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Concerns Grow Over Unchecked Planning Breaches in the Cotswolds Amid Backlog Crisis

Thursday, April 9, 2026 cotswolds planning enforcement backlog council development staffing regulation housing localgovernment

Worries are mounting that unauthorised developments could be slipping through the cracks in the Cotswolds, as the local council grapples with a significant backlog of planning enforcement cases. As of last month, Cotswold District Council was managing over 680 live enforcement cases, highlighting the scale of the challenge. The issue was brought to attention during the latest full council meeting when Conservative Councillor Tom Stowe (Campden and Vale) questioned whether current staffing levels were sufficient to provide an effective and timely enforcement service.