AI Trialled to Help Forest of Dean Council Plan 5,400 New Homes by 2041
- tech360.tv
- Apr 22, 2025
- 2 min read
Artificial intelligence is being tested by Forest of Dean District Council to help identify locations for 5,400 new homes required by 2041.
The council is under pressure to meet a revised government target of 597 homes per year, up from 330, following changes introduced in summer 2024.
Council Leader Adrian Birch said an AI company has been tasked with a research project to determine whether the technology can be trusted to support planning decisions.
“If we can trust the AI to get it right then we will look at whether that is a feasible option,” Birch told a council meeting.
The district’s current local plan, covering 2021 to 2041, originally included 6,600 homes. However, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has since made it mandatory for the council to deliver a total of 12,000 homes by 2041.
Many of the initial 6,600 homes are already planned for areas including Lydney, Beachley and Newent.
To meet the new target, the council is revisiting previous proposals, such as a garden town between the A40 and A48 near Churcham, and a new settlement near junction 2 of the M50 close to Redmarley.
Birch said the AI company has also been asked to analyse public responses from the council’s local plan consultation held last summer.
“We will then be comparing our results with their results,” he said, adding that the council would review the use of AI if any concerns arise.
The council voted unanimously to review its 2021 to 2041 local plan and explore alternative strategic housing options.
Forest of Dean must build 12,000 homes by 2041, up from 6,600
AI is being trialled to help identify locations for 5,400 additional homes
Council Leader Adrian Birch says AI will be assessed for reliability
Source: BBC
