Planning Authorities
Gloucestershire operates a two-tier system: the county council plus six district LPAs
Gloucestershire County Council
County Council - Minerals, Waste & Strategic Planning
Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester GL1 2TG
Tel: 01452 425000
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/planning
The county council is the minerals and waste planning authority and is responsible for planning decisions on county matters including schools, highways and infrastructure. It is not the LPA for general development - contact the relevant district council below.
Gloucester City Council
District LPA
Gloucester City Offices, Bearland, Gloucester GL1 2JZ
Tel: 01452 396396
www.gloucester.gov.uk/planning
LPA for the city of Gloucester. The city is undergoing significant regeneration around the docks, Kings Quarter and the cathedral quarter. Development near the historic docks (a Scheduled Ancient Monument area) and Gloucester Cathedral conservation area requires careful pre-application engagement.
Cheltenham Borough Council
District LPA
Municipal Offices, Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 9SA
Tel: 01242 262626
www.cheltenham.gov.uk/planning
LPA for Cheltenham. The town is a nationally significant Regency townscape with extensive conservation areas and listed buildings along the Promenade, Montpellier and Pittville. Pre-application advice is strongly recommended for any work in or near conservation areas.
Cotswold District Council
District LPA
Trinity Road, Cirencester GL7 1PX
Tel: 01285 623000
LPA for Cotswold District, which largely overlaps with the Cotswolds National Landscape (previously AONB). The district council acts as the LPA within the National Landscape; the Cotswolds Conservation Board has a consultee role but does not determine applications. High landscape sensitivity applies across almost the entire district.
Forest of Dean District Council
District LPA
Council Offices, High Street, Coleford GL16 8HG
Tel: 01594 810000
LPA for the Forest of Dean. The area contains ancient woodland under statutory protection, the River Wye Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and significant phosphate sensitivity issues that can constrain development. Consult the council at pre-application stage on nutrient neutrality requirements for any development adding population.
Stroud District Council
District LPA
Ebley Mill, Westward Road, Stroud GL5 4UB
Tel: 01453 766321
LPA for Stroud District, covering the Stroud Valleys, parts of the Cotswold escarpment and the Vale of Berkeley. The district spans both Cotswolds NL and parts of the Wye Valley NL, with extensive mill and industrial heritage along the valleys.
Tewkesbury Borough Council
District LPA
Council Offices, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury GL20 5TT
Tel: 01684 295010
www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/planning
LPA for Tewkesbury Borough, which includes the Severn Vale flood plain - one of the UK's highest-risk flood areas. Tewkesbury town itself suffered catastrophically in the July 2007 floods (the worst in 60 years), leaving 150,000 people without tap water for 17 days. Flood risk assessment is mandatory for most development in the borough.
Building Control
Building regulations services across the six Gloucestershire districts
District Council Building Control Services
Local Building Control Authorities
Each district council operates its own building control service. Contact the relevant district (see Planning section above) using the same phone numbers. Several Gloucestershire councils have formed shared building control partnership arrangements - check with your district for current service delivery details.
LABC (Local Authority Building Control)
Approved inspector network
You may alternatively use a Registered Building Control Approver (private sector). LABC's site allows comparison of local authority services and private approved inspectors operating across Gloucestershire.
Heritage & Conservation
Historic England, listed buildings and Gloucestershire's exceptional heritage stock
Historic England - South West
National Heritage Advisor
29 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4ND
Tel: 0117 975 0700
Gloucestershire has an exceptionally rich heritage including Gloucester Cathedral (Grade I), Tewkesbury Abbey (Grade I), Cirencester's Roman town and amphitheatre, the Stroud Valleys mill complex and the Cotswold stone vernacular tradition. The Historic Environment Record (HER) is maintained by Gloucestershire County Council.
Gloucestershire County Council - Historic Environment
Historic Environment Record (HER) Holder
Tel: 01452 425000
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/planning/heritage
The county council holds the HER covering all six districts. For pre-application heritage advice contact the relevant district council's conservation officer. The HER can be searched for known archaeology and historic buildings before submitting applications.
Cotswolds Conservation Board
National Landscape Management Body
The Old Police Station, Cotswold Heritage Centre, Northleach GL54 3JH
Tel: 01451 862000
The Board manages the Cotswolds National Landscape, which covers much of Gloucestershire's eastern flank. While the Board does not determine planning applications (that remains with the district councils), it is a statutory consultee for developments within or affecting the setting of the National Landscape.
Environment & Flood Risk
Environment Agency, Severn Vale flood risk and River Wye phosphate constraints
Environment Agency - South West
Flood Risk and Environmental Regulator
Tel: 0370 850 6506 (general enquiries)
Flood line: 0345 988 1188
The Severn Vale is one of England's highest flood-risk areas. Flood Zones 2 and 3 cover large parts of Tewkesbury Borough, the Vale of Gloucester and areas around Stroud. The EA must be consulted on any development in Flood Zone 2 or 3. The River Wye SAC (shared with Wales) has strict phosphate limits - any development adding nutrients in the Forest of Dean or Wye catchment area must demonstrate nutrient neutrality.
Gloucestershire County Council - Flood Risk Management
Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA)
Tel: 01452 425000
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/flooding
As LLFA, the county council manages local watercourses and surface water flooding across all six districts. The 2007 floods - the UK's worst peacetime civil emergency - have driven significant investment in flood alleviation schemes at Tewkesbury, Gloucester and along the Severn. Surface water drainage for major new developments requires LLFA approval.
Natural England - Gloucestershire
Nature Conservation Regulator
Tel: 0300 060 3900
Natural England is a statutory consultee for developments affecting SSSIs, SACs and SPAs. Key designations include the River Wye SAC, Severn Estuary SPA/Ramsar/SAC, Forest of Dean ancient woodland NNR, and Cotswold Water Park SSSI. The Habitats Regulations Assessment process applies to any development that may affect these sites.
Infrastructure & Utilities
Water, electricity, gas and strategic roads serving Gloucestershire
Severn Trent Water
Water Supply and Sewerage
Tel: 0800 783 4444
Severn Trent Water is the primary water and sewerage provider for most of Gloucestershire. Contact for new water and sewer connections, infrastructure charges and capacity assessment for new developments. Parts of the southern Cotswolds near the Thames catchment may be served by Thames Water - check your specific address.
National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED)
Electricity Distribution Network Operator
Tel: 0800 678 3105
www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-distribution
NGED operates the electricity distribution network across Gloucestershire. Contact for new connections, capacity assessments and high-voltage infrastructure queries.
Wales & West Utilities (WWU)
Gas Distribution Network Operator
Tel: 0800 912 1700
WWU manages the gas distribution network across Gloucestershire. Contact for new gas connections, mains diversion and infrastructure queries. Note that rural parts of the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean may not have mains gas - check coverage before planning heat strategy.
National Highways
Strategic Road Network
Tel: 0300 123 5000
National Highways manages the M5 (running north-south through the county via Gloucester and Cheltenham), the A40 (Gloucester to Ross-on-Wye) and the A417. The A417 "Missing Link" between Birdlip and Cowley is a major ongoing project to dual the remaining single-carriageway section and is expected to complete around 2027. Development with access or traffic impact on these routes requires Transport Assessment and pre-application liaison with National Highways.
Trade Bodies & Professional Contacts
Industry organisations relevant to Gloucestershire construction and development
GFirst LEP (Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership)
Economic Growth Body
GFirst LEP coordinates economic development, skills and infrastructure investment across Gloucestershire. Contact for information on enterprise zones, business investment support and strategic site promotion.
Other Relevant Bodies
National Landscapes, Wye Valley and Forest of Dean designations
Cotswolds National Landscape
National Landscape (formerly AONB)
The Old Police Station, Northleach GL54 3JH
Tel: 01451 862000
The Cotswolds NL is the largest in England and Wales at 800 square miles, covering a large portion of Gloucestershire's eastern district. The highest bar of landscape protection applies to development within it - only permitted in exceptional circumstances. The Conservation Board provides pre-application advice for relevant schemes.
Wye Valley National Landscape
National Landscape (formerly AONB)
Hadnock Road, Monmouth NP25 3NG
Tel: 01600 713977
The Wye Valley NL straddles the Gloucestershire-Wales border through the Forest of Dean. Development within or affecting the setting of the NL requires consultation with the Joint Advisory Committee. The River Wye is also a SAC with significant phosphate constraints - see Environment section above.
Forestry England - Forest of Dean
Forest Management
Bank House, Bank Street, Coleford GL16 8BA
Tel: 01594 833057
www.forestryengland.uk/forest-of-dean
Forestry England manages the Forest of Dean, a nationally important ancient woodland and historic royal forest. Development proposals near or affecting managed forest land, including access road impacts, require consultation with Forestry England. Felling and planting operations within the forest require Forestry Commission approval.
Gloucestershire Airport Safeguarding
Airport Safeguarding Authority
Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton, Cheltenham GL51 6SR
Tel: 01452 857700
www.gloucestershireairport.co.uk
Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton has safeguarding zones that can affect taller structures in parts of Cheltenham and the Vale of Gloucester. Consult the airport's safeguarding team for developments exceeding 15 metres or involving tall structures such as cranes or wind turbines within the consultation zone.