The Forest of Dean District Council’s ambitious plan to meet a housing target of 12,000 new homes by 2045—including proposals for one or two entirely new towns—has drawn sharp criticism from local councillors and residents alike.
At the council meeting on November 13, planners outlined a strategy that involves a combination of developing new settlements alongside expanding existing market towns and villages. The vision is to create well-designed, sustainable communities complete with necessary amenities like schools, healthcare, and public spaces, while boosting affordable housing options to meet diverse needs.
However, no specific sites have yet been selected, though geographical constraints suggest potential locations near M50 Junction 2 by Redmarley or between the A48 and A40 around Churcham. Critics fear these developments could become commuter towns serving Bristol and Gloucester, erasing the unique rural character and increasing carbon emissions.
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Council leader Adrian Birch stressed that the plan remains at an early stage without fixed site decisions. He encouraged residents to engage in the process before local government reorganisation takes effect.
Concerns over environmental impacts were voiced by Councillor Jamie Elsmore, who questioned the logic of building new settlements far from existing employment centers like Coleford, Lydney, or Cinderford. He warned this could increase commuting and carbon footprints, countering regional sustainability goals and jeopardizing local farming.
In response, Cllr Birch acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the need to balance housing demand with infrastructure readiness. He recognized the prevalence of empty commercial properties in the area’s towns and admitted commuting patterns are difficult to change under current conditions.
Opposition voices were particularly strong. Councillor Ian Whitburn called the strategy “absolutely bonkers,” advocating instead for council housing tailored for local residents rather than newcomers from nearby cities. He slammed the idea of placing heavy housing burdens on the Forest of Dean, a district already struggling with poor transport links and insufficient infrastructure such as water supplies.
Similarly, Councillor John Francis emphasized that social housing demand is concentrated in the east, while employers hesitate to invest in the Forest’s new industrial sites, which are often located on the district’s periphery.
Further skepticism came from Reform UK’s Stuart Graham, who pointed to developers’ failure to adhere to approved plans and questioned whether the area can realistically support the proposed scale of growth.
Councillor Trevor Roach defended the Green Party’s hybrid approach as the most pragmatic way to meet nearly double the previous housing requirement. Amid resistance encapsulated in repeated “not in my backyard” sentiments, he acknowledged the difficulty of identifying suitable sites but urged support for the strategy.
The council voted narrowly in favor of the plan, 19 to 15 with one abstention, while promising ongoing debates about specific site allocations.
As Forest of Dean grapples with rapid housing expectations, balancing growth with environmental protection, infrastructure capacity, and the community’s character remains a contentious and unresolved challenge.