Proposed walking, wheeling and cycling schemes – have your say

Background

We are improving connections for walking, wheeling and cycling along two kilometres of Harbury Lane between the A452 Europa Way, Gallows Hill and Heathcote Lane junction and the B4087 Tachbrook Road/Oakley Wood Road junction.

This scheme supports the development of the Strategic Urban Extension to the South of Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick. Construction of 4,500 homes and creation of new community facilities is well underway. Heathcote Primary School opened in 2017, Lower Heathcote local centre shops opened in 2022 and Oakley School opened in September 2024.

Harbury Lane, once a rural lane, is now an important road providing access to the new homes, schools and businesses. Some walking and cycling routes have already been completed or are under construction within development sites, but there are opportunities to connect these up, provide crossings and ensure that routes are coherent, direct, safe, comfortable and attractive - in line with local aspirations and national design guidance.

The importance of this scheme has been recognised by Active Travel England. In May 2022 it was announced that Warwickshire County Council had secured £1.4million towards this project from the Active Travel Fund.

Scheme description

• Widening and surfacing of existing path running parallel to Harbury Lane (behind hedge) between Tachbrook Road and Garrett Drive, to create shared use footpath/ cycle track
• Creation of new pedestrian/ cycle access points between local streets and the widened path running parallel to Harbury Lane
• Widening and surfacing of existing path running between Harbury Lane and Earl Rivers Avenue, to create shared use footpath/ cycle track
• New footways and cycle tracks to connect up existing routes between Garrett Drive and Europa Way
• New Toucan crossing between Blakemore Drive and Capulet Drive, and upgrades of existing crossings to enable cyclists to cross safely
• Provision of street lighting on new and upgraded sections of footways, footpaths and cycle tracks

The scheme is being phased in order to co-ordinate with delivery timescales for other highway works including upgrades to the A452 Europa Way, Gallows Hill and Heathcote Lane junction.

Phase 1 - construction

The Phase 1 works started in August 2024 and were substantially completed by the end of 2024. Installation of lighting and new access points onto the paths were delayed - awaiting confirmation of the Cycle Track Order.

The Phase 1 works include the widening and resurfacing of the existing footpaths running adjacent to Harbury Lane, between Earl Rivers Avenue and the B4087 Tachbrook Road/Oakley Wood Road Junction.

The Cycle Track Order was confirmed on 28 April 2026, and shall come into operation on 30 October 2026 in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Cycle Tracks Regulations 1984. Street lighting equipment has been ordered and it is anticipated that the path lighting and new access points will be completed in Autumn 2026.

Phase 1 Scheme Plan (PDF, 1.8 MB)

Phase 2 - design

The footpath improvements are the first phase of wider active travel improvements along the Harbury Lane corridor. During 2025 and 2026, design work continued on the western section (Phase 2), including new paths and cycle tracks between the roundabouts at Harbury Lane/Earl Rivers Avenue/Gallagher Way and Harbury Lane/Europa Way/Gallows Hill/ Heathcote Lane.

Phase 2 will connect up with existing walking, wheeling and cycling routes and will be co-ordinated with nearby highway projects.  In December 2024, Warwickshire County Council approved the addition of £3.7m to the funding programme to progress the highway improvement scheme at the roundabout of Harbury Lane/Europa Way/Gallows Hill/Heathcote Lane. In October 2026, Warwick District Council approved planning application reference W/25/0728 with the condition that a toucan crossing (signal controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing) on Heathcote Lane is to be completed prior to the opening of the food store to the public. 

Phase 2 - consultation

November 2026 - proposed footway conversion and zebra (parallel) crossings on the section of Harbury Lane between Nightingale Avenue and Earl Rivers Avenue

Warwickshire County Council proposes:

• Pursuant to sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980, to install a shared use cycle track, with rights of ways for pedestrians, on sections of Nightingale Avenue, Harbury Lane, Macbeth Approach and Earl Rivers Avenue.
• Pursuant to section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to install parallel crossings (for use by pedestrians and cyclists) on Nightingale Avenue, Macbeth Approach and Earl Rivers Avenue.

A copy of the notice, together with plans showing the lengths of roads affected and a statement of the Council's reasons for making these proposals, is below. These documents can also be inspected at Shire Hall, Market Place, Warwick during normal opening hours.

Any objections or representations to these proposals, which must be in writing and specify the grounds on which they are made, should be addressed to: Active Travel, Communities Directorate, Shire Hall Post Room, Northgate Street, Warwick CV34 4SP, or sent by email to activetravel@warwickshire.gov.uk using the subject 'Harbury Lane Scheme'.

Objections, representations, and the name of the objector will normally be treated as public information and may be published.  Objections and representations must be received by 18 December 2026.

• Public notice (PDF, 199 KB).
• Statement of reasons (PDF, 109 KB).
• Consultation Plan – Scheme Layout - 9.2.C43.19-WCC-LDC-ZZ-DR-CH-0001-00 (PDF, 797 KB).
• Proposed controlled crossing Nightingale Avenue - 9.2.C43.19-WCC-LDC-SR1-DR CH-0001-01 (PDF, 649 KB).
• Proposed controlled crossing Macbeth Approach - 9.2.C43.19-WCC-LDC-SR2-DR CH-0001-01 (PDF, 632 KB).
• Proposed controlled crossing Earl Rivers Avenue - 9.2.C43.19-WCC-LDC-SR3-DR CH-0001-01 (PDF, 632 KB).

Cycle Track Order

Following the footpath creation agreement in July 2024 and Cycle Track Order consultations in October and November 2024. Warwickshire County Council made (but did not confirm) an Order under section 3 of the Cycle Tracks Act 1984, the effect of which will be to convert a footpath, into a shared use cycle track with a right of way for pedal cycles and on foot.

A number of objections were received regarding the Cycle Track Order, therefore a Public Inquiry took place on 18 November 2025 at Shire Hall, Warwick, CV34 4RL. An Independent Inspector, appointed for the purpose by the Secretary of State for Transport, considered representations from objectors, the promoting authority and other interested parties.

In April 2026 the Secretary of State for Transport decided, following the Public Inquiry, that the Cycle Track Order made by Warwickshire County Council should be confirmed without modification. The Order shall come into operation on 30 October 2026 in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Cycle Tracks Regulations 1984.

Further details and documents relating to the Public Inquiry and Inspector’s Decision

Background information about the Cycle Track Order

• Regulation 10 notice of confirmation of the Warwickshire County Council (footpath adjacent to Harbury Lane, Warwick) Cycle Track Order 2024 (PDF, 107 KB)
• Cycle Track Order (PDF, 241 KB)
• Cycle Track Order plan, Harbury Lane (PDF, 1.1 MB) - showing the length of footpath proposed to be converted coloured orange.
• Cycle Track Notice (PDF, 14 KB)
• Cycle Track Statement of Reasons (PDF, 82 KB)

Footpath creation agreement

Warwickshire County Council entered into a Public Path Creation Agreement with Warwick District Council, the effect of which is to create (widen) parts of the path north-east of Harbury Lane, Warwick (running parallel to Harbury Lane between the junctions of Tachbrook Road and Earl Rivers Avenue).  The Agreement took effect on 29 July 2024.

Public Path Creation Agreement (PDF, 1.4 MB)

Community engagement

Community engagement on this project took place during August and September 2023.  We are very grateful to everyone who attended the events in Heathcote and Leamington Spa, provided comments by phone or email and/or completed the survey.  Over 50 survey responses were received, with a strong level of support for the proposals. 

View a summary of the community engagement (PDF, 753 KB)

You can view the scheme plans and summary proposals from the 2023 community engagement below:

• 9.2-C43--017-020 – Sheet 1 - Section A – B, Tachbrook Road to Cicero Approach (PDF, 8.6 MB)
• 9.2-C43--017-021 – Sheet 2 - Section B – C, Cicero Approach to Heathcote Park (PDF, 2.7 MB)
• 9.2-C43--017-022 – Sheet 3 - Sections C – D and D – E, Heathcote Park to Garrett Drive (1.6 MB)
• 9.2-C43--017-023 – Sheet 4 - Sections E – F and F – G, Garrett Drive to Vickers Way (PDF, 1.5 MB)
• 9.2-C43--017-024 – Sheet 5 – Section G – H, Vickers Way to Europa Way (PDF, 1.5 MB)
• Summary of proposals (PDF, 152 KB)

Scheme designs have been amended to respond to comments and suggestions made during the community engagement.

Other projects

The Harbury Lane Active Travel Connections are part of a wider programme to improve and extend the networks of walking and cycling routes in and around Warwickshire’s towns. The aim is to create a safe and attractive environment for walking, wheeling and cycling, so that they become the natural choices for shorter journeys and outdoor recreation in Warwickshire. Detailed proposals and scheme priorities are set out in the Warwickshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.

Making it easier for people to walk and cycle for short local journeys will also help to tackle congestion, improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and support an increase in physical activity.

For more information about Harbury Lane Active Travel Connections and other walking and cycling projects, please contact activetravel@warwickshire.gov.uk