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Agenda item

Local Plan

Purpose

To make a series of recommendations, principally relating to the Publication of the Local Plan for six weeks consultation in August and September 2026 and submission to the Secretary of State in December 2026 for independent examination.

 

Cabinet will consider any recommendations and comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 August 2026.

 

Cabinet will make recommendations to Council on 12 August 2026.

 

Accountable Member

Councillor Juliet Layton – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning.

 

Report Author

Andrew Maxted - Head of Planning Policy and Infrastructure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decision:

The purpose of this item was to consider a series of recommendations relating principally to the Publication of the new Cotswold Local Plan for 2026-2043 (Regulation 19) for a six-week consultation from 24 August to 5 October 2026 and its subsequent submission to the Secretary of State in December 2026 for independent examination.

 

Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the report and highlighted that the Local Plan represented a major milestone and would provide the planning framework for the district for the years ahead. It was noted that the Regulation 19 consultation was the final stage before independent examination and that timely submission was important to avoid the plan having to restart under the new planning system.  It was also noted that the examination was anticipated in 2027, with adoption of the Plan expected in March 2028.

 

Members noted that the plan had been informed by extensive consultation and engagement and sought to provide a framework for housing, employment, infrastructure and environmental improvements. The importance of ensuring that development was supported by appropriate infrastructure was emphasised, alongside the need to provide affordable and appropriate housing and to protect the character and environment of the district.

 

Cabinet also considered the comments and recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following its consideration of the Local Plan at the meeting on 3 August 2026. These included matters relating to infrastructure provision at strategic sites, transport infrastructure, accessibility of consultation information, communication with the public about the need for the plan, water and sewage infrastructure, and the impact of tourism on infrastructure. Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

It was noted that work on transport infrastructure could continue alongside the Regulation 19 consultation and that arrangements would be made to ensure the consultation was accessible, including public exhibitions and meetings, the availability of hard copies of documents and communications to households across the district.

 

Members also considered a number of proposed material changes to the draft Local Plan, including amendments to housing site allocations, changes relating to Cirencester town centre, the inclusion of a potential very light rail corridor between Kemble and Cirencester, and amendments relating to habitat sites.

 

Cabinet recognised the significant concerns expressed regarding the scale of housing growth required by national targets, but noted the importance of having an up-to-date Local Plan in place to provide greater control over development, infrastructure and design standards and to reduce the risk of speculative development. Members also thanked the Planning Policy team for the significant work undertaken in preparing the plan and its supporting documents.

 

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning and seconded by Councillor Paul Evans, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities.

 

Cabinet RESOLVED to recommend to Council to:

1.      Agree that the Cotswold Local Plan 2026 – 2043 (Regulation 19) document, including the material changes agreed by Cabinet (supplement E), be published for six weeks consultation from 24 August 2026 to 5 October 2026.

2.      Agree that thereafter, the Cotswold Local Plan 2026 – 2043 (Regulation 19) document be submitted to government for independent examination.

3.      Provide delegated authority for the Director of Communities and Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, to make any minor corrections prior to consultation, including for typographical and formatting purposes AND following the Regulation 19 consultation to prepare an ‘Additional Modifications’ Schedule for submission if required.

4.      Note the technical supporting evidence in preparation for publication alongside the Cotswold Local Plan 2026 – 2043 for consultation.

 

Voting record:

8 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

 

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to seek approval of a series of recommendations relating principally to the Publication of the Cotswold Local Plan at Regulation 19 for a six-week consultation from 24 August to 5 October 2026 and its submission to the Secretary of State in December 2026 for independent examination.

 

Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the report. It was noted that the Regulation 19 consultation represented the final consultation stage before independent examination and that the Plan needed to be complete, justified and ready for examination by a Planning Inspector.

The Local Plan would replace the 2018 Plan and provide an evidence-based planning framework for the delivery of new homes, employment land, infrastructure and environmental improvements over the coming years. It was noted that the Plan had been informed by extensive engagement and previous consultations with residents, businesses, statutory bodies and community organisations.

The timing of the submission was critical, as failure to submit the Plan by December 2026 would require it to restart under the new planning system and could delay adoption by several years. It was further noted that, without an up-to-date Local Plan and with the Council unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, the district would remain subject to the presumption in favour of sustainable development, increasing the risk of speculative and fragmented development.

Members noted the significant increase in assessed housing need following changes to the National Standard Method in 2024. It was noted that the Plan sought to identify how this need could be accommodated within the district's environmental and infrastructure constraints, while recognising that some unmet need might need to be identified.

 

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was invited to speak and addressed Cabinet to explain the committees recommendations. 

 

Cabinet considered the recommendations and comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which included the importance of providing infrastructure identified for strategic sites in a timely manner, where possible before development commenced; further consideration of transport infrastructure; ensuring that the consultation was accessible to all; clear communication about the need for the Plan and the risks associated with not having an up-to-date plan; concerns regarding water supply and sewage capacity; and the impact of tourism on infrastructure. Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Leader invited Member questions, there were none, and then opened the debate.

 

Members noted that infrastructure, including schools, roads, GP surgeries, water and sewage capacity, was a key concern in relation to planned growth. Members were advised that the Infrastructure Delivery Plan set out the infrastructure required to support sustainable growth and that further work on transport infrastructure could continue alongside the Regulation 19 consultation.

Arrangements were being made to support public engagement during the consultation, including public exhibitions and meetings, the availability of hard copies of documents at Council offices, libraries and Town and Parish Council premises, and a newsletter to be distributed to households across the district.

The concerns raised regarding the national housing targets were noted, including the view that national targets did not necessarily reflect the specific housing needs of local communities, particularly in relation to affordability and the types of homes required. It was noted that the Plan sought to provide for affordable housing and support the delivery of sustainable, infrastructure-led communities.

Members then considered a number of proposed material changes to the Plan, including amendments to housing site allocations, changes to the Cirencester Central Area Strategy, the inclusion of a corridor for potential very light rail or successor technology between Kemble and Cirencester, and amendments relating to habitat sites.  The changes were published during the meeting as Supplement E - Proposed Material Changes to the draft Local Plan - 6 August.

It was noted that the examination of the draft Local Plan was anticipated in 2027, with adoption of the Plan expected in March 2028. Members also acknowledged the significant work undertaken by the Planning Policy team in preparing the Plan and its supporting documents.

 

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning and seconded by Councillor Paul Evans, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities.

 

Voting record:

8 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Supporting documents:

 

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