Update on Cotswold Local Plan Regulation 19 Consultation
The Town Council has, with the help of our planning consultant, prepared a response to the consultation together with detailed comments on the draft Local Plan and its supporting evidence documents, ready to submit before the deadline on 3rd November.
Key Points
- Fairford Town Council argues that the Cotswold Local Plan 2026–2043 is unsound in its application to Fairford because it is unjustified, ineffective and inconsistent with national policy.
- The Plan proposes approximately 1,376 homes in and around Fairford, including 1,141 homes and employment land at the strategic Site 7.
- Principal concerns include:
- An inadequately tested spatial strategy and alternatives;
- Flawed or conflicting evidence about Fairford’s services, retail capacity and development options;
- Unmodelled transport impacts and uncertain/unclear mitigation;
- Insufficient water-supply and wastewater capacity, with pollution risks;
- Potential harm to protected habitats, valued landscapes and agricultural land;
- Retail proposals that may undermine the existing town centre;
- Infrastructure funding and viability shortfalls;
- Reliance on a changing Infrastructure Delivery Plan and unresolved delivery arrangements.
- The Council also identifies conflicts with several provisions of the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework.
Decisions / Position
- Fairford Town Council does not oppose growth in principle, but considers the scale, location and supporting evidence for the proposed development unacceptable.
- It wishes to submit a statement and participate in the Local Plan examination.
Modifications Sought
- Delete strategic Site 7 unless robust evidence proves that transport, retail, water, environmental, viability and infrastructure issues can be satisfactorily resolved.
- Delete Fairford’s non-strategic allocations and instead set a housing requirement for an update of the Fairford Neighbourhood Plan.
- Correct and consolidate the evidence base and Plan, including settlement data, relevant tables, the town-centre boundary and designated Local Green Spaces.
