Monitoring reports, evidence base

This evidence base supports the preparation of planning policy and other policy documents.

Housing evidence

Five-year housing land supply

In support of the government’s key objective to significantly boost the supply of housing, all local planning authorities must identify sufficient amounts of land for residential development.

The statement below sets out Cheltenham Borough Council's position on five-year housing land supply from 31 March 2025. 

Five year housing land supply position statement - pdf - 762 Kb

 Action Plan 

Cheltenham Borough Council is committed to supporting local growth and providing the homes our community needs. We are working closely with Tewkesbury Borough Council and Gloucester City Council through the Strategic and Local Plan to plan for future housing.

Each year, the government measures how well councils are delivering new homes through the Housing Delivery Test. Councils must deliver at least 95 percent of their housing targets. If they do not meet this level, the government applies additional planning rules.

Cheltenham faces a particular challenge because around half of our planned homes in our adopted Development Plan depend on large developments in Northwest and West Cheltenham. These sites are taking longer to come forward, which means Cheltenham only reached 65 percent of its target in the most recent test.

We take this issue seriously. This report explains the reasons behind the shortfall and outlines the positive steps we are taking to improve housing delivery through a clear action plan.

Housing Delivery Test Action Plan - pdf - 1.09 Mb

 

Economic evidence

Cheltenham Economic Strategy (January 2015)

Cheltenham Borough Council has welcomed a report examining Cheltenham’s role as a business location to help shape a robust Economic Strategy for Cheltenham.

The report, prepared by Athey Consulting Ltd, was commissioned to inform the preparation of an economic strategy for Cheltenham. A key part of the commission was consultation with local businesses to help understand existing needs and future aspirations.

Key findings of the report are that Cheltenham has a healthy economy in a borough where its residents are highly educated and skilled.  However, productivity is lower than expected and focus should be placed upon attracting and supporting businesses which add high value GVA (Gross Value Added) into the economy. The important building blocks are in place in terms of key employers, high levels of innovation, strong retailing and tourism sectors. Work needs to be done to make it clear that Cheltenham continues to be a great place to do business.

The report identifies several priorities for Cheltenham which will now be subject to consideration by the council including:

• Working with key employers to understand their future needs and site requirements
• Develop and implement a cyber-security policy initiative – opening up opportunities that exist for local people and businesses to be part of an multi-billion pound global industry;
• Review the value and use of publicly owned assets and where possible bring these forward to support the economy of the borough;
• Focus on delivering large scale, high quality offices and business parks together with starter units that will continue to foster innovation; and
• Investigate ways in which the council can facilitate transformational change, for example developing investment vehicles for delivering land premises, housing and infrastructure.

The Cheltenham Economic Strategy will be an ambitious long-term plan that builds upon existing strengths, but provides clear direction in terms of interventions by the council and partners. The council is currently reviewing the recommendations made by the consultant’s report and will publish a final Economic Strategy later this year. 

FINAL Report - Evidence to support the Cheltenham Economic Strategy - pdf - 953 Kb

Appendix A Cheltenham Economic Assessment - pdf - 2.67 Mb

Appendix B Site Analysis And Employment Land Review - pdf - 1.31 Mb

Appendix C Consultation - pdf - 645 Kb

 

Gypsy, traveller, travelling showpeople evidence

Call for sites for Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople 

Cheltenham Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and Stroud District Council are working together to look for land that can be used for pitches, plots and moorings for the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Travelling Showpeople and Bargee communities.  

This process is called a ‘call for sites’. The purpose of this is to work in partnership to meet the local authorities' combined duties. This follows on from the identification of need as set out in Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment. You can find out more about this in the next section.

Submissions should be made via Gloucester City Council's website below.

Call for sites

Gypsy and Traveller Accomodation Assessment (November 2022) 

Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments (GTAA) must be carried out by local authorities under the terms of the Housing Act 2004.

Gloucestershire County Council and the county's six local housing authorities agreed to work in partnership to meet their combined duties. Research has led to the publication of a final GTAA that indicates the forecast pitch requirements for Gloucestershire.

The GTAA provides a credible evidence base that can be used to aid the implementation of development plan policies and the provision of new Gypsy and Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots. The outcomes of this study replace the outcomes of any previous GTAAs completed in Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury.

GTAA Report 2022 - pdf - 1.40 Mb

 

Environmental evidence

2016 technical update to the landscape character, sensitivity and capacity assessment of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) now known as 'National Landscape' (2015)– Ryder Landscape Consultants

The key purpose of the study was to carry out a landscape character assessment of the urban edge of Cheltenham and the area of the Cotswolds National Landscape that falls within Cheltenham borough. This includes:

• A Landscape Character Assessment
• Assessment of the sensitivity of identified Landscape Character Areas
• Identifying key visual receptors, significant views and viewpoints and sensitivity of receptors to change, considering quality and distinctiveness.

The 2016 update to the study didn’t change its key conclusions on the importance and sensitivity of the AONB or the four (small) areas where it identifies that some development may be possible given an appropriately sensitive scheme. It made some corrections to text identified through consultation and incorporates the suggested additions to the text suggested by Natural England and the Cotwolds AONB Board.

During the consideration of any planning application this study would be only one factor which would need to be weighed in the balance with other issues such as the proposals’ design and sustainability; and its value in relation to the environmental, social and economic principles of planning before a decision is taken.

CBC Landscape Assessment Main Report May 2016 - pdf - 13.57 Mb

Record of Revisions for CBC Landscape Assessment Report - pdf - 391 Kb

Local Green Space study report (January 2015)

We worked with Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) to produce a report pinpointing the green areas of particular importance to local parishes and neighbourhood groups.

National planning policy allows local communities to identify green areas of particular importance to them through the council’s Development Plan or neighbourhood plans. By designating land as Local Green Space (LGS) local communities are able to rule out new development other than in very special circumstances.

In October 2014, Cheltenham’s parishes and neighbourhood and community groups were asked to identify which areas of land would be good candidates for this designation. The report identifies 29 areas which the communities thought might be suitable to be designated as Local Green Space. The Cheltenham Plan subsequently designated 16 areas as Local Green Space.

Local Green Space study main report (part 1) - pdf - 1.72 Mb

Biodiversity Audit (June 2008)

The Biodiversity Audit is a borough wide audit was carried out by Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Its purpose is to provide guidance on:

• the potential distribution of protected species, UK priority habitats and species, and habitats and species identified within the borough
• the probable function of the key areas of search for wildlife corridors
• management recommendations for prioritised sites in Cheltenham Borough Council ownership

Biodiversityreportcompressedversion - pdf - 7.71 Mb

Green Belt Review (March 2007) 

The review considered how defensible Green Belt boundaries were and identified where the existing inner Green Belt boundaries were 'weak'. A search was made for potential Green Belt boundaries within the Study Area which would be ‘strong’ in terms of their defensibility and which could be physically linked to existing boundaries. Potential Green Belt boundaries in the wider Study Area were also considered.

Green Belt Review Final Report - pdf - 498 Kb

Green Belt Review Figures - pdf - 1.42 Mb

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Level 1 (September 2008)

Gloucestershire County Council, in partnership with  and the six district councils have commissioned Halcrow to produce a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) covering the whole of Gloucestershire. The SFRA identifies levels of flood risk from all sources of flooding in the county Gloucestershire County Council and the six district councils have worked together to produce a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) covering the whole of Gloucestershire. The SFRA identifies levels of flood risk from all sources of flooding in the county.

The various elements of the SFRA can be downloaded using the links below.

Please note: the maps included within the SFRA are very detailed and therefore very large files which may take some time to download.

Gloucestershire Level 1 SFRA - Executive Summary - pdf - 1.35 Mb

Cheltenham Borough Council Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - pdf - 1.30 Mb

SFRA Appendices - pdf - 2.47 Mb

Water Course Map - pdf - 16.54 Mb

Flood Zone Map - pdf - 18.08 Mb

Climate Change Map - pdf - 18.08 Mb

Geology Map - pdf - 5.38 Mb

Historic Flooding Map - pdf - 10.73 Mb

Flood Warning Zones Map - pdf - 2.24 Mb

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Level 2 (October 2011)

A Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment was commissioned Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury. This provided a more detailed assessment of areas which were identified as potential development locations. It used information from SFRA Level 1 to determine which areas require a further assessment of flood risk.

The various elements of the SFRA can be downloaded using the links below. Please note that some of the PDF documents are large and may take some time to download.

Executive Summary - pdf - 247 Kb

SFRA Level 2 Main Report - pdf - 10.02 Mb

Appendix B Sequential Test Process - pdf - 29 Kb

Appendix C Modelling Technical Notes - pdf - 5.48 Mb

Appendix D Hydraulic Modelling Table - pdf - 56 Kb

Appendix E Environment Agency Response Letter To SFRA Level 2 - pdf - 10.02 Mb

 

Monitoring reports

Local development scheme 2025

View the preparation timetable for development plan documents in Cheltenham borough.

Authority monitoring report

An authority monitoring report (AMR) reviews progress of the council’s local plans and includes monitoring information on housing, employment and environment.

Five year housing land supply position statement - pdf - 762 Kb

2018 Authority Monitoring Report - pdf - 862 Kb

Non-residential Land Use Monitoring Report

The non-residential land use monitoring report monitors all sites with planning permission for non-residential land uses between 1 April and 31 March

Non-residential monitoring report 2019 - 24 - pdf - 808 Kb

2019 Non-residential monitoring report - pdf - 4.60 Mb

Residential Land Availability Report

The Residential Land Availability Report records the results of a survey of all sites with planning permission for housing in the Cheltenham Borough Council area between 1 April and 31 March.

Residential land availability report 2020 - pdf - 1.25 Mb

 

Other evidence

Social, sport and open space study

Knight, Kavanagh & Page was commissioned in 2016 to produce an open spaces study. To make sure planning policies are ‘sound’, local authorities have to demonstrate a robust assessment of need for open space, sport and recreation facilities. The long-term outcomes aim to deliver:

• networks of accessible, high quality open spaces and sport and recreation facilities, in both urban and rural areas, which meet the needs of residents and visitors that are fit for purpose and economically and environmentally sustainable
• an appropriate balance between new provision and the enhancement of existing provision
• clarity for developers and landowners about our requirements and expectations around the provision of open space and sport and recreation facilities

Social Sport And Open Spaces Strategy - pdf - 569 Kb

Social Sport And Open Space Toolkit - pdf - 722 Kb

Open Space Assessment Report - pdf - 3.10 Mb

Playing Pitch Strategy Assessment Report - pdf - 2.91 Mb

Built Leisure And Sports Facilities Strategy - pdf - 1.24 Mb

Built Leisure And Sports Facilities Assessment Report - pdf - 4.03 Mb

Open Space Standards Paper - pdf - 763 Kb

Playing Pitch Strategy And Action Plan - pdf - 1.76 Mb

Engaging communities project

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) was commissioned by Cheltenham Borough Council in 2016 to support communities in Cheltenham borough to consider their aspirations and present these in order to inform the Cheltenham Plan. The Cheltenham engaging communities project report was compiled by GRCC, working in partnership with organisations and leaders in twelve communities.

The report is structured in two parts:

• Part one of the report provides a summary of activity as an overview across Cheltenham borough, summarising each community’s approach and drawing out key messages
• Part two of the report is presented as 12 separate documents, each containing a chapter devoted to one community, tracking their approach to the task and drawing out their conclusions, aspirations and priorities. Each chapter contains appendices which provide fuller detail of a profile produced by the community and outputs from engagement activities they have conducted as part of this project, plus relevant previous activity. Extracts from each community’s chapter are also included in annex B of this report.

CECP Part 1 - pdf - 1.80 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 1 Benhall - pdf - 1.16 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 2 Charlton Kings - pdf - 2.20 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 3 Fairview - pdf - 2.69 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 4 Leckhampton With Warden Hill - pdf - 4.51 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 5 Oakley - pdf - 1.50 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 6 Pittville - pdf - 1.61 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 7 Prestbury - pdf - 1.96 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 8 St Marks Hesters Way - pdf - 2.28 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 9 St Pauls - pdf - 2.77 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 10 Swindon Village - pdf - 4.88 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 11 Town Centre - pdf - 2.50 Mb

CECP Part 2 Chapter 12 Up Hatherley - pdf - 2.03 Mb

 

Local Green Space designation

A Local Green Space (LGS) designation is a way to protect green areas from development. 

LGS should only be designated when a plan is prepared or updated. We are currently working with Gloucester City Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council on a new development plan called the Strategic and Local Plan (SLP). For more information on timescales please visit the Strategic Local Plan page.

The deadline for submissions has now ended.

Any decision on LGS designations will only be confirmed once the plan-making process has been finalised. This will include consideration of any LGS designations through the independent examination process, which will be overseen by the Planning Inspectorate. 

You can see existing LGS designations shown as dashed dark green line boundaries in the Cheltenham Plan policy map.

Local Green Space application form

The Local Green Space application form is for the community to request that a site should be designated as Local Green Space (LGS). Any member of the community can request it.

Local Green Space application form (PDF) - pdf - 305 Kb

Local Green Space application form (Word) - docx - 50 Kb

There are 12 sections in this form, starting with information about the site and then asking for details about any relevant criteria. This includes why should the site be designated as a LGS (planning history, size, need, proximity, why it is special to the community, beauty, historic significance, recreational value, richness of wildlife, any other reasons), and the evidence supporting it.

If you need more information, please consult the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Practice Guidance, or contact the Planning Policy Team at planning.policy@cheltenham.gov.uk   

Related Pages

• The Development Plan
• Strategic and Local Plan
• Supplementary planning documents
• Brownfield land register
• Community engagement with local development