Stroud District Council has expressed its disappointment after Government-appointed Planning Inspectors instructed the Council to withdraw its Local Plan, despite the submission of significant new evidence on motorway capacity that could have shaped the district’s future development strategy.
The Local Plan is the Council’s blueprint for managing growth and development up to 2040. It sets out how the district will meet Government housing targets – currently 630 new homes per year, with numbers expected to rise further – while protecting the environment and ensuring essential infrastructure is delivered.
In July, the Council wrote to the Inspectors examining the draft Local Plan, asking them to consider new evidence submitted by National Highways relating to the capacity of M5 Junctions 12 and 14. This evidence directly addressed concerns raised during the Examination of the Plan and represented a significant material change.
In light of this, the Council requested an additional hearing session to review the implications of the new information and assess its impact on the Plan’s overall soundness.
However, the Inspectors have now confirmed that they will not reopen hearings and have advised that “withdrawal of the Stroud District Local Plan Review from Examination is the most appropriate way forward.”
Councillor Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council, said: “The Council fundamentally disagrees with the Inspectors’ interpretation of the new evidence and will be responding formally in due course. This is a disappointing setback, particularly as the new evidence from National Highways could have had a major bearing on the Inspectors’ conclusions.”
Despite this, Stroud District Council continues to operate under its adopted Local Plan (2015), which remains in place as the framework for determining planning applications. This ensures that the Council can continue to protect local environments, resist unsuitable developments, and ensure vital infrastructure is delivered alongside new homes and jobs.
Through its Council Plan, the authority has also reaffirmed its commitment to preparing a new Local Plan that will set out a strategic vision for sustainable development across the district over the next 20 years.
The Inspectors’ letter and, once approved, the Council’s full response will be published in the Local Plan Examination Library.
