Out-Law News

Inspector recommends reassessment of Stroud local plan housing need


A planning inspector has recommended that Stroud District Council should undertake a further assessment of the housing needs for the district (12-page / 214KB PDF) set out in its draft local plan.

Following examination hearings of the plan in April, the inspector has written to the Council and said there were "fundamental shortcomings" in the soundness of the plan, which makes provision for a minimum of 9,500 new homes over the plan period until 2031.

The inspector said he did not consider that the Council had properly undertaken an objective assessment of housing needs for its district, having regard to the close relationship between Stroud and Gloucester City and the wider strategic housing market area.

He said that there were also deficiencies in the justification for the economic and employment strategy of the plan and its relationship with the proposed level of housing provision and the wider economic strategy for Gloucestershire.

The inspector said that, to rectify the shortcomings, the Council would need to undertake a further objective assessment of its housing needs which would take account of all relevant housing, economic, social and other factors. He said that a revised figure could have implications for the overall strategy and the proposed allocations in the plan.

The Council said in a statement it was considering its preferred option on how to progress with the examination.

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