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. 

Final Report

Appendix 1 Main Modifications 

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 1 - Andrew Foster

MMR 2 - Bromford 1 of 3

MMR 2 - Bromford 2 of 3

MMR 2 - Bromford 3 of 3

MMR 3 - Brookthorpe with Whaddon PC

MMR 4 - Canal and River Trust

MMR 5 - Caroline Kiddle

MMR 6 - Chris Hebbron

MMR 7 - Coal Authority

MMR 8 - Environment Agency

MMR 9 - Eutopia Homes

MMR 10 - Forest of Dean District Council

MMR 11 - Gladman

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 21 - Mary Matthews

MMR 22 - National Highways

MMR 23 - Pall Mall Estates

MMR 24 - Paul Fletcher

MMR 25 - Philip Bennett

MMR 26 - Quedgeley Town Council

MMR 27 - Robert Mills

MMR 28 - Severn Trent

MMR 29 - Sport England

MMR 30 - Taylor Wimpey

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.

Guidance Notes 

Programme

Matters, Issues and Questions 

EXAM 3 - GCC Opening Statement 

EXAM 6 - Inspector's Opening Statement

Privacy Notices of both Gloucester City Council and the Planning Inspectorate.

 

Agendas

Day 1 Agenda - Matters 1 & 2

Day 2 Agenda - Matters 3 & 4

Day 3 Agenda - Matters 5, 6 & 7

Day 4 Agenda - Matters 8 & 9

Day 5 Agenda - Matter 10

Day 6 Agenda - Matter 11

Day 7 Agenda - Matter 12 & 13

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 1B -  5YHLS Calculation

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 9 – GCC Note - Policy G5

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 22A Alder King for Peel

EXAM 22B Blackbox Planning 

EXAM 22C Eutopia Homes 

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 

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

 

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

SUS004 Gloucester City Plan Transport Assessment Report, October 2020 (minor corrections to referencing amended) 

SUS005 Gloucester City Plan Transport Assessment Technical Note in Response to Highways Authority (March 2020)

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

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:

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 

SoCG7 - GCC and Environment Agency, Gloucestershire County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority, and the Marine Management Organisation

SoCG8 - Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople 

SoCG9 - GCC and Tesco Gloucester St Oswalds

SoCG10 - GCC and Gladman Developments Ltd