Green light for five new homes in village despite 130 objections

THE go-ahead for controversial plans to build new homes in a Gloucestershire village has been given by planning chiefs, despite more than 130 objections.

Bondsgate Estates Ltd has been granted permission to demolish 25 Paynes Pitch in Churchdown and build five new four-bedroom houses on the site with vehicle access to the new estate via Dunstan Glen.

Churchdown Parish Council had added its voice to the objections alongside more than 130 people who said no to the plans.

Parish councillors said the design of the houses did not fit in with the current street scene. Environmental concerns were also raised as well as the view that the proposals were not in line with the neighbourhood plan.

But Tewkesbury Borough Council planning officers recommended approving the scheme as they believed the plan’s benefits outweigh the harms. They said the development would contribute towards the supply of housing.

Dave Cant, who spoke on behalf of local objectors, called on the planning committee to reject the scheme on September 21.

He raised road safety concerns and said an independent survey found that 18,078 people would pass the entrance of the site during its construction.

“There is no footpath and pedestrians therefore cannot be segregated and protected from the site’s traffic, raising a high risk of personal injury.”

He added the homes would not be in keeping with the area and constituted overdevelopment of the site.

“The five properties have been shoehorned onto the plot,” he said.

But James Griffin, speaking for the developer, said the homes would help meet the borough’s housing in a sustainable location.

“This development will not give rise to an unacceptable impact.

“These are well designed modern homes, set within an existing residential area and would enable a site in desperate need for regeneration to be improved.”

Councillor Paul Ockleton (Lib Dem, Innsworth) proposed rejecting the scheme – however, this was voted down by ten votes to seven.

The proposals were subsequently approved by ten votes to seven.