‘No’ to plan for hundreds of new homes
But planning inspector will have final say
HUNDREDS of homes on the edge of Cheltenham have been unanimously given the cold shoulder by town planners.
Robert Hitchins Limited wants to develop the 36.8-acre site at Oakley Farm, off Harp Hill and near Priors Road, and place 250 homes there next to the Sainsbury’s store.
The plans include demolishing farm buildings to make way for the new properties and a new vehicle access from Harp Hill.
But hundreds of residents oppose the plans, which they say would harm wildlife habitats and the area’s natural beauty.
Robert Hitchins Ltd has already lodged an appeal for non-determination, meaning a decision on the fate of scheme will be made by a planning inspector and not Cheltenham Borough Council. But councillors spoke out strongly against the scheme at a planning committee meeting on May 20.
Councillor Bernie Fisher told the meeting they had to make sure they gave strong reasons for refusal as there was a risk of “getting into a bidding war” for the number of houses on the site.
He said the plans for Oakley Farm could end up like the proposals for Oakhurst Rise, which have been subject to several planning appeals.
“It’ll be a bit like Oakhurst Rise. It started out at 90-odd and ended at 43 and lost again after many appeals,” he said. “And I don’t want to go down that road if I can avoid it.
“What we should be saying is it constitutes development in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which has got protection and that should be sufficient so that the developer gets the message that any development in the AONB on that site is unacceptable.
“It’s not in the local plan, it’s not in a principal urban area. There isn’t much going for them to be honest.
“We should be strong on what they can’t work around.
“We’ve seen it too often before, start at 250 and we’ll settle for 120. And I don’t see any on there.”
Committee chairman, Cheltenham Borough councillor Garth Barnes, said that he understood Cllr Fisher’s concerns but suggested following the advice of planning officers.
“We have to rely on them to give us the best protection we possibly can,” he said. “The legal officers which we have appointed have a better thought process going forward on the question of refusal.”
The committee unanimously backed a recommendation for refusal.
Their reasons included that the development was contrary to the local plan, it’s outside of the Principal Urban Area of Cheltenham and would have a negative impact on the AONB and local road network.
A planning inspector will consider the appeal in due course and will decide the fate of the proposals.
Robert Hitchins Ltd declined to comment.
It’s not in the local plan, it’s not in a principal urban area. There isn’t much going for them to be honest Councillor Bernie Fisher