Plans to build thousands of new homes near Gloucester are sparking serious concerns about worsening rush hour traffic congestion on the A40.
Forest of Dean district planners have proposed creating two new settlements as part of their strategy to meet a housing target of 12,000 homes. Councillors recently approved a public consultation on their local plan, which will guide where new developments can take place in the area up to 2045.
However, local residents fear the existing infrastructure is inadequate to support such large-scale growth. One proposed settlement at Churcham could include up to 2,000 homes. Additionally, there are worries that over 2,500 homes near Highnam will be part of the upcoming strategic local plan covering Tewkesbury, Gloucester, and Cheltenham.
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Councillor John Francis (Independent, Longhope and Huntley) voiced his concerns at the January 22 meeting, emphasizing the current traffic bottlenecks. The A48 and B4215 roads converge with the A40 at Highnam, which then connects to the A417 at Over, creating heavy traffic flow.
“We all know it is going to be gridlock,” Francis commented. “Even without the extra housing, the A40 is already a choke point. Many residents commute outside of the Forest for work due to limited local employment. More housing means longer drive times and chaos on the roads.”
Forest of Dean District Council leader Adrian Birch (Green, Tidenham) acknowledged the situation as far from ideal. He described the housing plan as the “least worst option” to meet government-imposed targets.
“It’s not what we would want if we had a more realistic housing figure,” Birch explained. “But we have to accept the numbers set for us and shoulder this burden. Building on greenfield sites is not desirable, but we have no choice.”
Birch warned that failing to produce a local plan could result in the decision-making moving to the planning inspectorate, which would have the authority to place developments with little local input. “This plan is the least worst option we have,” he said.
The Forest of Dean local plan consultation is scheduled to begin next month, offering residents a chance to voice their opinions on the future of housing and infrastructure in the region.