The local authority are trialling the technology to help decide on where to build 5,400 new homes by 2041.
Last summer the government tasked members of Forest of Dean District Council to produce 597 homes a year – a figure that was hiked up from 330. Previously, the local authority, under its plan for 2021 to 2041, had already been planning to build 6,600 homes when the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stepped in.
The increase now shows the council are required to deliver 12,000 homes by 2041 – a rise of 5,400 from previous plans.
Unsurprisingly the news caused MPs to panic, however Adrian Birch, leader of Forest of Dean District Council, has claimed he is currently working with an AI company to see if the technology can help decide where all these new properties should be built.
Locations for the majority of the 6,600 homes have already been decided, and they will be situated mainly in Lydney, Newent and Beachley.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the search for locations for the additional 5,400 properties means old ideas have been revived and these include creating a garden town between the A40 and A48 near Churcham and a new settlement off junction 2 of the M50 near Redmarley.
During a council meeting, which also saw council members unanimously vote to review its 2021 to 2041 local plan and explore alternative options for housing, Adrian said: ‘We are trialling some AI support on this which will see if it provides the information we need.’
He remarked the AI company will analyse the public responses that were generated from the council’s local plan consultation which was launched last summer and then the council would compare the results.
However, reassuring members, Adrian also said that the use of AI would be reviewed should any MPs express doubts.
Image via Shutterstock.
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