Major development plan published next week

Members of the public are being given a final opportunity to have a say on the plan that will guide Cheltenham Borough, Tewkesbury Borough and Gloucester City’s economic and housing growth.

Members of the public are being given a final opportunity to have a say on the plan that will guide Cheltenham Borough, Tewkesbury Borough and Gloucester City’s economic and housing growth.

The plan is called the Joint Core Strategy (JCS) and it is being jointly prepared by Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Councils. Once adopted it will form the basis for planning decisions across the area until 2031.

From Monday, 30 June to Monday, 11 August, the three councils will ask members of the public whether they consider the final published version complies with necessary legal requirements and is considered ‘sound’.

A ‘sound’ plan is one that meets the required housing, employment and infrastructure needs; is the most appropriate strategy for the area; is able to be delivered over its period; and importantly is consistent with national planning policy.

All comments will be considered and if a member of the public provides a reputable challenge to the plan, then may be be asked to present it at the next stage of the process when it gets submitted for examination by the government.

In April this year, the three councils voted to approve a Pre-Submission version of the plan, which means they believe this version is the best possible one for future development for the three areas, and this is the plan that should be submitted to the Secretary of State for consideration.

The Pre-Submission version takes into account outcomes from all previous JCS consultations, as well as any new evidence that has emerged.

Councillor Steve Jordan, leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, says: “We have reached another key point in our three councils working together and it is important we give the chance for people to have their say on the Joint Core Strategy. We can then consider their response along with any other new evidence before sending our plans to the Secretary of State.” 

Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Lead Member for Built Environment Cllr Derek Davies said: “This consultation is an opportunity for the public to let us know if our plan is sound – have we got the evidence to back up our proposals and have we followed all the rules? Together, the three councils have worked extremely hard to get to this stage, and we believe what we have now is the best possible plan for the future development of Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester, and we are confident that it complies with national planning rules. “

Councillor Paul James, the Leader of Gloucester City Council, commented: “I echo the sentiments of my colleagues in Tewkesbury and Cheltenham.  We three councils recognise that we have a number of shared economic, housing and environmental interests.  Our shared vision will help find the homes and jobs the City needs in Gloucester and our adjoining local authorities of Tewkesbury and Cheltenham.”

The consultation will be available to view online at www.gct-jcs.org, as well as through each of the council’s websites. Exhibitions will be on display in each of the council’s offices and copies of the plan will also be available at public libraries. 

Consultation events, where JCS officers will be available to answer questions, are taking place on the following dates:

•             Saturday, 5 July - 12 midday to 6pm - Kings Walk Shopping Centre , Gloucester

•             Saturday, 12 July - 12 midday to 6pm - Regents Arcade Shopping Centre, Cheltenham

•             Tuesday, 15 July - 12 midday to 8pm - Tewkesbury Town Hall

•             Monday, 28 July – 12 midday to 8pm - Winchcombe Abbey Fields

Once the consultation comes to a close, the results will be submitted alongside the Joint Core Strategy, to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Once submitted, the Secretary of State will call an Examination in Public, chaired by an independent inspector, to examine the plan and consider the issues that have been raised from the consultation.