Cheltenham faces significant challenges in meeting the Government’s ambitious housing target of building 16,420 homes over the next 20 years, prompting local leaders to label the goal as “totally unrealistic.”
The Cheltenham Borough Council is collaborating with Tewkesbury Borough Council and Gloucester City Council on a new strategic local plan that will outline the development of over 43,000 homes across the three areas. This plan could potentially lead to the creation of new towns within Gloucestershire.
Despite strong cooperation between the councils, Cheltenham’s leader, Rowena Hay, criticized the Government’s mandated housing numbers. She emphasized that while the councils are progressing well together, the headline figures set by the Government do not reflect local realities.
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Hay explained, “We are not against building homes — on the contrary, we want to develop housing that meets genuine needs. However, the scale, location, and number of houses should be decided locally, not dictated by unrealistic Government quotas.”
She also pointed out that Cheltenham is currently far behind its targets due to updated housing figures, reinforcing the need for a more tailored discussion with local MPs and national authorities to address housing needs effectively.
Max Wilkinson, Cheltenham’s Liberal Democrat MP, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the town’s existing boundaries restrict its ability to meet these targets. He views the upcoming local plan as a crucial opportunity for sustainable growth, specifically through regeneration of the town centre.
Wilkinson stated, “The focus on town centre development is welcome. We should be cautious about claims that peripheral new sites are easier to deliver, especially when previously approved strategic housing allocations have progressed slowly.”
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government acknowledges the severity of the nation’s housing crisis, emphasizing the importance of meeting the broader target of 1.5 million new homes to revive the dream of homeownership. However, Cheltenham’s experience highlights the complexities of balancing national ambitions with local realities.