Council advised to pull flawed development blueprint
Stroud District Council are set to prepare a new local plan
A Gloucestershire council has been advised to withdraw their flawed 12,000-home blueprint amid concerns over junction capacity on two junctions of the M5 as new evidence will not be considered.
Stroud District Council was asked earlier this year by Government-appointed planning inspectors to withdraw their local plan amid concerns over capacity at junctions 12 and 14.
The blueprint aims to set out future strategic development and details the levels and types of growth planned for the area until 2040.
But inspectors have raised serious concerns over the need to upgrade junctions 12 and 14 to accommodate the housing growth which is expected to rise further.
Stroud District Council wrote to the Inspectors examining the draft local plan in July, requesting that they consider new evidence submitted by National Highways, on the capacity of M5 Junctions 12 and 14.
This evidence addressed concerns previously raised during the examination of the local plan, regarding the junctions and represented a significant material change.
In light of this, the council asked the inspectors to consider holding a further hearing session to examine the implications of the new evidence and its impact on the overall soundness of the plan.
However, the council has now received a response from the Inspectors which maintains that “withdrawal of the Stroud District local plan review from examination is the most appropriate way forward.”
This has been met with disappointment at Ebley Mill and the council says important new evidence to shape its local plan won’t be considered.
And the inspectors have also confirmed that they do not intend to reopen the hearings.
“The council fundamentally disagrees with the Inspectors’ interpretation of the new evidence, and will be responding formally in due course,” council leader Chloe Turner (G, Minchinhampton) said.
The council continues to have an adopted local plan, which has been the basis for determining planning applications since its adoption in 2015.
According to the council this means they still have a strong basis for refusing unsuitable development, protecting the environment and ensuring vital infrastructure is still delivered alongside new homes and jobs.
The council has committed to preparing a new local plan that will set out a strategic vision for development over the next 20 years.