By Saul Cooke-Black

A LANDMARK plan which will map out where houses are built in the Stroud district for the next 16 years has been unanimously passed by councillors.

Cheers and a round of applause broke out as district councillors united in support of adopting the Stroud District Council Local Plan.

The decision, which has come after years of wrangling between councillors, means Stroud is now the first district in Gloucestershire to have an up-to-date and comprehensive local plan in place.

Geoff Wheeler, leader of Stroud District Council, said: "The plan came into force last night as soon as we took the decision to adopt it.

"Fundamentally it means that we can plan development within the district in a structured and controlled way to maximise economic growth and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come .

"We’re the first council in Gloucestershire to have an up-to-date local plan in place and it will allow us to strategically plan where development should take place rather than fight off speculative applications where it shouldn’t.”
In recent years councils across the country have found it difficult to defend against large housing applications in areas they did not consider suitable, when they have not had a local plan in place.

The Stroud District Local  Plan, which encourages at least 11,400 homes to be built over the 25-year period between 2006 and 2031, identifies how many homes should be built and their locations.

The number includes over 7,700 homes which have already been built or have planning permission and 4,200 homes to be developed on sites identified in the plan.  

On average, 470 homes need to be built each year over the next 16 years to accommodate the expected needs of the district.

It also supports the development of 58 hectares of employment land over the plan period to meet local job forecasts and identifies a range of new sites to meet business needs.

"It is a night for celebration," said Cllr Keith Pearson (Conservative, Upton St Leonards).

"I am so pleased that we have got to this point.

"It is the best thing which could have happened to make planning sensible in Stroud."

Planning inspector, Steven Pratt, who approved the council’s plan before it was passed to councillors to adopt, confirmed that it showed a seven year supply of housing land, meaning that the council would be right to prevent further uncontrolled development in rural areas.

He also supported the council’s strategy of concentrated growth in towns, which will see valuable infrastructure and community facilities accompany any major development.

Councillor Simon Pickering, chair of the Stroud District Council Environment Committee added: "Adoption of the plan is great news allowing us to plan effectively for future growth.

"The draft plan involved some difficult choices, meaning that not everyone was going to be happy with the outcome.

"Now that it has met the demands of the government and been approved it’s time to get behind it and make the best out of the housing and employment opportunities it will bring forth.”

Leader of SDC Geoff Wheeler added: "The decision means houses will be built where we want them and in a sustainable manner.

"It will prove invaluable in protecting against predatory development."

The locations and numbers of future housing development within the plan are as follows:
LOCATION                  NUMBER OF HOMES
Hunts Grove Extension    750
North East Cam               450
Sharpness                       300
Stroud Valleys                 450
West of Stonehouse       1,350
Council Housing Programme 150
Dispersal / windfall           750
Total allocations and windfall 4,200
 
The Stroud District Local Plan can be viewed at www.stroud.gov.uk/localplan