Members from Cheltenham Borough Council voted to approve the consultation on the Strategic and Local Plan, a document that will set out a blueprint for new development in Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury, at a meeting of its Full Council on 11 December.

Cheltenham joins Gloucester City Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council whose members approved this first stage of the plan in November.

The consultation document will be available before Christmas with formal engagement commencing next year. Residents and businesses will be able to take part in the consultation via an interactive online consultation platform and a programme of engagement events will run throughout January and February 2024.

Visit Hampshire Biz News for bright, upbeat and positive business news from the county

As well as establishing a vision for development, the SLP will explore policies that will be needed to inform planning proposals. Important revisions to national planning rules have also recently been published and the SLP consultation will be an opportunity to explore what they mean for the area.

Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Chief Executive and Senior Responsible Officer for the SLP, Alistair Cunningham OBE, said: “I’m pleased the Strategic and Local Plan consultation has been approved by all three district councils.

“We want to hear from as many people as possible in this early planning stage, including young people, to shape future development of the places where they’ll live and work, now and in the future.”

Read more – Tourism worth nearly £400m a year to Reading economy, finds REDA