Fears for Cotswold village after 280 homes get go-ahead
Major Gloucestershire developer Robert Hitchins has won permission for 280 new homes in the Cotswolds, sparking fears the village will be absorbed into nearby Cirencester.
*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.
There are fears a Cotswold village will be absorbed by a nearby town as plans for 280 homes have been given the go-ahead.
Robert Hitchins Ltd has been granted outline permission to develop more than 33 acres of agricultural fields on the edge of Cirencester.
The proposals for land off Kingshill Lane, Preston, were debated by Cotswold District Council’s planning committee today (June 11).
Some 38 people had objected to the proposals along with Preston Parish Council, Cirencester Town Council and Siddington Parish Council.
Julie Tomblin, chairman of Preston Parish Council, spoke at the meeting.
She told councillors the small village has its own distinct identity and is typically rural with a summer fete, village hall and thriving community groups.
“It is separated from Cirencester to the west by agricultural fields,” she said. “It is on these fields that development would be situated.
“This site is a prominent green wedge integral to the rural setting of both Cirencester and Preston.
“The scale of the development and its upward slope mean it would be highly visible from the A419 gateway route into Cirencester, blurring the boundary between urban and rural.
“There is a real danger that the village would be absorbed by urban sprawl and its rural identity would be lost.”
She asked that if the plans are approved a green buffer be created between the development and Kingshill Lane on the edge of Preston village.
“We support the recommendation by Active Travel England that the application be refused in the absence of a contribution towards improved walking and cycling routes.
“The proposed development would generate around 10,000 more journeys a week, the majority by car along Kingshill Lane, which has in the main a 60 mile per hour speed limit.
“It is too narrow for a safe pavement or cycleway without encroaching on existing hedges and verges.
“Instead, a new footpath should run behind the football club, joining the existing path to the schools at the top of Kings Hill Lane.
“Pedestrians and cyclists heading from Preston towards Tesco, Aldi, and beyond would have to negotiate heavier, fast moving traffic across the dual carriageway.
“We respectfully request that crossing solutions are addressed where Kingshill Lane meets the A419 at Preston Tollbar, along with measures to prevent any rat running through Preston village from the development.”
Councillor Joe Harris (LD, St Michael’s) also spoke at the meeting and said the development touches on the most pressing issues that the Cotswolds face which is access to housing.
“We all value the Cotswold, its landscape, its heritage, its rural identity, but we’ve also got to be honest with ourselves,” she said.
“Right now 794 people in Cirencester are on the housing waiting list. Next door in Siddington, 262 and 15 more in Preston, a small number, yes, but for a village the size of Preston, it feels the impact all the more. This accounts for over half the entire district’s figure.
“These are not just figures, these are local people, teachers, carers, young families, young people, grandparents, people who want to contribute to community life, yet can’t find a secure, affordable place to live.
“They’re the people that I grew up with and who fled the area in search of more affordable housing. This application offers part of that solution. 280 new homes with a substantial 40 per cent allocated as affordable housing.
“That’s 112 affordable homes. That includes options for social rent, shared ownership, and first homes delivered right where need is greatest.
Councillor Mike Evemy (LD, Siddington and Cerney Rural), who represents Preston, said the new housing target set by Government means they have to provide 1,036 homes a year.
“What that means is that we are unable to use our local plan and our housing supply to refuse this application in the same way that that was done two years ago under delegated powers,” he said.
During the debate, Councillor David Fowles (C, Coln Valley) and Cllr Patrick Coleman (LD, Stratton) proposed the proposals be deferred to allow the committee to actually visit and see the site before deciding the plans.
However, this was defeated by five votes to four. A subsequent proposal to gran delegated permission was granted by six votes to three.
By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com