Agenda item

Cotswold District Local Plan (2011-31) Regulation 18 Consultation

Purpose:

To seek approval to consult on the Preferred Options for development in the Cotswold District for the Regulation 18 consultation, and further technical documents as and when necessary; and to approve the updated Local Development Scheme to progress the Plan to submission in winter 2026 and adoption in winter 2027.

Recommendation(s):

That Cabinet resolves to:

Approve the Cotswold District Council Local Plan Review Regulation 18 Consultation Preferred Options (November 2025) document and commence a six-week public consultation on this and a call for sites from 5 November 2025 to 18 December 2025.
Delegate authority to the Director of Communities and Place, the Accountable Officer and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to agree any minor amendments or additions to the Consultation Document prior to the Regulation 18 Consultation.
Delegate authority to the Director of Communities and Place and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to approve for consultation any supporting technical documents for the Regulation 18 consultation.
Delegate authority to the Director of Communities and Place and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to approve additional technical documents for further Regulation 18 consultation as and when necessary.
Approve the Local Development Scheme.

Decision:

The purpose of the report was to seek approval to consult on the Preferred Options for development in the Cotswold District for the Regulation 18 consultation, and further technical documents as and when necessary; and to approve the updated Local Development Scheme to progress the Plan to submission in winter 2026 and adoption in winter 2027.

Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council introduced the item.

It was noted that a final version of the consultation document had been published as a supplement. The supplement contained some changes, mainly between paragraphs 2.9 to 2.16. which further explained the issue of development density. The figures in Table 1 had also been updated to exclude sites where there was no reasonable prospect of the density of development being increased.

In addition, further to the feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the following changes had been made:

The name of the strategic site in Moreton-in-Marsh had been updated to Strategic extension north, south and east of Moreton-in-Marsh; and
For clarity, two footnotes had been added to Table 2 for explain how the ‘current dwellings’ and ‘new dwellings’ figures were calculated.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet

1. Approved the Cotswold District Council Local Plan Review Regulation 18 Consultation Preferred Options (November 2025) document and the commencement of a six-week public consultation on this, together with a call for sites from 5 November 2025 to 18 December 2025.

2. Delegated authority to the Director of Communities and Place, the Accountable Officer and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to agree any minor amendments or additions to the Consultation Document prior to the Regulation 18 Consultation.

3. Delegated authority to the Director of Communities and Place and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to approve for consultation any supporting technical documents for the Regulation 18 consultation.

4. Delegated authority to the Director of Communities and Place and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning to approve additional technical documents for further Regulation 18 consultation as and when necessary.

5. Approved the Local Development Scheme.

Voting Record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Minutes:

Councillor Mike Evemy, Leader of the Council introduced the item. It was noted that, following changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, the government’s housing requirement for the district had more than doubled, with a target of 18,650 homes over 18 years (1,036 per year), up from fewer than 500 in the previous plan.

The district’s constraints were highlighted, including over 80% protected national landscape and significant infrastructure limitations, which restricted suitable locations for development. The Council was reported to be at risk of speculative development due to the absence of a five-year housing land supply, with potential impacts on infrastructure, services, the local economy, and the natural environment.

The consultation document was presented as a means to gather residents’ views on options for meeting housing targets, including existing permissions and potential sites. It was emphasised that the consultation was indicative, high-level, and designed to inform locally-led decisions rather than being imposed externally by government. While proposals could be challenging, particularly for smaller settlements, public engagement was encouraged to help shape the future provision of social and affordable housing alongside necessary infrastructure.

The consultation was scheduled to open on 5 November 2025, with details provided via the Council’s planning portal. Four public exhibitions and two town and parish council forums were planned, with officers attending formal public meetings where invited. Young people would be engaged through visits to local sixth forms and further education centres. Information would also be communicated via newsletters, social media, and the Council website.

The Cabinet noted that the consultation presented a preferred scenario (Option 5) and other development options, with indicative housing figures. Officers confirmed that site assessments were ongoing, with final figures dependent on infrastructure, feasibility, landscape sensitivity, and flood risk, alongside consultation feedback. New sites could also be submitted during the consultation. Members stressed the importance of commercial viability, cumulative impacts on transport, schools, services, and the environment, and the need to plan strategically to secure infrastructure ahead of development.

Councillor Juliet Layton, reaffirmed the importance of public engagement and encouraged residents to submit considered responses online. She emphasised that robust consultation feedback would strengthen the Council’s position during the inspection process and noted that all residents, not just those living near proposed sites, would be affected by development.

Councillor Blomefield, in her position as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was then asked to comment or ask any questions. The planned local consultations were welcomed and councillors and town/parish representatives were encouraged to attend the forums to better inform residents and promote constructive responses. The importance of working within current government housing requirements was emphasised and support for the officers’ work in preparing the consultation expressed.

Councillor Blomefield raised a concern regarding the risk that speculative development could occur on land intended for infrastructure, such as bypasses, schools, or GP surgeries, potentially hindering future planning. Officers confirmed that development ahead of a local plan posed such risks. While the planning process could seek contributions towards infrastructure, large projects not identified in the plan remained vulnerable until formally allocated.

Councillor Blomefield acknowledged the Council’s efforts and reiterated Overview and Scrutiny’s view that new housing must be supported by appropriate infrastructure.

Councillor Layton confirmed that climate-resilient and sustainable housing policies were in place and would be strengthened under Regulation 19, while Councillor Evemy stressed that strong consultation responses were essential for the Council to manage development and justify site decisions.

It was noted that a final version of the consultation document had been published as a supplement. The supplement contained some changes, mainly between paragraphs 2.9 to 2.16 which further explained the issue of development density. The figures in Table 1 had also been updated to exclude sites where there was no reasonable prospect of the density of development being increased.

In addition, further to the feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the following changes had been made:

The name of the strategic site in Moreton-in-Marsh had been updated to Strategic extension north, south and east of Moreton-in-Marsh; and
For clarity, two footnotes had been added to Table 2 for explain how the ‘current dwellings’ and ‘new dwellings’ figures were calculated.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy, seconded by Councillor Juliet Layton and subsequently put to the vote.

Voting Record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Supporting documents:

Agenda item

Cotswold District Local Plan (2011-31) Regulation 18 Consultation

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