Stroud District Local Plan 2026: Gateway 1 - due 30th October 2026
Stroud District Council is pleased to announce the publication of a number of documents marking the completion of the initial preparation stage for the new Stroud District Local Plan 2026.
This first stage of work has focused on putting in place the foundations needed to prepare the new Local Plan, including early public and stakeholder engagement, establishing a programme for preparing the plan and completing the Government's Gateway 1 Self-Assessment.
The Council has now completed the Government's Gateway 1 Self-Assessment, which is the first formal milestone in the Government's new plan-making system and marks the start of the 30-month period for preparing the new Local Plan. The publication of these documents provides transparency on the work completed so far and the next steps in preparing a plan for the future of Stroud District.
It is important to note that the new Local Plan remains at a very early stage. This initial preparation phase has not involved selecting a preferred strategy or deciding where future development should take place. No decisions have been made on future development locations, site allocations or the overall spatial strategy for the district. These matters will be considered over the coming months as evidence is prepared, potential sites are assessed and options are developed ahead of further public consultation in Summer 2027.
The following documents have been published (30th October 2026) as part of this update:
- Gateway 1 Self-Assessment Report
- Proposed Local Plan Timetable (October 2026)
- Summer 2026 Early Scoping Consultation: Summary Report (see below)
- Summer 2026 Key Stakeholder Workshop Reports (see below)
Early engagement and consultation
During Summer 2026, the Council undertook an initial scoping consultation and a programme of stakeholder workshops to identify the key opportunities, challenges and priorities facing the district over the coming decades.
The feedback received has informed the early stages of plan preparation and will help shape the development of the new Local Plan. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to participate and share their views.
Early Scoping Consultation:
Stakeholder Workshop reports:
- Early Engagement Workshops Main Report (October 2026)
- Annex: East cluster workshop
- Annex: North cluster workshop
- Annex: South cluster workshop
- Annex: Infrastructure stakeholders workshop
- Annex: SDC officer workshop
What happens next?
The Council will now continue work on the evidence base that will support the new Local Plan. This includes preparing and commissioning a range of technical studies, assessing infrastructure requirements and reviewing potential development sites submitted through the call for sites process.
Alongside this work, officers will begin developing and testing options for the plan's spatial strategy, which will help shape how future housing, employment, infrastructure and environmental priorities are distributed across the district.
No preferred strategy has been selected and no decisions have been made on which sites, if any, may be allocated within the new Local Plan. Any future options will be informed by evidence, consultation feedback, infrastructure requirements and environmental considerations before being presented for public consultation.
Over the coming months, we will continue to engage with elected members, town and parish councils, infrastructure providers, statutory consultees and other key stakeholders as the plan develops.
The next formal stage of public consultation is scheduled for Summer 2027, when residents, businesses and stakeholders will have a further opportunity to comment on emerging options and proposals. This consultation will provide the first opportunity for the public to comment on potential approaches and emerging choices being considered through the plan-making process.
Regular updates on the preparation of the new Local Plan will continue to be published on the Council's website as work progresses.
Stay informed
If you would like to be kept informed about future Local Plan consultations, engagement activities and project updates, or would like to join the Local Plan consultation database, please contact local.plan@stroud.gov.uk.