary