Tewkesbury Borough Council Plan
2026 - 2028 Our actions

The following Council Plan (CP) actions set out how we will deliver on our priorities over the coming year. They reflect the progress made so far and our continued commitment to supporting our communities.

Each action is focused, measurable and aligned to the outcomes we want to achieve ahead of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Ensuring we remain accountable and transparent as we move through this period of significant change.

CP1. Improve our performance on the national Council Climate Action Scorecard.

We have made strong progress in tackling climate change, increasing our national Climate Action Scorecard result. The scorecard is an independent UK benchmark of how well councils are taking action towards net zero, across a number of categories. Over recent years our score has risen from 10 per cent to 44 per cent in 2025. We are working across all our services to take further action and continue improving our score. This demonstrates clear leadership on climate issues, a pathway to reduce our environmental impact, and support communities across the borough to play their part in creating a greener, more sustainable future.

CP2. Identify and enable opportunities for biodiversity net gain or nature recovery across sites within the borough.

We will identify key locations across the borough to help with nature recovery and enhancement, and work with partners to improve habitats, increase biodiversity and leave the natural environment in a better condition than before. These actions will create bigger, better and connected green spaces to support nature recovery; helping to protect the environment for people now and in the future.

CP3. Work with partners and external stakeholders to agree and deliver the recommended short-term actions following the 2026 Tirley flooding review.

We will work with Tirley Parish Council, Gloucestershire County Council and local landowners, to support delivery of the short-term actions identified from the recent Tirley flooding review. This includes supporting improvements to drainage maintenance, raising awareness of responsibilities and contributing to longer-term solutions to make the area more resilient.

CP4. Deliver improvements to relevant council-owned assets that foster community pride.

To organise and deliver a programme of asset-related improvements which bring together planned projects. These improvements include Mitton Bridge in Tewkesbury and Pennylands Bridge in Winchcombe, together with emerging projects, particularly across a number of play areas and our Tewkesbury and Bishop’s Cleeve cemeteries. These improvements will protect public safety, meet required legislative standards, and ensure assets are transferred to the new unitary council in operational compliant condition.

CP5. Support communities to shape and improve their local facilities by making the best use of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 (S106) funding. This will help deliver community priorities set by parish councils and ensure investment supports growth and addresses the impact of development.

We will improve guidance, communication and processes so that funding is used to reflect community priorities such as growth, investment in local facilities and infrastructure, and addressing the impacts of development on residents.

CP6. To progress the development of the Strategic and Local Plan to ensure it is submitted for examination.

Significant resource and time have been devoted with Cheltenham Borough and Gloucester City councils, to prepare a new Strategic and Local Plan (SLP). This sets out the best options for housing and employment growth across the Cheltenham Borough, Gloucester City, and Tewkesbury Borough over the next 20 years. To be completed prior to LGR vesting day, the plan needs to be reviewed, consulted on, and formally submitted to the Government for independent examination to ensure future development is properly planned and meets local needs.

CP7. Work with registered housing providers and rural communities to bring forward an increased supply of appropriate affordable housing, prioritising social rent and other tenures that meet identified local needs.

We will continue to work with housing providers, communities and partners to increase the supply of affordable homes available across the borough, particularly social rent and other lower-cost options. This will help meet local housing needs, provide more accessible homes, and support residents at risk of homelessness.

CP8. Find alternative options to reduce the use of bed and breakfasts and hotels for temporary accommodation.

We will continue to reduce the use of bed and breakfasts and hotels for people experiencing homelessness by increasing the availability of more suitable temporary accommodation within the borough. This includes investing in new options, making better use of existing buildings, and supporting people before reaching crisis point to help prevent homelessness where possible.

CP9. Deliver appropriate housing on the former Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) site in Tewkesbury.

With key organisations, such as housing providers, we will work to deliver new homes on the former Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries site in Tewkesbury, bringing the land back into use to help increase the supply of affordable housing in the borough.

CP10. Work with partners to enforce renters’ rights, support tenants to understand and exercise their rights and ensure landlords meet their legal responsibilities across the private rented sector.

We are working with partners to improve standards in private rented housing following the Renters’ Rights Act 2026, which strengthens tenants’ protections and landlords’ responsibilities. This includes helping residents understand their rights, providing clear advice on how to get support, and take action where homes do not meet required standards.

CP11. Work in partnership to implement the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT), identify households at risk of financial hardship, and use the data to deliver targeted support.

In partnership with the data organisation, Policy in Practice in Practice, we are introducing the Low-Income Family Tracker (LIFT). The LIFT platform will combine various datasets to allow us insights into financially vulnerable households. It helps identify families that may be eligible for benefits but are not currently claiming them, enabling us to provide targeted outreach and support. This is part of our wider commitment to easing cost of living pressures for residents.

CP12. Support our partners to reduce health inequalities and build community resilience for people of all ages.

Through our Integrated Locality Partnership we will work to reduce health inequalities – the unfair differences in health outcomes to build stronger, more resilient communities. Our aim is to help people to stay well, stay connected and be able to better able to cope with life’s challenges. This includes supporting community wellbeing, through our young people mentoring scheme, improving access to services through the digital inclusion project, and strengthening local networks to create healthier, more inclusive communities.

CP13. Adopt the Tewkesbury Town Centre Masterplan and progress with longer term plans for the regeneration of Tewkesbury town centre.

We will finalise the work currently being undertaken and look to adopt the masterplan, a long-term plan that sets out how an area will grow and improve, to guide the regeneration of Tewkesbury town centre. This will include an upgrade to the Visitor and Heritage Centre to ensure it plays an active role in attracting and supporting visitors – and work to help shape improvements to public spaces, support local businesses, and overall create a more attractive, vibrant and sustainable town centre while protecting its historic character.

CP14. Deliver a Tewkesbury Borough Council-owned development company for the Garden Communities programme.

By establishing a council-owned development company funded by Government, the council will create a dedicated organisation to support the planning and delivery of the Garden Communities programme. This will support coordinated, long-term development and ensure new communities meet local needs and support sustainable growth of the borough.

CP15. Support businesses in our borough to grow, embed The Growth Hub, Tewkesbury and Business Voice into our future service.

We are supporting businesses to grow through The Growth Hub Tewkesbury – a service which provides practical advice to help businesses start, grow and develop – and Business Voice events which give local businesses a platform to share views and engage with the council and other local businesses. This joined-up approach will help businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy.

CP16. Accelerate the delivery and expansion of the advanced engineering and manufacturing sector, while supporting related sectors.

We will collaborate with key stakeholders to support the growth of Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM), alongside related sectors, by engaging with local businesses, strengthening links, and bringing forward new investment and development opportunities. This will help create high-quality jobs, attract investment, and support the long-term growth of the local economy. As part of this, we will develop leadership of the AEM sector through establishing an AEM board and providing advice and guidance to AEM businesses, with the council leading this project on behalf of the county.

CP17. Pilot a youth-engagement and youth-voice model in Tewkesbury Borough, embedding the approach within the Neighbourhood and Communities LGR work programme, to inform a future countywide model.

We will pilot a youth engagement and youth voice model to give young people a stronger voice in local decisions that affect them. Work will continue and we will look at embedding this through the Neighbourhood and Communities LGR workstream, which is shaping how local services and community engagement will operate under the new authority, helping to inform a future countywide approach as part of LGR.