Draft Vision

By 2041, and beyond for larger scale developments, the Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury area will have harnessed the opportunities of green growth to create thriving, beautiful, energy efficient, resilient and healthy places. Growth will have afforded the highest possible quality of life for all in a manner which achieves carbon reductions and addresses the causes and effects of climate change.

Investment in training, skills and development will have attracted and retained a younger workforce and provided new premises and flexible workspaces to support a flourishing circular economy in both urban and rural areas. Inward investment, innovation and growth in key sectors including, amongst others, cyber and digital-tech, food/agri-tech, advanced engineering and tourism will have been fostered.

People’s housing needs will have been met through the provision of sustainable, high-quality market, affordable and other specialist homes set in beautiful, safe places and conforming to sustainable standards of design and construction. The focus will have been on making best possible use of brownfield sites in built up areas and large-scale, comprehensively planned new development to ensure our valuable green spaces and highest quality farmland are preserved. The vital role of the area’s city centre, town centres and high streets will have been improved through careful management of development and land uses.

Growth in sustainable locations will have enabled the provision of healthy, accessible and walkable neighbourhoods, the promotion of active travel and sustainable travel, and provision of new transport systems that work for local people.

Growth will have been supported by the provision of a range of essential digital, transport, community and other infrastructure. Equally, alongside conserving the area’s special landscapes and its attractiveness as a place to visit, a network of interconnected green spaces and waterways will have secured a high-quality environment for people and nature. Together with necessary retention and management of existing sports and leisure facilities, this will have unlocked opportunities for healthy lifestyles, inclusive access to sport and recreation, active flood risk management and improvements to biodiversity.

The area’s thriving cultural offer will have flourished, and its rich diversity of heritage assets preserved through carefully considered developments and enhancements.