The Gloucestershire Economic Strategy Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 21 May 2026 to consider a case study on the economy of the Forest of Dean and its relationship with the Local Growth Plan. The committee also reviewed its work plan.

Local Growth Plan: Forest of Dean Case Study

The committee was scheduled to consider a case study examining the economy of the Forest of Dean district and how it aligns with the objectives of Gloucestershire's Local Growth Plan (LGP). The report aimed to understand the performance of the Forest of Dean's economy against the five economic missions outlined in the LGP, with the goal of informing initiatives to maximise their impact and contribute to the LGP's vision. The discussion was also intended to provide insight into the ongoing review of the Forest of Dean District Council's Sustainable Economy Strategy.

The Forest of Dean was chosen as a case study due to its distinct economic and geographic characteristics, serving as a test for how a county-wide growth strategy can effectively address rural, polycentric areas alongside more urbanised locations. The district is characterised by its ancient woodland, dispersed settlements, and environmental constraints. Its economy is shaped by its location between larger economic centres such as Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bristol, and Cardiff, and its cross-border relationships with South Wales.

Key aspects of the Forest of Dean's economy highlighted in the report included:

• Settlement Pattern: A polycentric structure with economic activity spread across towns like Coleford, Cinderford, Lydney, and Newent, alongside villages and industrial parks.
• Business Base: A high number of small and micro-businesses, strong levels of self-employment, and a limited presence of large employers, leading to a stable but less dynamic economy.
• Workforce Characteristics: A locally rooted workforce with a strong attachment to place, but with lower average earnings than regional and national levels, and challenges in skills progression and retention.
• Connectivity and Infrastructure: Significant challenges related to transport and digital infrastructure, with limited public transport access and uneven broadband provision, particularly in rural areas.
• Economic Challenges and Opportunities: Structural challenges include limited employment land, lower wage levels, and rural isolation, while opportunities lie in the growth of the green economy, sustainable tourism, and a strong quality-of-life offer.

The report detailed how the Forest of Dean's economy relates to each of the five missions of the Local Growth Plan:

• Mission 1: Talent and Future Skills: The district faces skills challenges with lower educational attainment and a need to upskill the workforce to meet future employment demands, particularly given an ageing workforce.
• Mission 2: Supporting Employment Opportunities for All: The Forest of Dean has a low job density and a spatial mismatch between where people live and where jobs are located, impacting access to employment, especially for those without cars.
• Mission 3: Thriving Communities and Culture: The mission is central to strengthening town centres, supporting community wealth-building, and using culture and heritage as economic assets, with a focus on practical, place-based activity.
• Mission 4: Environment, Housing and Infrastructure: Environmental assets are strengths but also create constraints. Challenges include limited employment sites, housing quality, and accessibility issues, requiring infrastructure improvements.
• Mission 5: Innovation, Investment and Enterprise: The focus is on deepening and strengthening the existing economy, supporting scale-up potential within micro-firms, and improving workspace availability and digital capability.

The report also outlined various delivery projects and priorities for the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire as a whole, relating to these missions, up to March 2028. These included initiatives such as the Get Gloucestershire Working Plan, the Gloucestershire Green Skills Strategy, the Gloucestershire Local Skills Improvement Plan, and various local regeneration projects within the Forest of Dean.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to review its work plan for the remainder of 2026. This included noting upcoming topics such as the Local Growth Plan's Mission 4 (Environment, Housing and Infrastructure), a high-level strategic overview of transport in relation to the Spatial Development Strategy, and a review of SEDF bid performance. Suggested items for future consideration included challenges faced by the retail and hospitality sector, a comparison of economic growth in the Forest of Dean with other districts, and a focus on green economy growth.