Probably one of the most controversial of topics within our NDP, the mention of new housing usually brings one of two reactions. “Newent has enough new housing” or “We need houses that people can afford.”
Other views frequently voiced are about building on farmland, creaking infrastructure, lack of a good transport system and the need for another supermarket for all the new and existing residents. Hundreds more houses are likely to be built in Newent in the next decade or so and the planners want to try to meet the needs of the whole town, not just the people in the new housing. That is where the Neighbourhood Development Plan comes in. The bigger Local Plan, currently being prepared by the Forest of Dean District Council, cannot go into all the detail that is possible with the neighbourhood plans (NDPs). However, the Local Plan should be able to recommend a localised master plan to avoid development that is piecemeal, lacks coherence and makes no reference to the need for more amenities. The two plans should mesh together.
Our Housing Survey sets out to ask first what needs there are in the community for various types of housing and then asks for opinions about housing design.
You can access the survey online at https://bit.ly/newent-housing
Please feel free to share the link with any residents within the Newent GL18 1** area. This Neighbourhood Plan is for the parish of Newent which includes Clifford’s Mesne, Botloes Green, Malswick, The Scarr, Anthony’s Cross and Cugley as well as the town of Newent
itself.
