Cinderford regeneration project review agreed for October

A review of a £100m project to regenerate part of Gloucestershire which could bring hundreds of jobs will go ahead in October

Civic chiefs in the Forest of Dean have agreed to host meetings to review the Cinderford Northern Quarter regeneration project.

The redevelopment had originally been planned to bring 1,200 jobs, 195 homes and a new college campus.

The first stage of the project, which includes the first phase of a new road and a new campus for Gloucestershire College, was completed in 2018 but construction work for the second phase has not yet begun.

The Forest of Dean District Council currently has plans to alter one of the planning conditions which currently restricts development of the site until the spine road, which would link Broadmoor Road to the A4136, is completed.

And now the council’s scrutiny and overview committee has voted to take over the review of the scheme from a task group which was looking into the project.

The idea is to host a public meeting in October that interested parties, including the public, can attend, although the final arrangements will depend upon whether there are any Covid restrictions in place at the time.

Chairman Alan Preest (Con, Lydney East) said he called the meeting at the request of district council leader Tim Gwilliam.

“He’s asked that this committee conduct a full and open review into the policies around the Cinderford Northern Quarter and that the results of that review are shared with the leader so that he and his cabinet colleagues can put them into the new local plan process.

“I’m looking for a definitive end for the Northern Quarter process and a definitive forward position that we can take.

“It has been going round in circles for a great many years.”

He said the council was looking to set aside a full week in October to include a site visit, a full member briefing and for all invited parties to attend a presentation.

Cllr Preest said he wanted the process to provide a “completely open, transparent and balanced view” of the project.

Cllr Thom Forester (Independent Alliance, Mitcheldean, Ruardean & Drybrook) said he fully supported an open investigation into the Northern Quarter.

“I would like to know what’s going on with it. To know what happened with it,” he said.

“And to get to somewhere that will benefit the Forest and we can make the most of it.”

And Cllr Nicky Packer (G, Newnham) , task group chairman, said she really welcomed the proposal to hold the public review.