New engagement for the Strategic and Local Plan goes live

The SLP is the shared development plan that will set out the most effective way to manage growth and house building for Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City and Tewkesbury Borough over the next 20 years.   

Drawing on the insights and feedback gathered during the initial engagement in 2024, this is another important opportunity for residents, businesses, and partners to have their say on the future of our area.  

Alistair Cunningham, Chief Executive of Tewkesbury Borough Council and Senior Responsible Officer for the SLP, said: “The Strategic and Local Plan will set out where new housing should go, what kind of homes are needed, what jobs and growth we’re aiming for, and the infrastructure required to support it all, whilst protecting the natural and historic environment. 

“That includes things like community facilities, flood mitigation, roads and cycle paths, green spaces, sewerage—everything that makes growth sustainable and works for the people who live here. 

That’s why your input really matters. We want this to be shaped by the community, not just imposed on it.” 

People can explore topic papers and evidence studies, and sign up for notifications about the new papers as they are released, at strategiclocalplan.org.   

The topic and evidence papers will cover subjects including: the future role of the city and the towns in the area, how many new homes are needed, and how to support economic growth and jobs for people alongside infrastructure needs.  

Some of the topic papers and key evidence papers are for information and awareness, and some will invite people to provide feedback on their content. Each paper will be open for a six-week period. 

Workshops will also be held to gather views from groups such as town and parish councils, and local business leaders in housing and economic development.   

The programme of online engagement will include short films from leading industry experts who will introduce new subjects. 

Engagement runs until June 2026, with pre-submission of the plan to government in July 2026, and the final submission in October/November 2026.   

Notes:   

As part of the Government’s ambitions to increase housebuilding nationally, the timetable to produce local planning policy has been brought forward. Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City and Tewkesbury Borough councils have been working on a shared development plan for the area – the Strategic and Local Plan (SLP), with a timeline for its production agreed in 2023 as set out in its approved Local Development Scheme (LDS).  

The SLP will plan for the most effective way to manage growth and housebuilding in the area.   

It is important that the SLP councils are decisive in responding to the Government expectations and clearly set out how the needs for development will be met whilst protecting the areas of value and their character and culture. 

The SLP has already carried out engagement on Regulation 18 – spatial options and key policy areas, as well as housing and economic land assessment. These engagement pieces were completed in March 2024. Over 1,000 people took part online and in person. This feedback has been reviewed and used to help inform the new engagement. More information about the 2024 engagement can be found on the SLP website. 

The draft SLP will be submitted to the planning inspectorate by August 2026 and will then be examined publicly, offering a further opportunity for people to have their say.