AI could help decide where to build 5,400 homes

In the Forest of Dean, local government officials are facing a significant challenge as they work to meet the housing demands set by the government. They are under pressure to construct a total of 5,400 new homes by the year 2041. This requirement has increased from the previous target of 330 homes per year to a new goal of 597 homes annually. The council leader, Adrian Birch, has decided to explore the use of artificial intelligence, commonly known as AI, to assist in determining the best locations for these new homes. During a recent council meeting, Birch expressed his desire to expedite the decision-making process, stating, 'If we can trust the AI to get it right then we will look at whether that is a feasible option. ' The district council had already planned to build 6,600 homes as part of their long-term strategy from 2021 to 2041. However, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government intervened last year, imposing new mandatory targets that required the council to increase their housing plans significantly. This means that the total number of homes they need to build has now risen to 12,000 by 2041. Many of the locations for the initial 6,600 homes have already been identified, primarily in areas such as Lydney, Beachley, and Newent. With the additional requirement for 5,400 homes, the council is revisiting some previous ideas for housing developments. These include the possibility of creating a garden town situated between the A40 and A48 near Churcham, as well as a new settlement near junction 2 of the M50 close to Redmarley. Birch mentioned that they are currently testing AI support to see if it can provide the necessary information for their planning needs. The AI company has been tasked with analyzing public feedback from the council's local plan consultation that took place last summer. Birch noted, 'We will then be comparing our results with their results. ' He emphasized that the use of AI would be carefully reviewed if there were any concerns about its reliability. The council has unanimously voted to reassess its local plan for 2021 to 2041 and to explore alternative strategies for housing development.