THE DOCUMENT which will guide the development of the Forest over the next 12 years has been released for public comment.

The Forest Council's Allocations Plan sets out where nearly 2,700 homes could be built as well as sites for employment, tourism and recreation and improved cycle routes.

The plan was approved for consultation at a meeting of the full council last week in a rare display of cross-party unanimity.

Council leader Cllr Patrick Molyneux (Con, Hewelsfield and Woolaston) said: "Everyone understood that we have got to the stage where the best thing to do is let the public have their say on it and when it comes back we can see what the public feels about it and marry it up with our feelings and tweak whatever we need to do for the final document.

"We need housing and you can only make it affordable if you have a supply. If you don't build houses then housing becomes unaffordable and we need it for local people.

"Most people would like to see no houses built next to them or in their village but we don't have the option to say no to any housing development.

"If we don't allocate then the developers will through planning appeals.

"For us to be in control of managed development in the Forest, as councillors we showed we have been through a process and that we are in broad agreement."

More than half of the houses would be in Lydney where 1,630 homes would be built out of 2,674 for the whole Forest.

The plan can be viewed online at the council's website http://www.fdean.gov.uk">www.fdean.gov.uk and at libraries including Chepstow and Gloucester.

Comments close on Monday, September 15 and more information is available by contacting the council's Local Plan team on 01594 812335 or e-mailing [email protected]">[email protected]. uk.

Where will homes go?

This is where the plan would currently allow housing to be built.

Bream (44) New Road and High Street 30 Off Ryelands Road 14

Cinderford (370) Northern Quarter 175 Station Road 150 Valley Road 45

Coleford (94) Poolway Farm 80 King's Head 12 Lawnstone House 8

Drybrook (50) High Street 50 Longhope (15) Off Church Road 15

Lydbrook (45) Stowfield 45

Lydney (1,630) East of Lydney 1,553 Holms Farm 27 Hill Street 25 Augustus Way 25

Mitcheldean (70) Gloucester Road 40 George Hotel 18 Old Coach Depot 12

Nailbridge 30

Newent (150) Foley Road 120 Watery Lane 30

Newnham (60) Unlawater Lane 40 Victoria Hotel 20 Sedbury (50) The Elms 50

Sling (20) Near the Miners' Arms 20

Tutshill (45) Bigstone Meadow 45 Whitecroft (30) Scovill 30

Woolaston (48) Netherend Farm 36 Ash Way 12