There is a “golden opportunity” for the Forest of Dean District Council to reconsider controversial plans for new towns as part of a revised housing strategy that significantly reduces the number of new homes planned in the area over the next decade.
Opponents of the proposed new settlements are hopeful following changes in national planning policy that allow for a shorter local plan period and lower housing targets. Previously, the council had been aiming to deliver over 12,600 homes in the district over 20 years, including two new towns: one at Glynchbrook, situated between the M50 and A417 near Redmarley, and another proposing 2,000 homes near Churcham by the A40, close to Gloucester.
However, these plans were shelved by councillors, who opted to start afresh following updated government guidelines that encourage planning over a ten-year rather than twenty-year timeframe. This shift would reduce the housing target to around 8,000 homes.
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Local Labour MP Matt Bishop, opposition councillors, and planning experts have voiced their concerns over the previous strategy that included the new towns. Mr Bishop emphasised the need for genuinely affordable homes built sensibly, accompanied by appropriate infrastructure and services. He urged the council’s Green Party leadership to take advantage of the government’s revised planning framework to scrap the Glynchbrook proposal and devise a plan suited to the whole district’s needs.
Nicholas Boys Smith MBE, Chairman of Create Streets, welcomed the removal of Glynchbrook from the plans, highlighting that the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) enables the council to plan more sustainably. He stated that future housing developments should be situated where residents can easily walk to schools, shops, and stations rather than relying on cars, praising the NPPF’s vision-led approach to transport infrastructure.
County Councillor Gill Moseley (Liberal Democrat, Newent) also praised the policy changes, calling them a “golden opportunity” to abandon Glynchbrook and focus on sustainable housing that benefits local people. She noted that the previous 20-year housing target was unrealistic and pressured the council into considering drastic measures inappropriate for the district. A shortened ten-year plan would maintain a realistic housing requirement and allow development in existing towns and villages with established services, avoiding unnecessary loss of greenfield land.
Independent Councillor John Francis, representing Churcham, expressed scepticism about the feasibility of the new towns proceeding under the next local plan. He drew attention to existing infrastructure challenges, such as congestion at Over Bridge, and the lack of significant funding to upgrade transport links between the Forest of Dean and Gloucester. Without major investment, delivering new large-scale settlements would be impractical.
The NPPF, the government’s primary framework for planning decisions, now permits local plans to cover periods as short as ten years. While the annual housing target for the Forest of Dean remains at 604 new homes, the shortened plan duration results in a lower overall target of approximately 8,000 homes.
Council leader Adrian Birch (Green, Tidenham) stated that the council is working on a new plan reflecting these national changes. He explained that the government’s method for calculating housing need persists, but the total requirement will depend on the chosen plan period. Identifying an appropriate timeframe and ensuring the necessary infrastructure are key priorities. He also assured that the council is committed to involving local communities, businesses, parish councils, and other stakeholders in shaping the emerging plan, with further consultation details to be announced in due course.