Decision

To update the Cheltenham Local Development Scheme (LDS) in line with the delegations given to the Director of Planning & Building Control in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning & Building Control provided by Cabinet on 14th July 2026.

Reasons for the decision

In March 2026 the Government brought into effect a new local plan making system. In doing so, it also set out transitional arrangements for plans already well advanced, enabling these plans to continue to proceed under the legacy plan making system. The Regulation 19 Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury Strategic and Local Plan (SLP) is being progressed under these transitional arrangements.
The approved LDS anticipated decisions on the Regulation 19 SLP being taken during October 2026. However, a short delay in receiving key evidence from consultants meant that the Council was unable to meet the milestones set out in the LDS.
As a result, discussions were held with Government regarding the implications for the SLP timetable, particularly as the plan was previously required to be submitted for examination by the end of 2026.
Confirmation was received on 23rd October 2026 via the publication of a letter by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning that the SLP may be submitted for examination by 31st March 2027, provided that the final Regulation 19 consultation is completed by 31st December 2026. This provides a three-month extension to the submission deadline and enables the plan to continue progressing under the relevant transitional arrangements upon which the LDS was based.
In granting this flexibility, Government requested affected authorities to publish an updated LDS by the end of November 2026 setting out the revised programme and submission date. The amendments to the LDS ensure that the Council's published timetable reflects the revised plan-making programme and remains up to date.

Alternative options considered

Do not make the proposed changes to the LDS. This option was discounted because it would not enable the Council to fulfil its statutory requirement to keep the LDS up to date, potentially reducing clarity and certainty around the programme for plan preparation.