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Gloucestershire Business News

Lydney to be developed into gateway for the Forest in new local plan

A swathe of development has been proposed to transform Lydney into a gateway for the Forest Of Dean.

Council bosses have made it a focal point in their latest local plan which aims to draw businesses to the district and encouraging more people to live and relax in the area.

Councillor Tim Gwilliam, leader of Forest of Dean District Council, said: "We want Lydney to be a special place for people to come and get to the train station, use the river, bridges and spread into the Forest.

"I'm really keen not to call it a principal town because in the last five years we have learnt we need to speak with a united voice and not have town against town, battering each other.

"We do better when we speak as one."

He has urged people to get involved in the Council's draft strategy Our Plan which sets out details of how the Forest will be developed over the next 30 years.

Cllr Gwilliam said it was about more than meeting targets allocated by central government.

"It can't just be about delivering the houses," he said. "It's got to include businesses and leisure and sustainability to make the Forest Of Dean somewhere really special."

He said the plan underlined the council's commitment to ensuring the Forest was "open for business.

"That's something we have worked devilishly hard on in the last five years," he said.

"We want them to come. There's a good feeling about the Forest at the moment with good businesses coming here and good businesses interested. We need to capture that and allow this place to be what it can be."

The plan will see Lydney accommodate at least a third of the proposed development, with increased housing, employment, retail, leisure and supporting services.

Cllr Gwilliam said all Forest towns had a role to play but Lydney had been made a focal point because of its geographic location, the growth that's already gone on and the council's wish to "correct some of the wrongs of the past" where people have said it's missed out on infrastructure.

The plan needs to include 7,440 new dwellings for the district and also sets out support for towns and villages to take advantage of existing active travel networks and reinforce sustainable transport and travel opportunities.

Land at Newent has been earmarked for a mixed-use site and land at Beachley Camp for regeneration.

Cllr Gwilliam added, "We have to have this plan, we have to deliver against the Government's housing targets, that is what is mandated.

"But, if we can do this as a community, and make sure that the plan is one we have driven, we have a chance to make it our own."

With an Election due in May, he is aware he may not see the plan through to fruition.

Cllr Gwilliam said: "It may well be there's another leader and cabinet but I'm confident this is the right way forward for the Forest of Dean."

Cabinet will vote whether to accept the local plan on Thursday and if so a public consultation will start on July 25.

See the draft plan here .

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