Gloucester City Plan Examination Library
The Gloucester City Plan 2011-2031 (2023) has now been adopted. Further details can be found on the Gloucester City Plan page.
Final Report
The Examination of the Gloucester City Plan has now ended. The Inspector has issued the Final Report.
The Planning Inspectorate would like your feedback about the examination. If you were involved in the examination because you made comments in writing and/or you took part in a hearing session, then we would be very pleased if you could fill in this short survey. Any comments you make will be confidential.
Submission of the Gloucester City Plan
Gloucester City Council submitted the Gloucester City Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for examination in November 2020.
Main Modifications Consultation
The Main Modifications consultation closed on Monday 4th July. Comments were received from 30 respondents as follows:
MMR 3 - Brookthorpe with Whaddon PC
MMR 10 - Forest of Dean District Council
MMR 12 - Gloucestershire Constabulary
MMR 13 - Gloucestershire County Council - Asset Management
MMR 14 - Gloucestershire County Council - General
MMR 15 - Gloucestershire County Council - Minerals and Waste
MMR 16 - Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association
MMR 17 - Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
MMR 18 - Hempsted Residents Association
MMR 19 - Inspire Heritage Services
MMR 20 - Marine Management Organisation
MMR 26 - Quedgeley Town Council
The Inspector will now consider the submissions received in response to the Main Modifications consultation before deciding on the next steps for the Examination process.
The Inspector
Planning Inspector Louise Nurser BA(Hons) DipUP MRTPI has been appointed to undertake an independent examination into the soundness and legal compliance of the Gloucester City Plan (the Plan).
The Inspector’s task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 (the Framework). The relevant soundness criteria are whether the Plan is: 1 – positively prepared (providing a strategy which, as a minimum, seeks to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighboring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development); 2 - justified (an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence); 3 – effective (deliverable over the plan period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground); and 4 – consistent with national policy (enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework).
The Inspector will take into account the representations submitted upon the Draft Plan as far as they relate to soundness and legal compliance considerations. A number of informal debates may take place on the principal matters identified by the Inspector these are termed Hearing Sessions.
At the end of the Examination, the Inspector will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations, these recommendations may include modifications to the Plan, if such a request is made by the Council.
Guidance Notes have been prepared by the Inspector to help people understand the process. Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspector should be submitted via the Programme Officer. However, the Inspector will not be accepting unsolicited material.
Hearing sessions and timetable
Hearing Sessions closed on Wednesday 9th June 2021.
EXAM 3 - GCC Opening Statement
EXAM 6 - Inspector's Opening Statement
Privacy Notices of both Gloucester City Council and the Planning Inspectorate.
Agendas
Day 3 Agenda - Matters 5, 6 & 7
Day 8 Agenda - Closing Session
Written Statements
The following Written Statements have been received in response to the Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions:
Matter 1 Written Statements: Legal Compliance, Sustainability Appraisal & Duty to Co-operate
Matter 1 Written Statement - Black Box Planning for Bromford Housing and Edward Ware Homes
Matter 1 Written Statement - CPRE Gloucestershire
Matter 1 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 1 Written Statement - Tritax Symetry
Matter 2 Written Statements: Coverage and General Approach
Matter 2 Written Statement - Black Box Planning for Bromford Housing and Edward Ware Homes
Matter 2 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 2 Written Statement - Gloucestershire County Council Minerals and Waste
Matter 2 Written Statement - Tritax Symetry
Matter 3 Written Statements: Flood Risk & Water Management
Matter 3 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 3 Written Statement - Home Builders Federation
Matter 3 Written Statement - Savills for L&Q Estates
Matter 3 Written Statement - Severn Trent Water
Matter 4 Written Statements: Conserving and enhancing the natural and historic environment
Matter 4 Written Statement - Black Box Planning for Bromford Housing and Edward Ware Homes
Matter 4 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 4 Written Statement - Savills for L&Q Estates
Matter 5: Promoting healthy and safe communities
Matter 5 Written Statement - Gladman
Matter 5 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 6: Achieving well-designed places
Matter 6 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 7: Promoting sustainable transport and supporting high quality communications
Matter 7 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 7 Written Statement - Home Builders Federation
Matter 7 Written Statement - Savills for L&Q Estates
Matter 7 Written Statement - Transport and Communications Stagecoach
Matter 8: Size, type, and tenure of housing
Matter 8 Written Statement - Black Box Planning for Bromford Housing and Edward Ware Homes
Matter 8 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 8 Written Statement - Home Builders Federation
Matter 8 Written Statement - Pegasus and Pioneer for Robert Hitchins Ltd
Matter 8 Written Statement - Savills for L&Q Estates
Matter 9: Minerals
Matter 9 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 9 Written Statement - Gloucestershire County Council Minerals and Waste
Matter 10: The delivery of the plan
Matter 10 Written Statement - Black Box Planning for Bromford Housing and Edward Ware Homes
Matter 10 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 10 Written Statement - Gloucestershire County Council Asset Management
Matter 10 Written Statement - Home Builders Federation
Matter 10 Written Statement - Pegasus and Pioneer for Robert Hitchins Ltd
Matter 10 Written Statement - Savills for L&Q Estates
Matter 10 Written Statement - Stagecoach
Matter 10 Written Statement - Tetra Tech for Peel Group
Matter 10 Written Statement - Tritax Symetry
Matter 11: Identifying and maintaining a supply of housing
Matter 11 Written Statement - Black Box Planning for Bromford Housing and Edward Ware Homes
Matter 11 Written Statement - CPRE Gloucestershire
Matter 11 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 11 Written Statement - Home Builders Federation
Matter 11 Written Statement - Pegasus for Robert Hitchins Ltd
Matter 11 Written Statement - Savills for L&Q Estates
Matter 11 Written Statement - Tetra Tech for Peel Group
Matter 12: Building a strong, competitive economy
Matter 12 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 12 Written Statement - Home Builders Federation
Matter 12 Written Statement - Pegasus for Robert Hitchins Ltd
Matter 12 Written Statement - Tetra Tech for Peel Group
Matter 12 Written Statement - Tritax Symetry
Matter 13: Implementation, delivery, and monitoring
Matter 13 Written Statement - Gloucester City Council
Matter 13 Written Statement - Tritax Symetry
Evidence base documents
In preparing the Plan the Council both refer to and were informed by a number of documents that together form the 'Evidence Base' for the Examination. These documents can be found below:
Examination documents
EXAM 1 Inspector's Preliminary Queries
EXAM 1A - GCC PQ Response to Inspector's Preliminary Queries
EXAM 2 - GCC Request for Main Modifications
EXAM 3 - GCC Opening Statement
EXAM 4 - GCC 5 Year Housing Supply Statement May 2021
EXAM 5 - Note for the Inspector Re: Stroud Local Plan Review and Travelling Showpeople
EXAM 6 - Inspector's Opening Statement
EXAM 7 - GCC Note for Inspector - GCP Housing and Employment Requirements
EXAM 7A – GCC Note on GCP Housing Requirements
EXAM 8 - Viability Site Update
EXAM 8A – Viability Site Update
EXAM 8B – Viability Assessment Addendum
EXAM 10 – GCC Note – Site SA05
EXAM 11 – Updated 5 Year Housing Land Supply 2021 Report
EXAM 12 – GCC Note – Obesity increase in Secondary School Aged Children
EXAM 13 – Cheltenham Borough Plan Extract – Policy EM3 Employment & Skills
EXAM 14 – GCC Note – References within the GCP to Development in Stroud District
EXAM 15 – GCC Note – Fleece Hotel Position Statement
EXAM 16 – GCC Note – Cotswold Beechwoods
EXAM 17 – GCC Note – Policy A6 Adaptable Homes
EXAM 18 – GCC Note – Delivering Challenging Sites
EXAM 19 – GCC Note – GTTS Site Search
EXAM 20 – GCC Note – Employment & Skills Plan
EXAM 21 – GCC Note – Heritage Assessments
EXAM 22D Pegasus For Robert Hitchins
EXAM 22E Pioneer For Robert Hitchins
EXAM 22F Savills for L&Q Estates
EXAM 23 Inspector Letter to GCC re Revised NPPF
EXAM 23A - GCC Response to Inspector Letter re Revised NPPF
EXAM 24 - GCC Response to Viability Comments
EXAM 25 - Inspector's Post Hearing Letter
EXAM 26 - Inspector's Letter to GCC re EV Charging
EXAM 26A - GCC Letter to Inspector EV Charging
EXAM 27 - GCC Estimate 5YHLS April 2022
Core documents
CD001Pre-Submission Gloucester City Plan (September 2019)
CD002 Policies Map
CD003 Consultation Statements
CD004 Pre-Submission consultation responses database
CD005 Pre-Submission Sustainability (Integrated) Appraisal
CD005/a Sustainability (Integrated) Appraisal, Non Technical Summary, July 2019
CD005/b Sustainability (Integrated Appraisal) Appendix 1: Statement of Compliance
CD005/c Sustainability (Integrated Appraisal) Appendix 2: Review of Key Issues and SA Objectives
CD005/d Sustainability (Integrated Appraisal) Appendix 3: Draft GCP Vision and Development Principles
CD005/e Sustainability Analysis (Integrated Appraisal) Appendix 4: SA Site Options
CD005/f Appendix 5: Equality & Diversity Impact Assessment Screening Report, July 2019
CD005/g Appendix 5:i Equality & Diversity Impact Assessment Plans and Programmes Review, July 2019
CD005/h Appendix 5:ii Equality & Diversity Impact Assessment Screening Summary Assessment, July 2019
CD005/i Sustainability Analysis (Integrated Appraisal) Appendix 6: - Representations to Consultation 2017
CD006 Habitats Regulations Assessment Revised Screening & Appropriate Assessment Report July 2019
CD006/a Appendix i: European Site Characteristics
CD006/b Appendix ii: Plans Programmes and Project Review
CD006/c Appendix iii: Screening of Polices and Site Allocations
CD006/d Appendix iv: European Sites Screening Revised for Likely Significant Effects
CD007 Duty to Cooperate Statement
CD008 Statement of Community Involvement (July 2015)
CD009 Local Development Scheme(updated July 2022)
CD010 Representation Summary with Officer Response and Schedule of Changes
- CD010a Latest Schedule of Proposed Changes (9th June 2021)
- CD010b Appendix 1 - Tracked Change Pre-Submission Gloucester City Plan (November 2020)
- CD010c Appendix 2 - Amended Gloucester City Plan Policies Map (November 2020)
- CD010d Summary of Representations with Officer Response
- CD010e Additional Modifications to be considered as part of the Submitted Plan
CD011 - Gloucester City Plan Scope 2011
CD012 - Regulation 18 Sustainability Appraisal Summary 2012
CD013 - Regulation 18 Sustainability Appraisal 2013
CD014 - Draft Gloucester City Plan Sustainability Appraisal Report 2016
CD015 - Draft Gloucester City Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report 2016
Submitted evidence base and supporting documents
Housing
HOU001 Housing Background Paper, September 2019
HOU002 JCS Housing Implementation Strategy (Version 5), January 2017
HOU003 JCS Housing Implementation Strategy – Trajectory Information, January 2017
HOU004 Gloucestershire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Final Report March 2017
HOU005 Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Position Update September 2019
HOU006 Gloucester Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2015-2020
HOU007 Gloucester Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2020-2025
HOU008 Gloucestershire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) Update, March 2014
HOU009 Gloucestershire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) Update, September 2015
HOU010 Strategic Assessment Land Availability 2019
HOU011 Gloucestershire Local Housing Needs Assessment 2019
Employment and Economy
EE001 Employment Background Paper, September 2019
EE002 Strategic Options for the Gloucester Economy 2017
EE002/a Appendix A: Gloucester Economic Assessment
EE002/b Appendix B: Sites and Premises Review
EE003 JCS Statement of Common Ground on Employment Land (EXAM78) 2016
EE004 JCS Economic Update Note (EXAM180) 2016
EE005 JCS Economic Update Paper(EXAM138) 2015
EE006 JCS Employment Land Assessment Update 2015
EE007 Strategic Economic Plan for Gloucestershire 2014
EE008 Strategic Economic Plan for Gloucestershire 2.0 update 2018
EE009 Gloucester City Employment Land Review - August 2019
EE009/a Employment Land Review 2019 Appendix 1 - Summary of Findings
EE009/b Employment Land Review 2019 Appendix 3 - Map
EE010 Employment and Skills Plans – Guidance
Retail and City Centres, Tourism and Culture
RE001 JCS Retail Study 2011 – 2031 (Phase 1), December 2011
RE001/a Appendices contents
RE001/b Appendix A – Health check assessment of JCS survey centres
RE001/c Appendix B – GOAD town centre reports
RE001/d Appendix C – Study areas and survey zones
RE001/e Appendix D – Capacity assessment
RE001/f Appendix E – NEMS Household Survey
RE001/g Appendix F – Health check monitoring template
RE002 Retail Study 2011 – 2031; NPPF Addendum, July 2012
RE003 Retail Study 2011 – 2031; Phase 2, June 2014
RE004 Retail Study 2011 – 2031 – 2015 Update, February 2016
RE005 Local and District Centre Healthcheck (May 2010)
Health and Wellbeing
HW001 Cordon Sanitaire Evidence Study Netheridge Sewage Treatment Works, September 2019
HW002 Health and Wellbeing Topic Paper, September 2019
HW003 Understanding Gloucestershire – A Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), 2017
HW004 Understanding Districts – Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Gloucester, 2015
HW005 Gloucester District Health Profile 2016, September 2016
HW006 Gloucester District Health Profile, March 2020
HW007 Gloucestershire Suicide Prevention Strategy 2015 –2020
HW008 Active by Design – Sport England, October 2015
HW009 Changing Places: The practical guide
HW010 Gloucester Playing Pitch Strategy 2015 – 2025
HW011 Gloucester Playing Pitch Strategy 2015 – 2025 – Assessment Report
HW012 Gloucester Playing Pitch Strategy Interim Review 2017
HW013 Gloucester Built Sports Facilities Strategy, August 2019
HW014 Gloucester Built Sports Facilities Assessment Report, August 2019
HW015 Gloucester Artificial Grass Pitch Strategy 2015
HW016 Gloucester Open Space Strategy 2014
HW017 Gloucester Open Space Background Note, September 2019
Historic Environment
HIS001 Gloucester Heritage Strategy 2019-29
HIS002 Gloucester Heritage Strategy Background Document -Evidence, Analysis, Engagement
HIS003 Conservation Area Appraisals
HIS003a Area 1 – The Spa
HIS003b Area 2 – Southgate Street
HIS003c Area 3 – The Docks
HIS003d Area 4 – Eastgate & St Michaels
HIS003e Area 5 – City Centre
HIS003f Area 6 – The Barbican
HIS003g Area 7 – Cathedral Precincts
HIS003h Area 8 – Worcester Street
HIS003i Area 9 – London Road
HIS003j Area 10 – Barton Street
HIS003k Area 11 – Hucclecote Green
HIS003l Area 12 – Hempsted
HIS003mArea 13 – Kingsholm
HIS003n Area 14 - Denmark Road
HIS004 Buildings at Risk Register
HIS005 Listed Buildings Schedule
HIS006 Article 4 Directions
HIS006aSt Michaels Square
HIS006bSouthgate Street
HIS007 - Historic Environments Assessments for SALA sites, 2016 / 2017
HIS007/a06NEW17 Land north of Green Farm background note
HIS007/bHA21 Land between Bristol Road and the Canal
HIS007/cEA03 Land east of Waterwells Business Park
HIS007/dEA06 Land south of junction between Eastern Avenue and Barnwood Road
HIS007/eEA09 Cedar House
HIS007/f EDP44 67 – 69 London Road
HIS007/gFS10 104 Northgate Street
HIS007/hFS15 Redcliffe College, Horton Road
HIS007/iSUB09 Land at The Wheatridge
HIS007/jSUB19 Bohanam House
HIS007/kSUB22 Land south of Hempsted
HIS007/lSUB23 Land adjacent to Ski Centre
HIS007/mSUB29 Hare Lane Carpark
HIS007/nSUB33 Land at Snow Capel Farm
HIS007/oSUB38 – Griggs Timber
HIS007/pSUB40 The Knoll, Stroud Road
HIS007/qSUB41 Former Selwyn School Site
HIS007/rSUB58 30 St Catherine Street
HIS007/sSUB59 9-11 St Catherine Street
HIS007/t SUB25 Manor Gardens, Barnwood
HIS007/u SUB54 Land at Rea Lane
Natural Environment
NAT001 JCS Landscape Characterisation Assessment and Sensitivity Analysis, September 2013
NAT002 Gloucester Landscape Analysis of Potential Development Sites, 2013
NAT003 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2 Data Review; Gloucester City Plan sites, January 2017
NAT004 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2 Final Report; Gloucester City Council, September 2019
NAT004a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2, Appendix 1, Site Summary Tables, September 2019
NAT004b Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2, Appendix 2, Geo data, September 2019
NAT005 Site Allocations Flooding Sequential Test, September 2019
NAT006 JCS Green Infrastructure Strategy, June 2014
NAT007 JCS Green Infrastructure Strategy, High Quality Map from report, June 2014
NAT008 JCS Strategic Air Quality Assessment, June 2014
NAT009 Gloucester Air Quality Action Plan
NAT010 Phase 1 Habitat Surveys 2017
NAT011 Building with Nature Standard
Design
DES001 Townscape Character Assessment; Gloucester (July 2019), Part 1
DES002 Townscape Character Assessment; Gloucester (July 2019), Part 2
Sustainable Transport
SUS001 Gloucestershire Local Transport Strategy 2015 – 2031
SUS002 Emerging JCS Transport Strategy, October 2016
SUS003 Gloucester City Plan Transport Assessment Report, October 2019
SUS006 Gloucester Parking Strategy, July 2018
SUS007 Manual for Gloucestershire Streets July 2020
Infrastructure
INF001 Gloucester Infrastructure Delivery Plan, September 2019
INF001/a Gloucester Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Appendix A Baseline, September 2019
INF001/b Gloucester Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Appendix B Calculator, September 2019
INF001/c Gloucester Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Appendix C Project Tracker, September 2019
INF002 Gloucester Infrastructure Delivery Plan Addendum, October 2020
INF003 Infrastructure and Viability Background Paper, Nov 2020
INF004 JCS Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Executive Summary, June 2014
INF005 JCS Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Full Document, August 2014
INF006 JCS Infrastructure Gap Analysis, September 2016
INF007 JCS Strategic Allocations Infrastructure Needs Summary, 2015
INF008 Infrastructure Delivery Position Updates – South Churchdown, 2016
INF009 Infrastructure Delivery Position Updates – North West Cheltenham, 2016
INF010 Infrastructure Delivery Position Updates – Leckhampton, 2016
INF011 Infrastructure Delivery Position Updates – MOD Ashchurch, 2016
INF012 Infrastructure Delivery Position Updates – Ashchurch, 2016
INF013 JCS Infrastructure Delivery Plan, Additional Allocations Issue, September 2016
INF014 JCS Project Tracker July 2020
Viability
VIA001 Gloucester City Plan Viability Report, September 2019
VIA002 Gloucester City Plan Viability Report Addendum, October 2020
Other Strategies and Plans
OTH001 City Vision 2012 - 2022
OTH002 Council Plan 2017 - 2020
OTH002a Council Plan Extension 2020-21
OTH003 Regeneration and Economic Development Strategy 2016-2021
OTH004 Cultural Vision and Strategy 2016-2026
OTH005 Growing Gloucester's Visitor Economy
OTH006 Economic Growth Strategy 2019 - 2022
Other development plan documents
Joint Core Strategy
- DP001 - Adopted JCS (December 2017)
- DP001a - JCS Policies Map
- DP002 - JCS issues and options consultation document (October 2018)
- DP003 - JCS Inspectors Final Report (October 2017)
Minerals and Waste
DP004 - Gloucestershire Minerals Plan (March 2020)
DP005 - Gloucestershire Waste Core Strategy (November 2012)
Supplementary Planning Documents
DP006 - Matson Estate Regeneration Supplementary Planning Document, November 2019
DP007 - Podsmead Estate Regeneration Supplementary Planning Document, November 2019
DP008 - Interim adoption ‘Public Realm Strategy’ SPD (September 2017)
DP009 - Interim adoption ‘Designing safer places’ SPD (August 2008)
DP010 - Interim adoption ‘Heights of Buildings’ SPD (November 2008)
DP011 - Interim adoption ‘Home Extension Guide’ SPD (August 2008)
DP012 - Shopfront Shutters and Signage Design Guide (November 2017)
DP013 - King's Quarter concept statement - Interim adoption (January 2013)
DP014 - Fleece Hotel concept statement - Interim adoption (February 2012)
DP015 - Interim Adoption ‘Railway Corridor’ Planning Brief (March 2011)
Monitoring documents
MN001 Brownfield land register:
- MN001a Gloucester brownfield land register report (Dec 2019)
- MN001b Gloucester brownfield land register xlsx
MN002 Gloucester housing monitoring report (June 2019)
MN003 Housing Monitoring Report 2020
MN004 Gloucester employment land monitoring report 2018/2019
MN005 Gloucester Five Year Housing Land Supply Position Statement (June 2019)
MN006 5 year housing land supply statement 2020
Statements of Common Ground
SoCG1 - GCC and Highways England
SoCG2 - GCC and Gloucestershire County Council Highways Authority
SoCG3 - GCC and Gloucestershire County Council Minerals and Waste
SoCG4 - GCC and Natural England
SoCG5 - GCC and Historic England
SoCG6 - GCC and Gloucestershire County Council Education
SoCG8 - Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople
SoCG9 - GCC and Tesco Gloucester St Oswalds
SoCG10 - GCC and Gladman Developments Ltd