Group vows to save fields from houses
Bid to build 250 homes sparks objections
ACAMPAIGN is under way to try to stop 250 houses being built on “beautiful” countryside by Sainsbury’s in Cheltenham.
Robert Hitchins Limited’s plans for green fields at Oakley Farm, off Harp Hill and close to Priors Road, have sparked many objections from residents.
The proposal, which has been submitted to the borough council, is to build the homes on land between Harp Hill in the south, Pillowell Close in the north and houses and the underground Hewlett’s Reservoir in the east. The site is close to the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Priors Road.
The agricultural site covers 14.9 hectares, with Robert Hitchins wanting to demolish the farm buildings to make way for the houses and form a new vehicular access from Harp Hill.
Those determined to stop the green fields being concreted over have set up a website - which can be found at oakleyfarmpastures.wixsite.com/oakley
It says it is dedicated to “protecting this valuable Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.
The site has been created after last year a Friends of Oakley Farm Pasture Slopes - AONB group was formed.
A statement on the website says: “This is a speculative attempt by Robert Hitchins Limited to build on this area of protected Cheltenham green space. AONBS are afforded the highest protection in regard to inappropriate development, however, land developers are often very wealthy and can explore all avenues to achieve planning approval.”
It adds: “Oakley Farm Pasture Slopes is a 36.8 acre area of farmland on the east side of Cheltenham. It forms part of the lower escarpment slopes of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to Aggs Hill, Mill Lane, Greenway Lane and the grade II listed heritage asset Hewlett’s Reservoir and Pavilion.”
One person said, in an objection lodged online with the borough council: “Beautiful areas like these can never be replaced or regained, we need to help keep/save them.
“The deer, birds owls and such like are amazing to see and hear.”
Several other objectors said they feared the new estate would put pressure on roads and services in the area.
In a report in its planning application, the developer insisted the new houses would meet a need.
It said: “The landscape and visual effects of the development proposals will result in the loss of sloping pasture which makes a contribution to local landscape character and visual amenity.
“The harm will be limited by the extent to which the area is already influenced by existing development, mitigation through retained vegetation and natural topography and the separation of the study site from the wider escarpment landscape and wider Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”
The council hopes to determine the planning application by November 5 this year.