A new blueprint for almost 19,000 homes suggests major expansions to Cotswold towns and the creation of large villages over the next 20 years.

Cotswold District Council’s new local plan, which will set out a long-term vision for the district, is being considered by councillors next month.

It proposes the creation of 10 strategic sites which include 3,717 homes in and around Cirencester, 2,217 homes in Moreton-in-Marsh and 1,658 homes in Down Ampney.

Civic chiefs say the plan is “absolutely vital” to curb speculative development. And it will provide for healthy, sustainable communities, with growth carefully planned to create lasting benefits for current and future generations.

The plan is underpinned by more than 40 studies and assessments and sets out where around 18,900 new homes could be delivered in the district by 2043.

The council aims are proposing a “stepped trajectory” to achieve this by which they increase their annual housing need over time.

They propose 420 homes to be built per year over the first five years. This would rise to 1,064 homes per year from 2031 to 2036 with 1,550 homes being built every 12 months during the final five years of the plan.

Planners say this is helpful, because the majority of the planned housing will come forward on large strategic sites which take longer to get up and running.

The local plan suggests 90 per cent of the housing target will be provided by the strategic sites.

And residents will get to have their say during a six-week consultation from August 24 to October 5, 2026, if approved by councillors.

The council says the local plan provides a framework based on local evidence to manage growth in a coordinated way, ensuring homes, jobs, transport, community facilities and environmental priorities are considered together, according to the council.

And it plans development in the most sustainable locations, protects valued landscapes, and sets ambitious standards for communities.

At the same time, they say it carefully balances the need for new development with the protection of the landscapes, heritage and distinctive character of the Cotswolds,.

Much of that development is proposed on ten strategic sites, allowing homes, employment, transport and community infrastructure to be planned comprehensively and sustainably.

Work on the plan follows significant changes by the Government to the way housing need is calculated, as part of a drive to build 1.5million homes across the UK between 2024 and 2029.

This new method was introduced almost two years ago and more than doubled the district’s housing target, – meaning the council can no longer demonstrate that it has a five-year supply of land for housing.

This has left communities more vulnerable to speculative, piecemeal development.

Council leader Mike Evemy (LD) said the plan was “absolutely vital” to stop speculative development and start building not just houses but sustainable, healthy communities.

“The council has been clear about the scale of the challenge created by the huge increase in nationally calculated housing need,” he said.

“But failing to progress a new local plan does not remove the pressure for development. Instead, it simply leaves our communities more exposed to speculative proposals and the council with the risk of costly appeals.

“It would leave us with less influence over where growth takes place, the quality of developments, and the infrastructure delivered alongside them.

“These are difficult choices, but avoiding them would not protect the Cotswolds.

“This is a plan we can stand behind. It is rigorous, it is considered, and it offers the best route to take control of our district’s future.

“It will deliver the affordable homes, jobs and services our communities need.

“It will protect the landscapes, heritage and character that make the Cotswolds such a special place to live and visit. And it will ensure we play a bigger role in tackling the climate crisis, while lowering energy bills through efficient new homes.”

What the plan would deliver

The proposed local plan includes:

Around 95 per cent of proposed development outside the Cotswolds National Landscape, with development within it restricted to smaller, less sensitive sites

Around 90 per cent of proposed development on strategic allocations, maximising opportunities to secure significant, coordinated infrastructure investment

Policies supporting the delivery of around 5,600 affordable homes over the plan period, including a 40 per cent affordable-housing target on qualifying sites

A greater proportion of smaller two and three-bedroom homes that better meet the needs of local peop

New and expanded education provision, including proposed new secondary schools at Moreton-in-Marsh and south of Preston, alongside transport improvements, health and community facilities, local centres, public open space and green infrastructur

New employment opportunities and land to support local businesses and economic growth, and

Ambitious climate policies covering net-zero-carbon new buildings, renewable energy, the decarbonisation of existing buildings and low-carbon heat networks.

Strategic sites

The plan concentrates growth in the district’s most sustainable locations, where services, jobs and transport links allow infrastructure and community facilities to be planned comprehensively.

Ten proposed strategic allocations would deliver 11,302 homes within the plan period at

Moreton-in-Marsh: 2,217 homes

Down Ampney: 1,658 homes

Preston: 1,368 homes

Mickleton: 1,238 homes

Fairford: 1,141 homes

New settlement south of Driffield: 1,090 homes (with the potential for more development in the longer term beyond 2043

Kemble: 1,020 homes

Cirencester: 613 east of Kingshill Lane (two allocations)

Cirencester: 585 homes south of The Steadings (with the potential for more development in the longer term beyond 2043)

Siddington: 372 homes

Backed by evidence

The plan is supported by a comprehensive suite of technical evidence and expert advice, covering matters including housing need, site suitability, transport, flood risk, landscape, heritage, ecology, viability and infrastructure.

Sustainability and climate change are embedded throughout, ensuring future growth is planned in a way that supports both communities and the environment and is ‘green to the core’.

The proposed plan also responds to concerns raised during the regulation 18 consultation in autumn 2025, including the protection of landscapes and heritage, support for the local economy, the need for affordable and smaller homes, health and community facilities, transport and infrastructure.

Next steps

The proposed plan will be considered by the overview and scrutiny committee on August 3, cabinet on August 6 and full council on August 12, 2026.

Subject to approval, a six-week regulation 19 consultation will run from August 24 to October 5.

The council will consider the representations received and may recommend additional modifications for the inspector to consider.

The plan and all consultation responses are expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State in December 2026 for independent examination by a planning inspector during 2027.

Adoption of the Plan is currently expected around March 2028.

The council says submitting the plan before the end of December 2026 is important because plans not submitted by that deadline will need to follow the Government’s new plan-making system, potentially delaying the adoption of an up-to-date plan by several years.

Pleas have been made to Prime Minister Andy Burnham to provide the vital funding needed for a major upgrade of an M5 junction in Gloucestershire.

Highways chiefs have been working on a project to provide a new junction 9a to the south of Tewkesbury and re-reroute a section of the A46 between the M5 and the Teddington Hands roundabout.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) sees the “traffic busting” scheme as vital in solving the long standing issues by providing vital infrastructure to meet existing and future needs in the area.

The project was previously estimated in 2024 to cost between £740m and £930m and will also help with the creation of up to 25,000 homes at Tewkesbury Garden Communities and provide at least 100 hectares of employment land.

Liberal Democrat councillor Julian Tooke (Pittville and St Paul’s), who is responsible for planning and infrastructure at Shire Hall, made a direct plea to the country’s new Labour prime minister during a cabinet meeting this week.

“Our new Prime Minister has been very clear that he believes local communities should say what they want and be listened to,” he said.

“GCC, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council have been very clear that they want Junction 9a and they want the Ashchurch bypass.

“So Andy Burnham, please listen, please do.

“You’ve also been very clear, Mr Burnham, that you want housing and you want infrastructure.

“Well, we believe passionately that housing and infrastructure should go together.

“We also know that words are cheap. But unfortunately, infrastructure isn’t, so we need funding for this.

“I feel so passionately about this. I really want a decision to be made as soon as possible so that we know where we are.

“Please stop keeping us hanging on. It’s not fair.”

Cllr Tooke said the investment is needed because it unlocks land for housing and new employment sites which would focus on advanced manufacturing and defence.

He also said it will strengthen a nationally important route which links the Midlands with the South West and “residents have been saying for ages ‘we want a bypass’.

“It’s about quality of life,” he said.

He went on to say now Reform councillor Vernon Smith’s previous Conservative administration spent £15m on the scheme.

“Since I got involved, I’ve said hang on a minute, we are spending a lot of money, can we be careful about how we spend money,” he said.

“And actually slow down if necessary.”

He said he asked officers to revise their recommendation to sign off another £2m. And instead they will cap spending on works for the project at £534,000 until the end of September when they should get a decision from the Government.

“We weren’t comfortable with that because this Government keeps us hanging on,” he said.

“We don’t want to spend more money unnecessarily. However, we cannot let this project grind to a halt.

“Hopefully we will get approval from the Government.

“If we haven’t got the approval from the Government, again, we will have to go back and seek approval and discuss it.”

Cllr Tooke said the funding is coming from the community infrastructure levy and thanked the councils in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Gloucester for their support.

Reform UK group leader Vernon Smith (Tewkesbury West) said officers and councillors spent years of hard work getting the Junction 9 scheme to this point.

“Since May 2025 the Liberal Democrats have given us nothing but dither and delay.

“Residents in Tewkesbury and Ashchurch need this project to relieve congestion, and they deserve an administration that can be trusted to deliver it.”

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

The number of people out of work has dropped in one of the most deprived parts of Gloucestershire while unemployment has risen elsewhere in the county.

The latest Department for Work and Pensions statistics show that the Forest of Dean has seen a reduction of unemployment by four per cent over the last year.

The total number of jobseekers in that district, which according to the ONS was ranked as the most deprived Gloucestershire district in 2024, is currently at 1,295 down 60 from last year.

But the number of claimants has risen by 11 per cent in the Cotswold district and ten per cent in Tewkesbury to 1,100 and 1,445 respectively.

Stroud has seen 85 more people sign on which constitutes a six per cent rise to a total of 1,610 claimants. While in Gloucester there are 75 more claimants than there were last year up two per cent to a total of 3195.

The drop in claimants in the Forest of Dean has been welcomed by Labour MP Matt Bishop. He said the reduction in unemployment across the area is welcome news, especially the drop in youth unemployment.

“It’s positive to see local partnerships helping residents gain skills, access training and find employment,” he said.

“I look forward to seeing this progress continue, so we can ensure everyone in the Forest of Dean has the opportunity to secure good, stable work.”

James Skilling, DWP third party provision manager for Gloucestershire, Somerset and West of England, said: “Jobcentre Plus offices across Gloucestershire have continued to support persons back into employment through partnership working, with local authorities, training providers and employers.

“The Forest of Dean area has seen the greatest reduction of unemployment over the past year, within Gloucestershire, with a four per cent reduction of unemployment across all age ranges, including a reduction of two per cent for young persons aged 18-24.”

Jobseekers have been encouraged to check out the range of vacancies available on Find a Job, with more than 750 vacancies in the Gloucestershire area.

A UK Government spokesperson said that while it’s welcome that unemployment has fallen slightly, the reality is too many young people are still locked out of work.

“For too long, governments have paid for failure rather than invested in people’s success,” they said.

“We’re determined to turn that around by creating real opportunities for young people, reforming education so everyone has a clear path to a good job and providing the support people need to stay and get on in work.”

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

Plans to expand and boost the efficiency of the Lucozade and Ribena factory in the Forest of Dean look set for approval.

Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd wants permission from district planners to extend a warehouse at the Royal Forest Factory in Rock Lane, Coleford.

The factory was built in 1946 by H W Carter to produce Ribena as demand grew for the brand after it was first created in 1938.

Ribena became stablemates with Lucozade in 1957 through acquisitions and mergers and the site now spans 53 acres and employs more than 300 people.

It produces around one billion bottles each year and plans a £25m upgrade to install a high-speed line boosting capacity to 55,000 bottles per hour in 2027.

And Forest of Dean district councillors are due to consider tomorrow a scheme for a 10-bay warehouse extension which will facilitate the upgrade.

The proposed building will have a steel portal frame with light grey vertical metal cladding to the elevations and roof. It will have an eaves height of eight metres and a ridge height of 9.5m and will cover 3,078 sqm.

Consultants, working on behalf of the applicant, said in the planning application that Suntory is a successful Gloucestershire business and “one of the largest single employers” in the Forest of Dean.

“The owners continue to invest heavily in the site with the latest round of capital spend on infrastructure likely to exceed ten million,” they said.

“The proposal for a new warehouse allows the business to introduce a new production line, replacing two older lines in need of improvement.

“This will improve the efficiency of the factory and unlock future sustainability projects.”

The proposals have the backing of Coleford Town Council who say the “benefits of the development are considered to be significant”.

Gloucestershire Highways have no objections to the proposals as long as the scheme does not increase traffic, change the access arrangements or introduce any new road safety concerns.

A district council planning officer described the company as a “key employer” for the local area in their report and said that the scheme will “further facilitate the economic prosperity and support the existing business at the Royal Forest Factory site”.

“The proposal has been found to not result in unacceptable impacts on the character and appearance of the local area,” they say go on to say in the report.

The development management committee is recommended to grant delegated permission.

Councillors will consider the proposals at the meeting in Coleford on July 14, 2026.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

There are fears much-needed improvements planned for junction 9 of the M5 could be in peril as the Government slashes £700m from its roads fund to boost defence spending.

Gloucestershire County Council has been working on a project to provide a new junction 9a to the south of Tewkesbury and re-reroute a section of the A46 between the M5 and the Teddington Hands roundabout.

It is seen as a “traffic busting” scheme which will help solve long-standing issues and provide vital infrastructure to meet existing and future needs in the area while improving journey times.

The improvements, previously estimated in 2024 to cost between £740m and £930m, would also help with the creation of up to 25,000 homes at Tewkesbury Garden Communities.

The new junction would support jobs and investment by providing access to at least 100 hectares of employment land, with a focus on advanced manufacturing and defence.

And the project is seen as vital in improving connectivity along the Trans-Midlands Trade Corridor, a nationally important route which links the South West, Midlands and North East.

But Shire Hall chiefs are concerned about recent Government announcements on the need to focus funding on defence. And they are calling for a funding commitment from ministers for the major road project.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Julian Tooke, who is responsible for planning and infrastructure at the county council, said: “The Government has been very clear in its expectation that councils enable the building of more homes and has set ambitious targets. Housing has to come with improved infrastructure.

“The Government has spoken about the possible reallocation of funds to defence from infrastructure. We are very concerned that Gloucestershire’s need for improvements to junction 9 of the M5 and the A46 may get sacrificed.”

Vernon Smith, Reform UK’s councillor Tewkesbury West, said it would be a “betrayal” of the market town and “the whole of Gloucestershire” if the scheme does not get Government funding.

“Residents in Ashchurch have put up with gridlock, HGVs thundering past their front doors and unreliable journeys for over thirty years, and just as a solution is finally within reach, this Labour Government looks set to snatch it away,” he said.

“You cannot fund the nation’s defence by leaving our county’s most important road scheme to rot.

“The business case has been sitting on ministers’ desks gathering dust while our residents sit in traffic.

“Thousands of new homes are being forced on Tewkesbury without the infrastructure to support them; if junction 9 doesn’t happen, the garden town simply doesn’t work, and local people will pay the price every single day.”

The Department for Transport (DfT) will not comment on funding prospects for junction 9 at this stage.

The Government has confirmed an additional £15 billion for the Defence Investment Plan between 2026-27 and 2029-30.

And £60 billion more will be spent on defence over the next four years than if spending were maintained in line with plans set out in Spring Budget 2024.

Their Defence Investment Plan Funding explainer issued last month says departments have been asked to contribute 1p in every £1 of their capital budgets from this year.

And the DfT will be providing savings of up to £700m from its roads funding. The department will consult on reductions to the third road investment strategy and they could cancel the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark bypass schemes, both of which are yet to enter contract and are not as far along as other road schemes.

They will also explore limited reductions to as yet uncommitted roads funding. The Government says it remains committed to protecting funding for local authorities to mend potholes and repair their roads, protecting investment in rail infrastructure, including Northern Powerhouse Rail, and the proposals will not impact bus or rail services.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

In an exclusive interview with Ian Mean, Cheltenham’s Borough Council’s chief executive, Gareth Edmundson, answers key questions about the project which is set to attract millions to the Gloucestershire economy over the next 20 years.

*IM: What is the latest timescale for the Golden Valley project and when can people expect to see building work starting?

GE: “The good news is we are expecting building works to start very soon-all being well, we are looking at July.

“In terms of construction, the National Cyber Innovation Centre-the building named IDEA at Fiddlers Green-will be the first with the transport hub which is known as ROUTER. This includes a car park with more than 450 spaces, cycle facilities, new amenities, shops and eating places, e-bike charging, showers and lockers.

“We are aiming for this initial phase to be completed early in 2028. People will start seeing construction activity ramp up in the Summer.”

*IM: What is the overall financial commitment to the project by Cheltenham Borough Council and what do you estimate to be the return on your investment of public money? Have you any solid commitments yet by major companies?

“The borough council acquired the land for £39.5 million, and at the end of 2023 a further funding package of £104 million was approved.

“On our current forecast the council expects to receive about £60 million in the land receipts over time. So, if you look at the fact we purchased the land for £39.5million, the current projection is that the land receipt comes back at £60 million delivering a net positive on current projection once the full development is complete. Similarly, the further investment in the first buildings is also showing a net positive.

“This is taxpayers’ money and the council has always tried to be prudent. We have always wanted to use the project to support, enable and help to drive the local economy.

“I cannot obviously tell you the names of companies interested in the project but we now have multiples of interest in the first phase of the development, across government, academia ,industry and early stage companies”

IM: What does Golden Valley mean for the people of Cheltenham? Do they really understand what is going on and does the Cheltenham community need far more clarity on it?

“We are creating a more cohesive approach to our Golden Valley communications led by our community, local business and other stakeholder groups. As part of this, we have created a Golden Valley Advisory Board to bring all the partners together and offer increased oversight and guidance.

“The purpose is to pull together what I would call the broad education system to try and make sure that we have got a clear story and proposition.”

*IM: The Golden Valley site butts up to one of the poorest electoral wards in the country. So, are there going to be well paid jobs for local people?

“That is absolutely a core ambition and awareness of the project around them is key. Local people need to feel there are opportunities for them as some of those wards on the doorstep are in disadvantaged communities.

“I think we have a high degree of confidence that Golden Valley is going to be a success in terms of occupier interest but that has to be alongside inclusivity and ensuring opportunities for local people. Our social value promise is all about delivering real value, where it’s needed, to local communities”.

*IM: How do you see the whole of the Gloucestershire economy benefitting from the Golden Valley project?

“We already know that because of our concentration of cyber and national security technology businesses, people are travelling from all over the county to work in Cheltenham and the surrounding areas where we have concentrations of businesses.”

Over 10 years of the completed project, Gareth Edmundson believes there will be something in the region of 10,000 technical roles created at current salaries of around £65,000 and about 1,800 non-technical roles.

*Ian Mean MBE is former editor in chief of the Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo and editor of the Western Daily Press

There are concerns over another overspend which has come to light at a Gloucestershire council that was granted a multi-million bail out by the Government earlier this year.

Ministers agreed to help Gloucester City Council by offering them an emergency loan of up to £15.5m in February this year.

The Liberal Democrat-led council found itself facing the prospect of becoming effectively bankrupt after audited accounts showed a multi-million pound overspend in recent years.

The Government agreed to provide them with £9.05m and for £3.89m to cover 2024/25 and £2.56m for 2025/26.

But now the latest financial outturn report at the authority shows there was an overspend of more than £1.12m for the third quarter of the last financial year, October, November, December 2025.

These overspends are across several areas. These include a £559,000-overspend in the commercial property budget, some £387,000 in parking, markets and street trading £177,000 and cemeteries and crematorium are £114,000 in the red.

Labour group leader Terry Pullen (Moreland) said he was shocked to discover there was another overspend.

“I was assured that new financial processes had been introduced to closely monitor budgets and ensure that finances were under control,” he said.

“Clearly this is not the case and frankly there are no excuses left,” he said.

“The blame clearly rests with the leader of the council and the cabinet member for finance.

“Only a few months ago the Government bailed the council out with £15.5 million on the assurance that financial controls and good governance were in place.

“Clearly the council are unable to honour those assurances.

“What will the council say to the Government when they ask what has gone wrong?

“It appears that yet again the council have not listened and have not learned and continue to make the same mistakes with council tax payers money.”

Conservative group leader Stephanie Chambers (Quedgeley Fieldcourt) said she called for independent forensic accountants to be brought in to establish the authority’s true position when the financial crisis came to light.

However, the Lib Dems said there was no need and assurances were given that the administration had an accurate assessment of the finances, she said.

“We now know that was not true,” she said.

“Residents are paying the price through higher council tax, increased charges and reduced services, while confidence in the council has been badly damaged.

“People are fed up with excuses. They want answers, they want accountability, and they want to know who is taking responsibility for this mess.”

And Community Independent group leader Alastair Chambers (Matson, Robinswood and White City) said people in the city have had enough of being let down.

“Residents were repeatedly assured that everything was under control,” he said. “It clearly wasn’t.”

He believes heads should roll at the council and that “those responsible cannot simply shrug their shoulders, carry on as normal, and expect the public to forget”.

But Deputy leader Declan Wilson (LD, Hucclecote), who is responsible for finances at the council, said it was disappointing the context of the ovespend and the significant progress that has been made over the last nine months appeared to have been ignored.

He said they have never claimed the council’s financial recovery journey is complete and “have been consistently clear that there is still more work to do”.

The council is now in a far better position than it was when the issues first came to light last September, he added.

“The scale and depth of the council’s financial issues only became fully apparent in September 2025 as work continued to rebuild a clear financial picture following the long-term consequences of the 2021 cyber attack,” he said.

“Since then, the council has been open about the challenges it faces and has taken decisive action to address them.

“This was never going to be a situation that could be resolved overnight. The issues developed over a number of years and uncovering them has required detailed work by finance officers and external auditors.

He went on to say the council has been transparent about the financial pressures it faces, including legacy budget issues, increasing service costs and the need to correct historic assumptions in several areas of the budget. And the strengthened budget monitoring arrangements only began in December 2025.

“Those processes were introduced precisely because the council recognised further improvements were needed, and they are already helping to provide greater oversight, accountability and understanding of spending across services,” Cllr Wilson said.

“Budget holders are now supported by dedicated finance officers and monthly budget reviews, giving a far stronger grip on finances than previously existed.

“This outturn report should be viewed in that context. It represents the first full-year position identified while those new controls are bedding in, not a failure of the new processes themselves.

“In fact, the improved monitoring arrangements are helping the council identify issues sooner and manage them more effectively.”

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

Plans for a huge expansion of a business park near the M5 and M50 in Gloucestershire have been given the go-ahead by a planning inspector.

Tewkesbury Borough Council had rejected Tiarks Property Developments plans for the extension of the Brockeridge Farm business centre off the A38 in Twyning near Tewkesbury last year.

But this decision was overturned at a planning inquiry in May this year and outline permission has now been granted for the 11.7 hectare expansion of Brockeridge Park to deliver up to 33,329 sqm for storage and distribution use.

The planning application, which was originally submitted in December 2021, had been recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers.

But it was refused in June 2025 by the planning committee with seven reasons for refusal given, citing conflict with twenty-three policies of the local development plan.

However, the inspector concluded that there was a significant shortfall of employment land in the joint core strategy area of Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Gloucester and that the development plan was “chronically underperforming”.

The inspector’s decision also identified that conflict with the development plan “carries limited weight due to the fact that this policy is out-of-date as a result of changes to the framework and because it has been overtaken by events on the ground”.

Black Box Planning director Conor Flanagan, who acted on behalf of the applicant, said they are very pleased the development can proceed after a lengthy planning journey.

“This planning application was supported by planning officers and notably GFirst LEP, and will deliver circa 500 high quality new jobs and economic investment at a fantastic location for logistics in Gloucestershire,” he said.

“The local economic impact is £27-30 million of gross value added per annum, supporting £16-20 million in annual wages and salaries from operational employment, as well as the significant economic benefits felt during the construction phase.”

He also said the strength of evidence presented also resulted in the council withdrawing its case from the inquiry.

Councillor Sarah Hands (LD, Innsworth), the lead member for planning and placemaking at Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: “We acknowledge the Inspector’s decision to allow the appeal for the extension of Brockeridge Park.

“As part of the appeal process, evidence presented by both parties was reviewed, including updated material submitted through the inquiry, and the council decided not to continue to contest the appeal.

“The inspector’s decision reflects their own independent judgement, as well as the merits of the scheme, need for employment land supply and how the proposal fits with planning policy.

“We will work with the developer to ensure the scheme is delivered in line with the approved plans, conditions and obligations.”

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

A development blueprint for 13,200 homes, which includes building two new towns over the next two decades, looks likely to be withdrawn as council chiefs consider a change of plan.

Forest of Dean District Council has been in the process of developing its new local plan since 2018, which will set out where construction should take place in the district.

Its latest draft proposals were changed after the authority’s Government-imposed housing target almost doubled from 6,600 last year.

The proposals included the creation of new settlements, one next to the A40 in Churcham and another at Glynchbrook, off the A417 near the Ledbury junction of the M50 in Redmarley.

The council held a consultation on the plans this year and was due to vote on the blueprint, which it estimated would be adopted in 2027 or 2028.

However, council chiefs are now considering withdrawing the 2025-2045 local plan and instead proceeding under the “gateway” planning process set up by the Government. Under this arrangement, adoption of a new plan is not expected until 2029.

Council leader Adrian Birch (G, Tidenham) told last week’s cabinet meeting that the change of approach comes after feedback and that it would now be difficult for the authority to meet the Government’s December 31, 2026 deadline for local plans under the “legacy” system.

He said it was recommended the council halt the current plan-making process and approve the making of a new local plan under the Government’s new process.

“Making this change now will ensure compliance with national policy and restore strong plan-led development as soon as possible,” he said.

However, he warned that during that period the council will continue to have an out-of-date local plan which may result in more “unplanned and speculative” development in the absence of a plan and a five-year housing land supply.

Cllr Birch went on to say that six formal consultations have taken place in the district since 2018.

“This level of engagement reflects both the scale of public interest and the council’s commitment to transparent and inclusive plan-making,” he added.

“Throughout this period the context of plan-making has repeatedly and materially changed.”

He said these changes include significant increases in the district’s housing requirements and successive revisions to national planning policy.

Cllr Birch explained that following the consultation this year “it is clear there was not sufficient support across the council” for the legacy plan to go forward for submission “without further consideration of further allocations for development”.

He said any substantial changes to the plans should be subject to further consultation but there would not be sufficient time for the plan to be submitted by the Government’s deadline.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

A major revamp of Gloucester’s GL1 Leisure Centre is set to begin in September.

The comprehensive upgrade for the Bruton Way site will include a brand-new gym, an enhanced soft play area, new water play features, improved reception hub, refurbished changing rooms and state-of-the-art equipment.

These improvements aim to modernise the facility, run by Freedom Leisure, and support more people looking to enjoy a healthier, more active lifestyle in Gloucester.

The women’s only gym will also reopen next year with a fresh look, including new flooring, air conditioning and enhanced security features.

This initiative forms part of Gloucester City Council’s wider £8 million investment to strengthen leisure facilities across the city, including updating both GL1 Leisure Centre and Oxstalls Sports Park.

The project will deliver a significantly enhanced experience for residents and visitors alike, once complete in autumn 2027.

Councillor Caroline Courtney (LD, Tuffley), who is responsible for leisure at the council, said: “We know how important accessible, high-quality leisure facilities are for our residents.

“GL1 is long overdue an upgrade, it’s what our city deserves, and we are delighted that these improvements that we committed to delivering are now ready to proceed.

“This refurbishment, including the new gym, will provide a much-enhanced experience for our valued members and visitors to the Leisure Centre and create a welcoming space where people can come together, get active and support their physical and mental wellbeing”,

And Ivan Horsfall Turner, Freedom Leisure;s chief executive, said they are delighted to be working alongside the council to deliver the improvements.

“These improvements represent a major step forward for one of the city’s most important community assets,” he said.

“The planned enhancements will create a more modern, welcoming and inclusive environment with improved fitness facilities alongside exciting new attractions for families to enjoy together. This investment will help ensure GL1 continues to meet the evolving needs of the local community for many years to come.”

Councillor Stephanie Chambers (C, Quedgeley Fieldcourt), who leads the Conservative opposition at North Warehouse, said her group welcomes the investment and improvements planned for GL1.

“We also want to recognise Cllr Sajid Patel for working hard to press the case for a safe space for women’s only gym facilities to be retained and refreshed after concerns were raised by residents,” she said.

“It is also vital to remember that GL1 is far more than a leisure venue. It is an important place where children learn to swim and build water safety skills, which matter enormously given the dangers of open water in seas, rivers and lakes.

“We will continue to scrutinise the council closely on timescales and timetables so that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum and the facilities are fully operational again as soon as possible.”

GL1 has already benefited from a series of recent improvements, including the installation of energy-efficient lighting, new indoor cycling bikes, and refurbishment of the pool floor.

The centre has also expanded its fitness offering with the introduction of Gravity Reformer Pilates classes, supported by specialist equipment.

The upcoming phase will build on this progress, further transforming GL1 into a modern, inclusive hub for fitness, wellbeing, and family activities.

Contractors are currently progressing detailed design work to prepare the site ahead of refurbishment works starting in September.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

Plans for a new canalside café in Stonehouse are a step closer as district chiefs have agreed to enter talks to lease the site of a former pub to the town council.

Stroud District Council agreed in 2022 to explore other uses for the former Ship Inn site which had originally been thought as a site for housing.

And now district chiefs have reviewed a business case for the site which includes timber-clad shipping containers to house a café, toilets.

Councillors voted last night (June 18) to agree head of terms for the transfer of a long term lease of the site and enter negotiations for the transfer or long term transfer of land at Wharfdale Way to Stonehouse Town Council at less than the site’s market value of £200,000.

Officers considered the proposed transfer of the site at less than market value can be supported as it aligns with their priorities in supporting stronger communities and improving Stroud’s waterways.

Councillor Martin Pearcy (G,Coaley and Uley), who seconded the proposal at the strategy and resources committee, said it was a “good example” of the council listening to the community.

“Here we are looking to transfer that site to community use which has got full support by many of the people in Stonehouse and the town council,” he said.

“It’s a great news story.”

Stonehouse ward councillor Carol Kambites, (G), who is also a town councillor, said it was a “brilliant” example of the community working together.

She explained plans for the site have been submitted and could take up to eight weeks to be approved.

“I have been to the site and seen people picking up stones to put them in the right place to provide for hardstanding and wheelbarrowing them around the site,” she said.

“I’ve seen people building picnic tables, I’ve seen people getting really hot on barbecue to sell burgers to raise money for the project.

“There is a real commitment there.”

Deputy council leader Catherine Braun (G, Wotton-under-Edge), who put forward the proposal, said a lot of work was put into thinking about what was right for the site.

She commended the “huge” amount of work that has gone into the business case for the project and thanked all those involved.

“There are huge benefits in line with the canal project, one of our flagship projects as a council, opening up this beautiful site to the canal making it easier for the people of Stonehouse and the local area to access the canal as well,” she said.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

The policies governing strip club licences in Cheltenham are being strengthened amid a strong opposition to such venues in the spa town.

Cheltenham Borough Council has agreed the revisions to its sexual entertainment venue (SEV) policy which was set in 2020.

It includes a designated permitted area where there is no limit on the number of licensed SEVs.

The council does not take any moral stand regarding the regulation of sexual entertainment.

And their current policy recognises that Parliament has made it lawful to operate a sex establishment and that such businesses.

However, council leader Rowena Hay (LD, Oakley) told a full council meeting at the Municipal Offices on June 22 that the licensing of sexual entertainment venues is a “very challenging matter”.

She explained the council’s general regulatory approach is one that prefers licensing and full regulation of SEVs as opposed to allowing the venues to operate under the infrequency exemption.

Cllr Hay said there was a high probability that SEVs would continue to operate unlicensed and unregulated, which also means that public protection and safety risks are substantially increased.

“It remains the job of the local authorities to find a pragmatic way forward,” she said.

And Cllr Victoria Atherstone (LD, St Peter’s) said that venue operators are drawn to the spa town by its popular festivals.

She said that by law they could have a nil approach to SEVs but they are allowed to operate under law.

“It would just mean they wouldn’t be licensed,” she said. “And without licensing, all horrors can take place.”

She went on to say she was fully in favour of all the proposed changes to the policy.

“It is the strongest, safest policy we could put forward at this time.”

There was strong opposition to SEVs among those who responded to the consultation with many calling for zero venues in Cheltenham.

There was also resistance to issuing new licences or expanding the permitted area amid concerns that SEVs would damage the town’s reputation and identity as a cultural, family-friendly destination.

The council voted to take on the proposed strengthened policy approach in relation to equality and buildings or premises with sensitive uses or located in sensitive areas.

And borough chiefs will consider whether the premises are sited near properties which are sensitive by virtue of their use during operating hours, deemed to be so by the authority, on a case-by-case basis and with particular reference to protective characteristics.

They will also take into account the characteristics of any adjoining areas, any existing licensing permissions held for the premises other than sexual entertainment as well as the proximity of other licensed premises in the surrounding area and the terms of those licences.

Any existing planning or regeneration policy, plan, or strategies relevant to the area will also be considered as well as a history of complaints relevant to the premises, and whether, as a direct consequence of the grant, renewal or variation of the licence, any other premises will be required to change their operating hours.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

Concerns continue to be raised about the impact the planned road closures for the A40 near Gloucester will have as motorists face a 40-mile diversion.

National Highways will be carrying out the vital repairs Over Bridge, which carries the dual carriageway across the river and links Gloucester, Cheltenham and Ross-on-Wye, over the next eight months.

Those closures begin tonight (June 8) and will continue in various guises until early 2027. More information is available on the National Highways website.

The route which is described as vital for many commuters, with an estimated 5,000 vehicles an hour during peak times travelling over the bridge into Gloucester, on to Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and beyond, to the M5, or to the Forest of Dean, the West and Wales.

Concerns were raised last month that there will be “major disruption” during the repairs which are planned to last until March next year with health chiefs saying staff and patients face double the travel time to get to hospital in the city.

And the issue was discussed again at Gloucestershire County Council (June 24) with questions being raised over the impact the closures..

Drybrook and Lydbrook Councillor Piers Camp (R) asked if fire chiefs have independently modelled response times to communities west of the Severn during the overnight closures.

But Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach), who is the cabinet member responsible for the fire service, said they have been reassured that access will be given “just like every other emergency service”.

“If there are issues that come through, just let me know because we can then get straight onto National Highways as a result of that,” he said.

Cllr Camp also asked for a baseline condition survey of the county council-maintained roads where traffic will be diverted to during the planned works and whether costs to reap them could be recouped from National Highways.

Highways cabinet member Mark Harris, who (LD, Cirencester Park) said he would check with officers.

The A40 will be closed overnight on Monday, June 29 (8pm-6am) between the Over roundabout and Highnam roundabout for the installation of traffic management, with traffic diverted via the A417, A449 and A40.

From Tuesday June, 30, the overtaking lane will be closed in both directions to enable works to the central barrier and the eventual installation of a contraflow later in the summer.

The dedicated slip road from the A417 Over Causeway to the A40 Westbound will remain closed for the duration of the works.

Terry Robinson, the engineering lead for National Highways in the South West, said: “Many of the motorways and major A roads we manage were built around 60 years ago and need renewing to ensure they remain fit for purpose for generations to come.

“The A40 at Over is now in need of significant work, which is vital to keep drivers safe and the route running into the future.

“We’re expecting this work to cause delays in the area during this complex scheme and we’re advising users to plan their journeys and use alternative routes where possible, especially during peak hours.”

Having been built in the 1970s, the £7m investment will extend the life of the bridge and reduce the risk of unplanned closures for emergency maintenance work in the future, delivering a more resilient and more reliable route for local communities, businesses and freight.

From June 2026 to March 2027, National Highways will be carrying out repairs and maintenance work on the bridge including repairs to the concrete, new waterproofing, better drainage and other improvements.

The dual carriageway is a key part of the road network connecting Gloucester, Cheltenham and Ross on Wye and the A40 connects England and Wales.

The main works will see a mixture of lane closures, contraflows and a reduced speed limit of 30mph for the safety of motorists and workers.

There will also be some overnight closures with a clearly marked diversion route. This ensures the vital route can remain open for the majority the works whilst ensuring the safety of users and workers.

While the scheme is being delivered by National Highways, Gloucestershire County Council chiefs say they are taking action to manage the wider network and minimise disruption for residents, businesses and commuters.

Shire Hall chiefs have written directly to utility companies operating in the area, urging them to avoid carrying out non-essential works that could add to congestion during this period.

The council’s Streetworks Team will also assess all permit applications in the area on a case-by-case basis, helping to ensure any additional works are carefully coordinated and kept to a minimum.

Drivers are being encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternative routes where possible, particularly at peak times, as disruption is expected during the works.

National Highways’ schedule of closures for the A40 at Over:

June to March 2027 – Total closure A417 Over Causeway to A40 Westbound Slip Road

June to July 2026 – Lane 2 closures in both directions

July to October 2026 – Eastbound carriageway closure with single lane contraflow on the westbound carriageway

October 2026 to January 2027 – Westbound carriageway closure with single lane contraflow on the eastbound carriageway

January to February 2027 – Lane 2 closures in both directions

February to March 2027 – Removal of all traffic management

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

“Striking” plans to transform Cheltenham’s long-empty Cavendish House site into a vibrant town centre destination, complete with a grand public square, elegant shopping arcades, cafés, restaurants, homes and striking public spaces, have been unveiled.

The visionary scheme for the Promenade landmark known as “Cavendish Exchange” has been developed by Cynthia Hartmann, founder and creative director of Interior Design CH.

It is part of her graduate studies at the University of Gloucestershire, and has since been supported by Cheltenham Civic Society (CCS), which has helped test its commercial and financial viability.

No formal planning application is expected to be submitted for this scheme but the ambitious £100 million proposal reimagines one of the spa town’s most prominent and problematic vacant buildings as a lively mixed-use quarter, reconnecting the Promenade with Regent Street and the Everyman Theatre.

The Civic Society says the plans represent a bold and detailed iteration of the initial concept put forward by them in 2024 as part of its long-running campaign to make sure that any development proposal will benefit the town, not just the investors.

This development proposal would create what many believe Cheltenham has long lacked – a true civic heart and town square capable of bringing new life, energy and footfall into the town centre, they said.

And they believe it would not only bring life to the CavHouse site itself, but it would supercharge the economy of adjoining streets, notably Regent Street and the High Street.

The unveiling of the scheme also raises uncomfortable questions for site owner Canada Life, which has spent years without bringing forward a deliverable vision or redevelopment proposal.

The building’s former occupiers, House of Fraser, closed their doors in April 2024 but it is understood talks about the building’s future began more than six year ago.

Hartmann’s proposed redevelopment would involve selective demolition of the existing Cavendish House building to create a dramatic new public square opening directly off the Promenade.

This elegant and welcoming space is designed to reconnect some of Cheltenham’s most important streets for the first time in generations.

At the heart of the scheme is a complete reimagining of the building’s tired 1960s façade. In its place, Hartmann’s design introduces a series of elegant, glazed double-height arches, creating a far more refined and visually striking frontage befitting Cheltenham’s Regency character and international reputation, according to the Civic Society.

A grand central archway would form a prestigious pedestrian route from the Promenade through into the new square and onwards to Regent Street and the Everyman Theatre – creating a natural flow of movement, activity and footfall across the town centre.

The development would bring together a lively mix of uses designed to keep the area active throughout the day and evening.

At ground-floor level, shops, cafés and restaurants would animate both the Promenade frontage and the new public square, while upper floors would accommodate a major food hall or destination restaurant alongside high-quality residential apartments overlooking the Promenade and the square.

The plans also include the sensitive incorporation of surviving Regency façades on the corner of Regent Street and County Court Road into a separate standalone building within the square. This space could accommodate offices, cultural uses or potentially even a future headquarters for a Cheltenham Town Council as local government reorganisation proceeds in the coming years.

Hartmann said: “Fifteen years of working as an interior designer in buildings teaches you to read them differently. You understand how people move through space, where they linger, where they leave.

“Cavendish House has the presence of a landmark and the character of a barrier. What drives people away is the decades of architectural compromise layered over it.

“It occupies one of the most strategic and prestigious sites in Cheltenham, and for years, it has worked against both the streets that define it and the legacy of the town.

“This proposal sets out to exchange that: reconnecting streets, restoring a frontage, and creating the kind of mixed-use public destination that successful town centres are built around. A passage. A square. A gathering place that gives the Promenade and Regent Street something to connect to for the first time in a generation. Cavendish Exchange could become that missing heart of the town.

“The architecture of Cheltenham already knows what it wants to be. This project simply completes the sentence.”

The Civic Society has worked closely with Hartmann throughout the project, helping to test and refine the proposals and assess the commercial reality behind the vision.

Andrew Booton, the Civic Society’s chairman, said the scheme demonstrates that ambitious regeneration in Cheltenham is both possible and financially achievable.

“We did not want this to be dismissed as simply a student exercise or an unrealistic fantasy scheme,” he said.

“We have examined the development numbers carefully and believe the proposal is entirely viable in commercial terms. The scheme would create a high value, mixed-use destination featuring new homes, hospitality, retail and public space in one of the most strategically important locations in Gloucestershire.

“It has the potential to generate substantial long-term rental income, significant new council tax revenues and millions of pounds in additional spending power for businesses across Cheltenham town centre.”

But Booton said the scheme also highlighted the extraordinary lack of progress made by current site owner Canada Life since long before the closure of Cavendish House.

“The embarrassing reality is that a single architectural student, working part-time over six months, has succeeded in producing a coherent, attractive and deliverable vision for this site,” he said.

“Measured against that, Canada Life appears to have spent six years achieving effectively nothing – while their property has become a symbol of stagnation, drift and decline in the town centre.

“This proposal proves that the site is not difficult to redevelop: in fact it brims with potential. What has been missing is imagination, urgency and leadership.”

Booton said Cheltenham Civic Society is now urging Canada Life either to work constructively with the ideas behind Cavendish Exchange or to sell the site to a developer that is prepared to move quickly.

“Cheltenham cannot afford another six years of excuses while one of the most important sites in the town centre sits empty and decaying,” he said.

“This town deserves ambition. It deserves confidence. And it deserves a town centre that reflects Cheltenham at its very best.”

A spokesperson for Canada Life Asset Management, owners of Cavendish House, said they continue to work closely with the town’s planners.

“The next stage of Cavendish House’s redevelopment, involving the removal of the bridge link to Regent Arcade, has now been successfully completed,” they said.

“This is a critical step in enabling the wider regeneration of Cavendish House, and we continue to work closely with Cheltenham Borough Council through an updated pre-application planning process.”

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

A director who stored more than 1,000 kg of explosives illegally on his business premises has been fined more than £25,000.

Chase James Gardiner, 42, of Hales Road, Cheltenham, and the sole director of Platinum Home Cinema (also Hales Road), was fined £3,986 with the business fined £11,200 and ordered to pay costs of £10,634.30.

The total fine paid being £25,820.30. Gardiner, who appeared in Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Tuesday 26 May, previously pleaded guilty to four charges of April 22 2026.

Platinum Home Cinema sold fireworks and organised displays under the trading name Chase Lane Fireworks and the charges the charges related to events that took place in July 2024.

Trading Standards officers visited a working livery yard in Shurdington, near Cheltenham, in July 2024 and found three shipping containers containing fireworks with a net mass of explosives of 1,220kg.

One of the licensed stores was found to be overstocked by 36 per cent, explosives were also stored in an unlicensed location, and steps to prevent explosions or protect people had not been taken.

A prosecution report highlighted a significant risk of serious injury or fatalities to people on the site or nearby.

There are fears the Forest of Dean’s bid to become a Unesco biosphere reserve is now in peril after civic chiefs voted for six months of further consultation.

Green Party councillors fear the area could lose out on achieving the international recognition as the Forest of Dean District Council will miss this year’s September deadline.

The council has been working on applying for the status which would recognise the ancient woodland and place it in the same league as places such as Yellowstone or Florida’s Everglades in the USA and the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Such status helps protect landscapes and wildlife while boosting eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture and green business while increasing the region’s appeal internationally, according to its supporters.

However, there are serious concerns over the level of consultation with the public on the project which the district council has been working on since 2019.

Dozens of residents gathered in Coleford on Thursday (May 21) ahead of a council meeting to express their concerns.

Annie Gwilliam, a local resident, said she feared its status could turn the area into a theme park.

“With outsiders coming in, the young Foresters won’t be taking an interest in keeping the heritage alive, which is so important,” she said.

While Jaz White, junior secretary of the Commoners’ Association, said she believed there has not been enough consultation.

“They’ve not been transparent and they’ve not talked to locals,” she said.

“We weren’t told and we’ve not been informed properly about it and there are lots of people who feel the same.”

And Reform UK Councillor Piers Camp, who represents Drybrook and Lydbrook at Shire Hall, said every parish council meeting he has been to and resident he has spoken to has shown no support for the Unesco biosphere or they don’t know what it is.

“That’s the main issue,” he said. “It’s being foisted upon the Forest.”

Tina Carrott, who lives near Cinderford, said her and husband did not know anything about it until March when they got a leaflet through the post.

“There seems to be a lack of communication, that’s what it comes down to,” she said.

“We are all a bit suspicious. Area of outstanding natural beauty is what we deserve, and what we want, not blimming Unesco biosphere.”

During the meeting, Progressive Independent Councillor Bernie O’Neill (Ruspidge), who proposed a six month pause for further consultation, felt the bid was being “rushed through without doing the ground work properly”

He said he supported the principle of exploring a biosphere status but this “does not mean signing a blank cheque for a flawed process”.

“What we’ve seen since that unanimous vote is not careful engagement, it’s a push to get this over the line.

“There has been a lack of engagement and local people are not objecting because they are unreasonable.

“They are objecting because they have not been properly consulted or informed.”

He went on to say that “misinformation has filled the vacuum left by poor communication”.

Green Party councillor Chris McFarling (St Briavels), who has been leading the project, said he challenged the premise that the council had not consulted.

He said engagement has been extensive and leaflets have been delivered to every household in the district and consultation events have been held at multiple locations with online engagement throughout.

“The biosphere team has attended parish council meetings, community group meetings and stakeholder sessions over a sustained period of time,” he said.

He put forward an amendment to consult over the next four months, not six in order to meet the September deadline. And that prior to a formal submission to Unesco, all councillors would be given a vote on the proposal.

The biosphere status is the only international status in the world that exists specifically to recognise the landscapes where people and the land work together sustainably, Cllr McFarlign said.

“Today we are hearing concerns particularly around consultation and those concerns deserve to be taken seriously,” he said.

And he explained that biosphere status would not lead to restrictions on the Forest of Dean’s ancient rights such as the freemining and the tradition of free roaming sheep.

“It does not take away rights or impose new powers,” he said. “It recognises places that already work and helps them thrive.

“That brings real benefits, it strengthens our ability to attract investment and funding.

“It supports local jobs and businesses from tourism to landbased industries to emerging green sectors.

“It raises the profile of the Forest of Dean bringing recognition that opens doors nationally and internationally.

“Beyond economics, there is something even more important. What future are we creating for the next generation?

“Do we want young people growing up here to see a place full of opportunity, pride and purpose or a place that hesitated and missed its moment?”

But Councillor Jamie Elsmore (Progressive Independent, Berry Hill) said it was thanks to people like Warren James, who led a massive uprising in 1831 to defend the Dean’s ancient rights.

“The freedoms that our commoners and freeminers have today is down to people like Warren James who fought for freedoms of the Forest,” he said.

“Those same groups believe that they have not been consulted.”

Cllr McFarling said they have engaged with the freeminers and commoners but agreed that they must do more.

He reiterated the point that biosphere status would not affect any of the ancient rights of the Forest of Dean.

While former council leader Tim Gwilliam (Progressive Independents, Berry Hill) said the Forest of Dean was already a very special place.

He said while the intent may be rooted in environmental stewardship, how the council had gone about the biosphere application was “alienating the very soul of our community”.

But Green Party Councillor Sid Phelps (Lydbrook) said if their amendment was not passed it would “effectively kill it”,

“I don’t want to see the biosphere application be killed,” he said.

He later said the original motion “is just a way to put a bullet in the head of the whole project” because asking for a six months delay for consultation would see the council failing to make the application in time.

And fellow Green Councillor Jackie Dale (Pillowell) said the debate sounded like a competition about “who’s the most Forest”.

“I don’t want to bleat about who I am, but I am a Forester, and I’ve also had a grandfather down the mines who lost a leg down the coal mines of the Forest of Dean,” she said.

“I’m proud to be a Forester and I’m proud to support the biosphere and Chris McFarling’s amendment.

“That’s because I am representing all the other residents that I’ve spoken to. And yes, I do go out and speak to residents and I do note the original consultation where we had lots of people.

“90 per cent of respondents, I believe, supported the biosphere application,” he said. “Not only that, if we didn’t care about our culture and our heritage.

“I wouldn’t have fought tooth over nail to get an arts culture and heritage officer who has been busy already engaging with that sector.”

Cllr O’Neill said the Green administration was “ploughing ahead without consulting”. He called councillors to back his motion and stick to the six month consultation.

“It will take us beyond September but I’m sorry, that’s a fact. If it’s six months, it’s six months. The longer we’ve got to allow consultation proper the much better it would be.”

However, there was a tie in the vote on this amendment and chair Di Martin (L, Cinderford East) used her casting vote to break the deadlock.

A subsequent vote to delay the project for six months more of consultation was successful.

Cllr McFarling said the Forest of Dean would lose “something real” and the only governance structure on the table designed around the district.

“Local government reorganisation is coming, this council will cease to exist,” he said.

“The Forest of Dean as a district authority will be absorbed into a unitary council covering a much larger geography.

“Every member in this room knows that. The question is whether the Forest of Dean enters that transition with its own community-led governance structure already in place or whether it goes into a new unitary authority with nothing.

“No formal identity, no standing partnership, no mechanism for local voice and hopes for the best.

“We are sending a signal, we are the community that was offered international recognition for the quality of its landscape, its economy, the relationship between its people and their environment and turned it down.”

The half-empty public gallery erupted with cheer and applause as the motion to pause for six months for further consultation succeeded by 19 votes in favour to 17 against.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

Subscribe now

Gloucestershire residents have blasted the launch of a strategy to protect nature as a new blueprint for development could see a 3,500-home new town near the Malvern Hills.

Forest of Dean District Council has completed a public consultation on its new Nature and Climate Emergency Strategy 2026 – 2040.

This sets out commitments to embed nature recovery and climate resilience into planning, as well as empower local communities to shape the district’s future.

But the council is also considering plans for new settlements off the A40 at Churcham and A417 in Redmarley.

The authority has been mandated by the Government to find land for around 13,000 new homes to be built over the next 20 years.

To try and meet this target they believe it is better to have sustainably designed new settlements with the necessary infrastructure rather than the same number of homes being spread across the district.

United Against Glynchbrook campaigners are up in arms over the potential for a new 3,500-home town near junction two of the M50.

They say the council’s own assessments found that it would be “unlikely” to meet the criteria for sustainable development.

The assessment warned Glynchbrook would cause “landscape harm”, would fail to offer “low carbon access to services” and has “floodzones” running throughout the proposed site.

In contrast, the council’s nature and climate strategy calls for “net zero development” and commits to ensuring that “planning applications for carbon intensive or highly environmentally impactful developments” are appropriately responded to.

Dawn Munn, 62, a layout designer, said: “The council asking residents to get involved with their nature and climate strategy I find a little bit insulting, in all honesty.

“The council is asking local people to engage with a strategy to protect climate and nature, while simultaneously planning Glynchbrook – a development that their own report says will harm our natural landscape and the environment.”

“I want the council to succeed and protect the environment, I just hope they recognise that their Glynchbrook plan does the opposite and they scrap it.”

Another local resident, Andrew Elliott, 64, said: “The council wants to know what I think about climate change and nature? I think climate change is an emergency and we must protect nature.

“But clearly the council doesn’t agree. They’re tarmacking the green belt on the edge of the Malvern Hills, to build a total carpark of a new town. You can’t call yourself green if you behave like these councillors have behaved.”

“It makes my blood boil and everyone I’ve told about this climate consultation is seething too. Why are the council asking us to contribute to a new environmental strategy when they won’t even apply it to their own local plan?”

Climate emergency cabinet member Chris McFarling (G, St Briavels) declined to comment.

Councillors will assess evidence received during the public consultation on their local plan, which includes Glynchbrook, before deciding whether it will be adopted.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

Questions have been raised over the costs associated with delivering Gloucester’s £115.1m The Forum project as around £40m of the money spent did not go on construction.

The prominent city centre landmark off Station Road houses a four-star hotel, a 399-space car park and more than 106,000 square feet of office space.

A report reflecting on the major regeneration project was scrutinised by councillors at Gloucester City Council earlier this week, with bosses quizzed over the costs of the project.

Councillor Alastair Chambers (I, Matson, Robinswood and White City) asked whether the total value of the project was still £107m as was originally budgeted for.

Andy Hearne, the head of place at Gloucester City Council, explained that was the original figure approved by the cabinet.

But subsequently £8.1m from levelling up funding from the ill-fated Fleece Hotel project went into the overall development project as a contingency as none had been set for it.

“In totality, the entire development cost budget was £115.1m,” he said.

Cllr Chambers thanked officers for “being so open and honest with the data” and went on to ask more about the costs of the project.

“The Kier build costs were £74.5m,” he said. “Where did the other £40-£45m come from?”

Peter Langley-Smith, managing director of the council’s development partners Reef, said there were other costs including professional fees, land acquisition, tenant incentives, rent free costs, consultant costs, development management advisers fees and development management advisers fees.

“Fundamentally speaking professional fees, associated costs with development, fit out contributions, capital contributions to occupiers, those sort of things,” he said.

The main delays to the major King’s Quarter regeneration project were borne out of the discovery in October 2022 of an exposed gas main, according to the Forum Reflection report.

This discovery led to an extension of time request and loss and expense claim for just under 21 weeks and £7.33m respectively.

This was received in February 2023 and owing to a disagreement as to the apportionment of risk in respect of the gas main discovery, the issue was referred to adjudication, the outcome of which was substantially in Reef’s favour.

However, the final account figure represents a 6.58 per cent increase of the build cost which is equates to around £4.8m.

Cllr Chambers asked what that £4.8m was spent on.

Langley-Smith said: “The total settlement you are referring to is the final commercial settlement with Kier. Which was trying to effectively wrap up all of the variations, all of the changes, all of the valuations, engineering, all of the extensions into one final commercial settlement.

“And that was the commercial settlement that we reached.

“It is worth highlighting that the claim that Kier were proposing in terms of the final settlement figure was in a magnitude of multiples to what we actually settled at.

“So while it was an increase. There are always a number of items that are effectively for commercial debate with the contractor.

“And we still stand by the fact it was a sound recommendation to settle at those levels.”

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.

It might be called Gloucester Business Park, but the Brockworth site is actually on Tewkesbury Borough Council’s patch - and the council’s just approved the latest investment for a major business.

Borough planners have backed the proposals for a new supermarket on a northern plot of the business park, which was once an airfield and site of a factory making iconic aircraft such as the Hawker Hurricane, Gloster Gladiator, and the Gloster Javelin.

The scheme, by the British arm of the German discount supermarket Lidl, includes a 1,975 sqm store and will have 118 car parking spaces including 12 parent and child spaces and seven accessible parking bays along with six electric vehicle bays and cycle parking.

The new store is expected to create up to 40 new jobs and the proposed opening hours would be from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

Rosie Meehan, regional head of property for Lidl Great Britain, called on Tewkesbury Borough Council’s planning committee to approve the scheme.

“Despite previous permissions and extensive marketing over 30 years for employment uses and while all surrounding employment land has been developed and successfully let, this site has never come forward for development,” she said.

Meehan also said the land’s constrained nature had limited its viability.

“The proposal before you represents a sustainable and productive alternative use,” she said.

Councillor Mary Jordan (I, Churchdown St John’s) asked if biodiversity improvements associated with the development could be provided locally.

Officers said they could be elsewhere and there was a suggestion some of the improvements might be in Malvern, but there would be a formal process related to this.

Councillor Matt Dimond-Brown (G, Tewkesbury South) said parish councils in Brockworth and Hucclecote asked for genuine improvements in bus provision serving the site.

“This application talks about an upgraded shelter and real time information,” he said.

“That’s about furniture not service. What is the current bus service to this particular site and what improvements could be made?”

Officers said the bus services are “interesting in this area” because Gloucester Business Park is currently unadopted but there are regular services running through the site.

“The nearest of which is just north of the Lidl site on the approach to Tesco, there’s a bus shelter there ” a highways officer told the meeting.

Strategic planning is seen hugely important in securing the vital infrastructure and services needed to meet a 43,000 new homes target in Gloucestershire.

A strategic and local plan (SLP) is being developed jointly for Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury to help guide development in the coming years.

Last year, the area saw an increase of more than 20 per cent in the total number of homes the Government wants to see built over the next two decades with around 43,000 new homes needed across the three districts.

Sites for approximately 20,000 have been found so far but there is a shortfall of around 23,000 homes which needs to be addressed by the strategic and local plan.

The vast majority of these new homes will be built in the borough of Tewkesbury as Cheltenham and Gloucester do not have enough land – and councils have a legal duty to co-operate with neighbouring areas.

Tewkesbury Borough Council leader Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) says the SLP will allow councils to plan where this development should go and what improvements are needed.

Without such a plan in place, developers would be able to build in non-sustainable places which lack the necessary infrastructure.

“The SLP will help guide how our area will grow over the next 20 years,” he said.

“New housing is coming forward, and the SLP allows councils to plan where this development should go and what infrastructure is needed, such as roads, schools, and healthcare.

“Without an agreed plan, development will be led by developers, and potentially in non-sustainable locations, without the supporting infrastructure communities need.

“The SLP is important as it helps ensure future growth is coordinated and sustainable.”

Residents and businesses in these areas can review evidence on the SLP’s dedicated website.

The full SLP engagement runs until June 2026, with pre-submission of the plan to the Government in July, and the final submission expected in October or November this year.

By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.