Renewed efforts are underway to protect Churchdown Hill, a treasured Gloucestershire beauty spot, from development as local councils push forward with plans to build 43,000 homes over the next two decades.
Councils in Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury are collaboratively drafting a new housing blueprint. However, residents have voiced deep concerns over the potential construction of more than 2,600 homes near Churchdown Hill, based on recent housing and economic land availability assessments.
Stewart Dove, the Churchdown representative for Tewkesbury Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council, and Paul Hodgkinson, the North Cotswolds parliamentary candidate, have openly opposed any housing development on Churchdown Hill, also known as Chosen Hill.
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In a joint statement, the two Liberal Democrats emphasized, “Churchdown Hill is a truly unique and cherished landscape, celebrated for its natural beauty, ecological significance, and historic character. It offers vital green space for both residents and visitors—a sanctuary for recreation, wellbeing, and connection with nature.”
They highlighted the hill’s prominence as a local environmental landmark and essential wildlife habitat, stressing that once lost, this irreplaceable landscape cannot be recovered.
Recognizing the urgent need for new housing, especially for young people and families striving to find homes within the community, they affirmed their commitment to sustainable development in appropriate locations. “However,” they insisted, “this must not come at the cost of invaluable natural assets like Churchdown Hill.”
As Tewkesbury Borough Council prepares to make critical decisions on the sites to include in the strategic local plan (SLP), Dove and Hodgkinson urged that Churchdown Hill be fully protected from any form of development. They pointed out that alternative sites exist that can meet housing demands without sacrificing this cherished green space.
“We stand firmly with residents in calling for the preservation of Churchdown Hill for the benefit of both current and future generations,” their statement concluded.
Alistair Cunningham, Chief Executive of Tewkesbury Borough Council, affirmed that the SLP will guide housing and employment growth over the next 20 years, emphasizing the importance of planning for the right infrastructure—such as schools, community facilities, and roads—while safeguarding special landscapes and environmentally sensitive areas.
“All evidence and feedback gathered during recent engagement—whether supportive or expressing concern—will be carefully considered as the plan evolves,” Cunningham said. “We value listening to our communities to ensure balanced and sustainable growth.”