Gloucestershire U-turn on housing programme

Gloucestershire CC has backed out of the government's housing growth point programme because of fears it would be swamped by excess development.

The scheme provides government funding towards infrastructure needed to support new housing in return for councils earmarking areas for large numbers of new homes.

Gloucestershire applied for growth point status last October. But it now fears the South West Regional Spatial Strategy — due for publication in July — will call for too much development.

Julie Girling (Con), cabinet member for environment,  said: "Delays by government have led to concerns and uncertainty about the initiative.

"We are also worried that if we do sign up for this, it could tie us into accommodating developments that we do not want or need, particularly within the green belt."