Mission 4: Environment, Housing and Infrastructure

“Building in balance with nature”

Long-term spatial planning and infrastructure delivery are critical to supporting sustainable economic growth in Gloucestershire. Well-planned, high-quality places enhance health, wellbeing, and quality of life. Maintaining and enhancing the quality of the built environment for our communities is essential to support the county’s sustainability goals, ensuring that places are well connected, environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and aligned with supporting climate targets and meeting the need for resilience and adaptation in the face of a rapidly changing climate.

Planning and infrastructure are critical to supporting growth in Gloucestershire.  The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will introduce planning reforms including the requirement to produce a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). Gloucestershire’s SDS will be produced at pace and in collaboration by all Gloucestershire local authorities.

Transport 

Gloucestershire’s strategic location - within an hour of Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford, and Cardiff, and two hours from London offers significant connectivity advantages. Maintaining and enhancing this access requires ongoing investment in infrastructure, including:

• Improvements to the M5, M4 corridor, and A46 Midlands link.
• Expansion of public transport networks to improve education, work and leisure access (bus, and rail).
• Improved active travel networks and promotion of low-carbon mobility.

To address funding gaps in the delivery of infrastructure and services we will be exploring a range of alternative income streams. This includes declaring the Golden Valley Development as a Designated Area. This will enable the retainment of 100% of the business rates generated within that zone to support local investment. By reinvesting the business rates into delivering the enabling infrastructure and priorities identified within the five economic missions this creates a virtuous cycle that unlocks further growth.

Enhancing, protecting, and managing our environment

Gloucestershire’s natural environment is its largest strategic asset, offering exceptional biodiversity, scenic beauty, and recreational value. The county benefits from three designated National Landscapes: the Cotswolds, Malvern Hills, and Wye Valley. These areas are central to Gloucestershire’s identity and offer significant opportunities for nature-based investment, sustainable tourism, and environmental leadership.

Green spaces, from parks and woodlands to river corridors and nature reserves are central to the county’s identity and play a vital role in supporting physical and mental health, community cohesion, and climate resilience. Cotswold Canals restoration project led by Stroud District Council’s will provide improved wildlife habitats while increasing access for walking and cycling routes.

These landscapes support tourism, health, and wellbeing, while delivering vital ecosystem services such as flood mitigation, clean air, and carbon sequestration - estimated to be worth £500 million annually.

We recognise that economic growth and environmental sustainability are sometimes seen as competing priorities. However, Gloucestershire is committed to pursuing a model of development that not only minimises its environmental footprint but actively enhances the natural world. Our ambition for the Forest of Dean to achieve UNESCO Biosphere designation reflects this approach, promoting sustainable development, protecting biodiversity, and strengthening the area’s reputation. Evidence from other designated Biospheres indicates the benefits to the local economy with a clear return on investment in setting up a Biosphere, including supporting job creation. A study created with the assistance of the Office of National Statistics (ONS) found that every £1 invested (by government agencies, organisations, and businesses) in a Biosphere would overall return a value of around £3.89 to the area. This demonstrates that growth which respects and restores nature is not only possible, but economically advantageous.

Nature recovery is essential to restoring ecological balance and enhancing biodiversity. It also supports future food security and resilience through long-term measures such as soil recovery and regenerative agriculture. These efforts are closely linked to Gloucestershire’s restorative agriculture opportunity, which combines innovation in farming with environmental stewardship and job creation. We will also embrace circular economy principles to reduce waste, conserve resources, and ensure long-term sustainability. This includes harnessing the economic potential of nature-based investment and natural capital initiatives, which deliver positive outcomes for both the environment and local communities.

Digital Gloucestershire – an evolving county

Digital transformation is fundamentally reshaping how we live, work, and grow. We are entering a new phase of the digital revolution, driven by AI, automation, and data, where the pace of change is accelerating rapidly. This is not just another wave of innovation; it marks a seismic shift in how economies function, and how people engage with technology.

To thrive in this evolving landscape, Gloucestershire must ensure that everyone has the skills to participate. That means supporting those with existing digital skills to reach their full potential, while also ensuring that all residents have access to basic digital literacy, so no one is left behind.

Digital innovation is a powerful catalyst for economic growth. It boosts productivity, reduces costs, and enables businesses to compete nationally and globally. Companies that fail to evolve risk falling behind, while those that embrace digital tools can innovate rapidly, adapt to changing consumer expectations, and maintain a competitive edge.

In the context of the LGP, digital refers to a broad spectrum of technologies, not just cyber security, but also AI, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital platforms that enable business innovation, public service transformation, and inclusive economic growth. This aligns with GCC’s Digital Infrastructure, Inclusion and Innovation Strategy, which highlights the role of digital in shaping Gloucestershire’s future economy. 

Mission 5: Innovation, Investment and Enterprise