Councillors have agreed to include an increase of 200 new homes in the housing requirement figure for the Stroud District Local Plan draft.

The figure of at least 11,400 dwellings for the period 2006-2031 was recently recommended by the government’s planning inspector - who has been examining the plan this year.

This represents a slight increase from the figure of 11,200 dwellings approved by the council in December 2014.

The council is now consulting on this change, together with other changes to the local plan discussed during the examination process.

Responses will be considered by the planning inspector before he issues his report, which is expected later this year.

Councillor Geoff Wheeler, leader of Stroud District Council, said: “The local plan inspector has confirmed that he is broadly happy with the housing numbers in our plan, which is very positive and allows us to move forward with public consultation on the proposed modifications.

“Using this recommended housing target, we currently have more than seven years supply of housing land in the district and this will help us fight off predatory developments in the area.”

Stroud News and Journal:

The main changes to the plan at this stage include increasing the housing requirement to 11,400 dwellings and increasing the Hunts Grove extension site at Hardwicke from 500 to 750 dwellings.

It also suggests increasing the employment requirement to 58 hectares and a new affordable housing policy reflecting amended government policy.

The consultation runs from Wednesday July 29 until 5pm on Wednesday 9 September.

Documents can be viewed on the council’s website, at Ebley Mill, local libraries and parish council offices.

  • To have your say on the changes fill in a comments form and email it to local.plan@stroud.gov.uk
  • Or alternatively post it to: The Planning Strategy Team, Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 4UB.