Frequently asked questions
Why was the SLP partnership formed?
Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City, and Tewkesbury Borough councils are working together to develop a Strategic and Local Plan (SLP). The SLP will guide long-term planning in the three areas and the joint working allows the councils to take a joined-up approach to development, addressing shared challenges and working with national planning policy.
Why have Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury agreed to produce a single plan rather than separate plans?
The Joint Core Strategy (2017) between the three authorities is now 8 years beyond its adoption. The councils agree that they remain committed to the partnership with the continued key benefits across the joint plan area. The three councils are working together to draw up the SLP because, although the separate councils hold their own unique identities, the issues that are trying to be addressed (things like housing needs, employment, environmental and climate change action), and the policies that will be needed to solve them, do not fit neatly to administrative boundaries.
What is a Local Development Scheme?
The new approach to plan-making for the three local authorities was agreed through an update to their Local Development Scheme (LDS) in February 2025. The LDS identifies and sets out the timetable for what development plan documents are being produced and when they will be delivered. The LDS shows the anticipated key milestones in the production of the local plan such as the stages it will be subject to public consultation and when this is predicted to occur.
Is the Local Development Scheme being produced jointly?
No. Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury is responsible for producing a long-term plan for the area – the SLP. The individual local authorities will be responsible for all other planning policy documents that deal with issues relating solely to their own area. You can find out which planning policy documents each of the individual local authorities will produce by looking at their LDS, which can be found on their websites.
What is the timeline for the SLP?
We are currently in the evidence gathering and plan-preparation stage of the Strategic and Local Plan (Regulation 18), which includes engagement with communities and stakeholders. This stage will run until April 2026. Following this, the plan will move to the Pre-Submission stage (Regulation 19) for formal consultation in summer 2026, before submission for examination later that year.
What will be the key aims of the Strategic and Local Plan?
The SLP needs to provide a positive Vision for the development of the area; a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social and environmental priorities; and a platform for local people to shape their surroundings. The vision will be supported by Strategic Objectives, which set out the key ways that it will be delivered. The Vision and Strategic Objectives will respond to the key planning issues that the SLP will need to address. For example, the need to deliver the right amount and type of new homes and jobs and ensuring that developments occur in sustainable locations.
What is the status of the current local plan?
Weight is the term used to explain whether a policy can be used in decision-making and to what degree. Full weight can only be given to the Strategic and Local Plan once it has been adopted. Until then, only limited weight can be given in deciding planning applications. The existing Local Plans of each Council will remain until then. Weight to policies and guidance will increase as the SLP is taken through the formal submission and examination stages.
How does the SLP address climate change and renewable energy?
The SLP places climate change at the heart of its strategy. It uses evidence from a renewable energy study to:
- Assess the technical potential for renewable energy generation across the three areas
- Inform policies that support low-carbon development and energy efficiency
- Encourage sustainable energy solutions to help meet national and local decarbonisation targets.
The maps show plans for building near my home – is this a done-deal?
Whilst the sites shown in these papers have been promoted for growth by the development industry and others, that doesn’t mean they will necessarily be chosen for development. It’s important to give your views on suggested sites and give evidence as to why these areas may be unsuitable for development. These papers are grounded in evidence, and your feedback – whether supportive or critical – is essential.
How can I get involved and share my views?
Engagement with residents and businesses is important to the SLP process, and people living and working in these areas are encouraged to give their views and feedback on the information presented in the new research papers. People can also sign up to receive notifications. Some of the papers are for information and awareness, and some will invite people to give feedback on their content. Each paper will be open for a six-week period.
Visit: strategiclocalplan.govocal.com.
What happens after the engagement has finished?
The full SLP engagement runs until June 2026, with pre-submission of the plan to government in July 2026, and the final submission in October/November 2026.
When will the plan be adopted?
Adoption is expected after the plan has been examined by an independent Planning Inspector. This process is subject to the Planning Inspectorate’s timetable, but based on the current Local Development Scheme, adoption is likely to take place in 2027.
What happens to the Statement of Community Involvement?
Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough Councils have adopted Statements of Community Involvement. These are produced solely by each Council.