Housing targets putting councils under pressure

House building in Gloucestershire is increasing but councils in the county are concerned the government's targets are too ambitious.

Earlier this year the government released proposed housing targets for each local council in England to meet as part of their pledge to build 1.5 million homes by the end of the parliament.

But councils such as the Cotswolds and Stroud have found it difficult to find places for new properties.

"The reality is the planning landscape has changed significantly," said Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning at Cotswold District Council.

Recently the Hunts Grove phase four on the outskirts of Gloucester was approved, adding 620 homes to more than 1,000 already there.

In Tewkesbury and Cheltenham more than 4,000 homes have been approved at Elms Park.

Elsewhere, between Sharpness and Berkeley, outline planning permission is being sought for 2,750 homes.

The plans also include a primary, secondary school and a railway station.

The Labour MP for Stroud, Dr Simon Opher, said the planning process "simply takes too long in this country".

"I think it's essential we build houses for young people and young families in this area, because there's a real lack of housing and that has all sorts of repercussions," he added.

"Local people are having to move out of the area, whereas they want to work and stay in the area."

Dr Opher has been speaking with government transport bosses around improvements to junction 14 of the M5, which has been cited as one of several issues holding up the approval of Stroud District Council's local plan.

"The area that can be developed is limited because we've got the flood plain of the Severn on one side and the area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the other," he added.

"This has taken so long to do this. Four or five years of waiting for housing developments, when local people are desperate for new houses to move in to."

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