Proposed locations for almost 44,000 new homes across Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury have been revealed. The homes are planned over the next 20 years in the joint Strategic and Local Plan, which sets out where development should go and which areas should be protected.
Where the homes would go
Ashchurch, in Tewkesbury borough, is the largest single site, with 6,000 homes proposed. Churchdown, near Gloucester, is expected to take more than 1,000 homes. Swindon Village and Up Hatherley, on the outskirts of Cheltenham, are each also expected to take more than 1,000 homes.
Why the councils say they need the plan
About 5,000 homes have already been built in the area, and a further 14,000 have planning permission. The councils say working together lets them plan key infrastructure, such as sewers and gas and electricity connections, in one place rather than site by site.
The three councils have said the government’s housing targets are unfair. Their leaders say, however, that the homes are needed. Tewkesbury’s leader said many people struggle to get on the housing ladder, and Cheltenham’s leader said without a plan, developers could build wherever they liked.
The Ashchurch junction question
Planners say independent traffic consultants have concluded the Ashchurch homes can go ahead without the planned improvements to junction 9A of the M5. The government did not back that junction scheme. Councillors hope the Ashchurch site can be brought back when the plan is reviewed every five years.
What happens next
- Each of the three councils is due to vote on the plan next week.
- A public consultation is due to open by 16 November.
- The plan returns to the councils in the spring, then goes to the Planning Inspectorate later next year.
- Gloucestershire’s councils are due to be replaced by a single unitary authority under local government reorganisation, which would then adopt the plan.
How to have your say
Residents will be able to comment on the plan during the consultation. The consultation is run through the Strategic and Local Plan website at strategiclocalplan.org, which also has an online way to respond. Keep an eye on that page for the opening date and how to submit a comment, as the consultation is the main chance for the public to comment on the proposed sites.
