Disappointment at rejection of new evidence for Local Plan

Disappointment at Rejection of New Evidence for Local Plan

Stroud District Council has expressed disappointment that important new evidence intended to influence its Local Plan will not be reviewed by key decision makers. Instead, Government-appointed Planning Inspectors have instructed the Council to withdraw the Local Plan.

Purpose of the Local Plan

The Local Plan serves as the blueprint for development, outlining the district’s growth strategy until 2040. It addresses a critical Government challenge: identifying suitable sites to accommodate 630 new homes annually, a target expected to increase further.

New Evidence Submission and Council’s Request

In July, Stroud District Council submitted new evidence from National Highways concerning the capacity of M5 Junctions 12 and 14. This evidence tackled previously raised concerns during the Local Plan Examination and represented a significant material change.

Consequently, the Council requested the Inspectors to hold an additional hearing session to assess the implications of this new evidence and its effect on the overall soundness of the Plan.

Inspectors' Response

“Withdrawal of the Stroud District Local Plan Review from Examination is the most appropriate way forward.”

The Inspectors confirmed they will not reopen the hearings, maintaining their position despite the Council's request.

Author’s summary: Stroud Council’s hopes to revise its Local Plan based on new highway capacity evidence were dashed as Inspectors insisted the plan be withdrawn without further hearings.

Stroud District Council — 2025-11-06