Government again refuses to rethink Cotswold housing target after council stressed community concerns and constraints
Minister’s reply to leader follows firm consultation response by Council on yet more planning policy changes that do “not recognise rural authority challenges”
The Government has once again told Cotswold District Council that it must use the Local Plan process to set out the constraints that meeting its huge housing target presents.
It comes as part of the most recent exchange between the Council and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and follows representation made by council leader Mike Evemy in February, when he presented ministers with dozens of comments from residents and town and parish councils.
This was to ensure officials in Whitehall directly understand the strength of local concern at a housing target which is now 100 per cent higher than it was 18 months ago, while reiterating the significant challenges the requirement presents for the Cotswold district.
It also comes soon after the Council submitted its consultation response to more proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which the authority describes as being too rigid and nationally prescriptive, not recognising rural, constrained authorities, and putting environmental protections – particularly for National Landscapes – at risk.
In reply to Cllr Evemy’s third letter to his department, housing minister Matthew Pennycook reiterated the Government’s commitment to the revised standard method, confirmed that the housing target remains unchanged, and made clear that local circumstances must be tested through the Local Plan process.
Under the Government’s revised standard method, Cotswold District Council is now required to plan for 18,650 new homes over the next 18 years – the equivalent of just over 1,000 homes per year.
Commenting on the response, Cllr Evemy said: “While I’m grateful that ministers are continuing to engage with us on this matter, I’m disappointed that they are still refusing to meet to discuss the issue in more detail.
“They recognise the nationally significant character of the Cotswolds and the extent of constraints across our district, and they acknowledge the challenges posed by a wholly unrealistic housing target. Yet their policy and action is not aligned with reality in areas like ours. Their message remains the same: that these issues must be addressed through the Local Plan process, with targets used as a starting point.
“I understand the notion that constraints need to be proved through evidence, but leaving no stone unturned to meet arbitrary targets will ultimately mean the authority is forced to plan for homes in areas that communities do not believe to be sustainable. And if we don’t do that, speculative development that is difficult to challenge will continue to come forward. I remain deeply uncomfortable and frustrated at this.”
Since the implications of this new target became clear, the Council has engaged Government directly through correspondence with ministers and meetings with officials. It has also taken legal advice and spoken to other councils in similar circumstances about whether there is any formal route to challenge the target itself.
The Council remains committed to strongly representing the views of local communities, and continuing constructive engagement with MP's and Government, as the plan progresses.
He said: “We are working closely with our MP's to keep up the pressure on government and continuing to explore other avenues to force the issue. However, we aren’t alone in having requests for a rethink on housing requirement rejected. Every other council we’ve engaged on this issue is reporting the same outcome.
“While the Government won’t budge on the target, at the same time - through further proposed changes to the NPPF - it is imposing one-size-fits-all criteria on rural areas that do not reflect how dispersed, highly constrained rural districts actually function.
“We agree with a plan-led approach to development and our focus remains on moving the district’s Local Plan forward at pace. This will mean decisions about where homes go, what they look like and what infrastructure comes with them are planned, transparent and shaped by local evidence.”
Cllr Evemy added: “But I once again urge Mr Pennycook and his ministerial colleagues to visit our district, visit our towns and villages, and see first-hand what build, build, build will look like in one of the world’s most treasured landscapes.”
Cotswold District Council is continuing work on its Local Plan, with the intention of submitting it for examination by the end of 2026.
Please see attached letter from Minster of Housing Matthew Pennycook to Cllr Evemy. Also see the Council’s response to the Government’s recent consultation on ‘Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system' Note: the Council’s responses to this document were in response to the specific questions in the consultation, which sought to make the planning system clearer, faster and more effective and did not seek general views from the public.