STROUD district’s draft local plan has been approved by Stroud District Council.

Local plans provide a framework for managing the use of land, to address local housing, employment and other needs whilst conserving and enhancing the local environment.

This latest draft local plan sets out a requirement for at least 12,600 new homes to be built for the 20 year period 2020 to 2040. This minimum level of housing development is set by national Government.

The Plan was approved at a council meeting on Thursday, on April 30.

One of the key strategies in the plan has been to concentrate housing growth at the main centres of population where there is best access to services, facilities, jobs and infrastructure and at new settlements, where there is the potential to create new sustainable communities.

Across the district, major development sites include urban extensions at Cam, Stonehouse and Hardwicke, two new settlements at Sharpness (2,400 new homes by 2040 and 10 hectares employment) and at Wisloe (1,500 new homes and 5 hectares employment) and new employment sites at M5 Junctions 12 and 13.

In addition, a site at Whaddon is safeguarded for up to 3,000 new homes.

All of the main housing sites will contain primary schools and two new secondary school are being proposed at Sharpness and at Whaddon.

The plan also includes new housing policies to support accommodation for older people, entry level buyers and renters, and self and custom builders.

The draft Local Plan will be subject to a formal six-week period of public consultation starting on May 24 and running till early July 2021.

This will be undertaken online and is an opportunity for anyone who objects to the contents of the Plan to formally register their objections. These objections, the Plan itself and accompanying evidence will then be submitted to Government by the end of September 2021.

A Government appointed Inspector will consider whether the Plan meets national planning policy and will recommend any changes in a report to the Council.