The emerging Cotswold District Local Plan is moving into an important stage, with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scheduled for 3 August 2026 and consultation expected to commence later in the month. For those with land, development or planning interests in Cotswold District, the draft Plan is essential reading. 

Cotswold District Council is operating in a challenging policy context. The District is very much McLoughlin Planning’s home patch: an area we know well from both a geography and planning policy perspective. It is also an authority significantly affected by the revised standard method housing calculation, which has increased its annual housing requirement from around 500 homes to more than 1,000 homes per annum. 

The Council has previously raised concerns with Government about the scale of the new housing requirement. However, the emerging Plan indicates that the Council is now seeking to progress a strategy for how that growth should be planned for within the District. 

A significantly higher housing requirement 

The draft Plan sets out a stark picture in terms of housing supply. Key figures include: 

• Total Housing Supply 18,911

Of which 

• Known Commitments – 1,570 (8.30%)
• Strategic Allocations – 11,302 (59.76%)
• Non-Strategic Allocation – 1,468 (7.76%)
• Saved Allocations – 2,282 (12.07%)
• Windfalls – 2,289 (12.10%)

Heavy reliance on strategic allocations 

The Plan is therefore heavily reliant on strategic allocations to meet the majority of the housing requirement. It proposes 10 new strategic allocations, including a new settlement in the countryside at Driffield. As long-term observers of the District, it will be interesting to see how this is delivered in practice, particularly given the complexity of bringing forward new settlements. 

Limited housing growth in the Cotswold National Landscape 

A notable feature of the emerging strategy is that it does not propose substantive housing growth within the Cotswold National Landscape, which covers a significant proportion of the District (80%). Instead, development is concentrated in non-CNL locations towards the northern and southern parts of the District. 

• Strategic Allocations in the north of the District – 3455
• Strategic Allocation in the South (including Cirencester) – 7847

There is also a spread of non-strategic allocations across the District (totalling 27), including some within CNL locations. 

What this could mean for smaller sites 

There is a great deal to take in, but the broad direction is clear: the Plan places considerable weight on strategic sites while seeking to avoid substantive development within the CNL.  It also makes extensive use of settlement boundaries as part of the settlement hierarchy and development strategy. 

The settlement hierarchy has been expanded to define Non-Principal Settlements, but this may come at the cost of flexibility. Opportunities for smaller housing sites, which have often come forward under Policy DS3 of the current Local Plan, may become more limited if the Council directs growth primarily towards allocated sites. This could have particular implications for SME developers, who often rely on smaller and more deliverable housing opportunities. 

The key issue going forward will be whether the Council’s chosen strategy is justified, effective and consistent with national policy. By limiting development within the CNL, the Plan appears to be seeking to avoid the need to allocate sites that could fall within the major development tests in paragraph 190 of the current NPPF. That is before considering the additional sensitivities associated with heritage assets, including conservation areas and listed buildings. 

Next steps for landowners and promoters 

With consultation on the draft new Local Plan expected to commence on 24 August, now is the time for landowners, promoters and developers to review how their interests are affected. For some, the focus will be on proposed allocations and delivery assumptions. For others, the key issue may be whether reasonable alternatives have been properly considered, particularly where smaller sites, settlement boundaries or CNL constraints are central to the strategy. 

The Cotswold District Local Plan will be one to watch closely over the coming months. 

If you have land or development interests in Cotswold District and would like to understand the implications of the emerging Local Plan, McLoughlin Planning can advise on site strategy, representations and next steps. 

Working with McLoughlin Planning

At McLoughlin Planning, our objective is simple: to achieve results for our clients through high-quality planning consultancy. Our team of Chartered Town Planning Consultants provides strategic advice and planning solutions across southern England and Wales, working on projects ranging from strategic land promotion and commercial development to private residential schemes and rural diversification projects.  

Following the acquisition of Plainview Planning in 2024, our Group now combines the expertise of 13 planning professionals and support staff. This collaboration enables us to deliver commercially minded, creative solutions to a wide range of planning challenges.  

For larger, strategic or complex projects, such as land promotions, multi-phase developments or aviation schemes, our McLoughlin Planning team can provide specialist advice.  

For householder projects, developments of 10 dwellings or fewer, or smaller independent commercial schemes, our dedicated Plainview Planning team offers tailored support.  

If you have a development proposal that could benefit from expert planning consultancy input, you can explore our team via our About Us page or contact us through the Arrange a Call option on our contact page, or via the email address and telephone number provided below.  

We value your privacy and any information you provide will remain confidential and used solely in relation to your enquiry.  

As always, the content of this article was correct at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date advice on planning policy and development opportunities, please contact our team.  

Nathan McLoughlin – Managing Director  

T: 01242895008  

E: nathan.mcloughlin@mplanning.co.uk 

Link to the Overview and Scrutiny Agenda Item: https://meetings.cotswold.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=6794#mgDocuments