Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

Local Plan Update

 

 

Meeting: 10/07/2025 - Cabinet (Item 113)

113 Local Plan Update pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Purpose

To consider the way forward for the Local Plan Update.

 

Recommendation

That Cabinet resolves to:

1.     RECOMMEND to Council to merge the two ongoing Local Plan projects:

·         the partial update of the adopted Cotswold District Local Plan (2011-2031); and

·         the Development Strategy and Site Allocations Plan,

into a single comprehensive Full Local Plan Update in conjunction with incorporating work of the Gloucestershire Strategic Plan, where appropriate, with a view to submission in 2026 and adoption in 2027.

 

And, subject to Council approval of 1, Cabinet resolves to:

2.     UPDATE the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy in parallel with the Local Plan process.

3.     INVEST in additional resources to accelerate the delivery of the Local Plan to enable the December 2026 submission deadline to be hit.

4.     CONFIRM the delivery of the Local Plan as a Council priority.

5.     RE-ESTABLISH the Local Plan Oversight Board and confirm a new Terms of Reference.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the report was to confirm the way forward for the Local Plan.

 

Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the item.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Juliet Layton and seconded by Councillor Mike Evemy.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

 

Recommended to Council to resolve to merge the two ongoing Local Plan projects currently known as:

a)     the partial update of the adopted Cotswold District Local Plan (2011-2031); and

b)    the Development Strategy and Site Allocations Plan,

into a single comprehensive Full Local Plan Update, incorporating work of the Gloucestershire Strategic Plan, where appropriate, with a view to submission of the single Local Plan in 2026 and adoption in 2027.

 

Voting record:

6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain

 

 

And further, subject to Council approving the merging of the plans at Full Council on 16 July 2025, Cabinet also RESOLVED to:

1.              Update the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy in parallel with the Local Plan process.

2.              Invest in additional resources to accelerate the delivery of the Local Plan to enable the December 2026 submission deadline to be hit.

3.              Confirm the delivery of the Local Plan as a Council priority.

4.              Establish a Local Plan Oversight Board and confirm a new Terms of Reference.

 

Voting record:

6 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstai.

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to confirm the way forward for the Local Plan.

 

Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the report, recommending that Cabinet propose to Council the merging of the Partial Update of the Cotswold District Local Plan 2011–2031 with the Development Strategy and Site Allocations Plan into a single, comprehensive Local Plan. The proposal aimed to align with the Gloucestershire Strategic Plan where appropriate, with the objective of submitting the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate by December 2026 and securing adoption by late 2027.

 

To meet the submission deadlines a timetable was proposed:

  • Regulation 18 Consultation: by September 2025
  • Regulation 19 (Pre-submission) Consultation: by June 2026
  • Submission to Planning Inspectorate: by December 2026

 

It was noted that failure to meet this timetable could result in delays of 5 to 7 years if local government reorganisation led to the creation of a new unitary authority, which would likely require restarting the process.

 

The urgent need for an updated Local Plan to maintain control over development in the district was highlighted, especially in light of the revised government housing target of 1,036 new homes per year. Councillors also noted the challenge posed by the fact that approximately 80% of the district falls within the Cotswold National Landscape (formerly AONB), significantly limiting land available for development.  The importance of using up-to-date evidence, including an updated flood risk map from the Environment Agency, to support the case for a more realistic housing requirement was noted.

 

Cabinet also noted the tension between government-imposed housing targets and the district’s climate ambitions. While higher-density urban development was more sustainable, members reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the best plan possible within current constraints and to challenging arbitrary housing targets where supported by robust evidence.

 

The Deputy Chief Executive and S151 officer and the Cabinet Member for Finance spoke to the financial implications of delivering the Local Plan and councillors noted that a total of £1 million had been allocated to the Local Plan programme to date. This included:

  • An initial £500,000 in core budget provision
  • A further £250,000 from internal resources
  • A £240,000 grant from the Local Plan Delivery Fund (awarded March 2025)
  • An additional £70,000 grant related to the Green Belt review

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance confirmed that any residual funding gaps would be manageable within existing contingency planning.

 

Cabinet acknowledged the need for external consultancy support to meet tight delivery timescales and noted that some consultancy costs had already been anticipated in the budget forecasts.

 

Officers also confirmed that further resource requirements would be monitored closely, and contingency funding options considered by the Deputy Chief Executive and S151 Officer as work progressed.

 

Cabinet noted forecast savings of between £300,000 and £400,000 by moving from a twin-track Local Plan update to a single comprehensive plan, thereby reducing duplication of process, consultation, and evidence gathering.

 

Cabinet considered the establishment of a Local Plan Oversight Board, to meet monthly and monitor delivery. The Board would include:

 

Related Pages