STROUD district could be set for a vast influx of housing in and around its towns and villages after a Local Plan review.

The review was announced at Stroud District Council’s environment committee on Thursday and will see extensive public consultation through late October and November.

Although the current Local Plan was only approved in November 2015 the plan was agreed subject to an early review and SDC wishes to get ahead of the game.

These plans could take five years to approve and would be in place from Winter 2021/22 and last until 2036.

The current plans had sought to build 11,400 houses between 2006 and 2031, however that could be set to increase.

In the reviews are ‘potential broad locations’ for housing, employment and/or community facilities.

There are several areas that have been noted for improvement, largely further housing for older people, affordable homes for young people and developing tourism.

It also seeks to discourage long-distance commuting to work for those travelling in and out of the district to Gloucester, Cheltenham and Bristol.

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Above - An aerial view of Rodborough by Wayne Seeley

This would see councillors aim to approve ‘infill’ sites in towns and villages which could see housing, community buildings or employment sites slotted in to plug vacant gaps.

Councillor Steve Lydon (Labour, The Stanleys), leader of Stroud District Council, said that the proposals would have a "huge impact" on our day-to-day lives, and present the best possible benefits for future generations.

“The local plan review is about ensuring that the district is a great place to live and work, for current and future generations," he said.

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Above - The vast array of potential development facing Sharpness

"It’s about where homes, businesses and infrastructure, such as shops, schools and play areas should be located over the next few decades.

"I’m sure that anyone with children will want to see us put the best possible plan together that benefits them and even their grandchildren, so we’d really love to see as many people as possible come to the drop-in events we’re holding across the district in October and November.

"Whilst it is a ‘high-level’ strategic document it will ultimately have a huge impact on our day-to-day lives, so I’d encourage everyone to come along to find out more and give us their views.”

Many of the labelled development sites already have planning applications in place, such as the combined 647-house schemes around Box Road in Cam.

Another key focus in the review is the M5 corridor, and whether building houses and employment sites nearer to the motorway in places such as Whitminster, Sharpness and Stonehouse is the best approach.

Whitminster could be set to almost double in size to fulfil this ambition and Sharpness could become one the Plan’s potential ‘super villages’ – building upon the current plans from the Canal and River Trust.

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Above - The purple areas around Whitminster represent potential broad developments

The towns and villages that have been labelled for potential broad developments are: Berkeley, Bisley, Brimscombe, Cam, Chalford, Coaley, Dursley, Eastcombe, Eastington, Frampton, Hardwicke, Horsley, King’s Stanley, Kingswood, Leonard Stanley, Minchinhampton, Nailsworth, North Nibley, North Woodchester, Oakridge Lynch, Painswick, Sharpness, Slimbridge, Stonehouse, Stroud, Whitminster and Wotton.

The consultation period for making comments will run from Wednesday, October 11 until Tuesday, December 5.

Nine public exhibitions will be held to discuss the plans for each ‘cluster’, the details are as follows:

Wotton-Under-Edge Town Hall, Market Street, Saturday, October 21 9.30am-12.30pm

Hardwicke Village Hall, Green Lane, Thursday, October 26 3pm-6.30pm

Stroud Subscription Rooms, George Street, Saturday, October 28 9.30am-12.30pm

Berkeley Town Hall, Salter Street, Thursday, November 2 3pm-6.30pm

Stonehouse Town Hall, High Street, Saturday, November 4 9.30am-12.30pm

Frampton Village Hall, The Street, Thursday, November 9 3pm – 6.30pm

Dursley Methodist Hall, Castle Street, Saturday, November 11 9.30am-12.30pm

Painswick Town Hall, Victoria Square, Tuesday, November 14 3pm-6.30pm

Cam Parish Council Office, Thursday, November 16 3pm-6.30pm

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Above - The area surrounding Painswick by Kevin Watkins