Don’t forget to have your say: time is ticking on Cotswold District Council’s Local Plan consultation
As the end of the year draws closer, Cotswold District Council is reminding residents not to let the chance to have their say on the Local Plan consultation get lost in the festive rush.
Already, hundreds of people have shared their views on the Council’s preferred options - but with just two weeks remaining until the consultation closes, residents are urged to add this important task to their to-do list before the year ends.
Open until 2 January 2026, the consultation sets out high-level proposals to meet the Government’s target of delivering more than 18,500 new homes across the district by 2043. These options were developed in response to the Government more than doubling the number of homes the district must plan for.
Residents are invited to share their views on the Council’s preferred approach, including housing types, density, and where growth should take place. The consultation also looks beyond 2043 to ensure the right infrastructure - such as roads, schools, and healthcare - is in place to support future development.
Cotswold District Council’s Director of Communities and Place Helen Martin said staff from her team had met with or spoken to more than 1,000 people across the district since the consultation opened in November. This included at open meetings, town and parish council forums, exhibitions, and even special events at schools.
“It’s been fantastic to meet so many residents and hear their views,” Helen said. “We’ve really valued the thoughtful and insightful comments shared, and I hope everyone who attended one of our events will take the next step and add their feedback to the consultation.
“This isn’t a done deal – the consultation is still open, and every comment genuinely makes a difference.”
She said that what they found particularly valuable was local knowledge. “Whilst every view matters, to make your comments really count it helps to focus on what my team calls ‘material issues’.
“These are things that affect planning and land use so for example: how the plan impacts the character of your area, what you would like new developments to look like, how it might impact on road safety and traffic, any flooding risks, or the impact the planned development might have on jobs and businesses.
“Your local knowledge is vital – and it helps us to understand the real issues and opportunities.”
The consultation closes on 2 January 2026 at midnight and the easiest way for residents to make sure they have their say is via the Local Plan online consultation site your.cotswold.gov.uk.