A contentious proposal to build almost 19,000 new homes in the Cotswolds is moving closer to realisation, despite strong opposition from local councillors and residents who fear it will irrevocably change the character of the region.
Cotswold District Council is finalising its new local plan, which will designate land for development from 2026 through to 2043. The Government has mandated the council to identify suitable sites for housing, resulting in a plan that proposes constructing 18,900 homes during this period.
Last week, councillors voted to advance the draft plan to the public consultation phase. The blueprint intends to meet the housing target by allocating 90 per cent of the new homes to ten strategic sites scattered throughout the district. These include four locations in and around Cirencester, as well as sites near Down Ampney, Driffield, Kemble, Fairford, Mickleton and Moreton-in-Marsh.
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The Conservative group leader, Tom Stowe (Campden and Vale), voiced strong opposition during the council meeting on 12 August, criticising the plan for attempting to “shoehorn 18,000 homes into a handful of locations.”
He described the Liberal Democrats' position as contradictory, noting their earlier challenge to what they see as ‘‘ridiculous unsustainable housing targets’’ before endorsing a plan resembling Labour’s recommendations. Mr Stowe stated, “These proposals will destroy communities, cause irreversible harm to residents’ wellbeing and ruin the character of vast swathes of our district – a district which it is our duty to protect.”
Concerns were also raised about infrastructure, with Mr Stowe highlighting the plan’s insufficient evidence to prove whether supporting services can accommodate the proposed development. He cited a £420 million estimate for required infrastructure but said details remain vague, using the example of a proposed ‘Local Hub’ for Mickleton offering “some” GP services alongside schools and retail that lack clear cost or delivery plans.
He confirmed he would oppose the plan on behalf of residents in Campden Vale and other affected communities, emphasising, “We can’t just roll over and rubber stamp these numbers imposed by this rotten government.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Hodgkinson (Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach), who abstained from the vote, echoed worries about the government’s housing requirement, stating it fails to consider the district’s “unique” environmental constraints. He commended the council’s Lib Dem leader, Mike Evemy (Siddington and Cerney Rural), for challenging the figures and confirmed he had written to national leaders including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, housing secretary Angela Rayner and housing minister Matthew Pennycook expressing his concerns.
Lisa Spivey, Liberal Democrat councillor for The Ampneys and Hampton and leader of Gloucestershire County Council, acknowledged the necessity of a local plan but opposed this draft. While noting her personal concern for allocations near Down Ampney and Driffield, she stressed this plan is unsuitable for Fairford, Moreton, and Mickleton as well. She criticised the government’s housing target as arbitrary and ineffective at delivering affordable housing, explaining, “Councils building council houses deliver affordable homes. The market delivers profits to its shareholders.”
Councillor Patrick Coleman (LD, Stratton) cautioned that without a local plan, unregulated development has historically affected towns like Tetbury, Fairford and Moreton-in-Marsh, implying that a plan, even if imperfect, provides better protection.
Conservative Gina Blomefield (Campden-Vale) labelled the housing targets “preposterous” and questioned whether the promised infrastructure would materialise, adding that local people are profoundly distressed by the proposals, particularly in Mickleton.
In response, Cllr Evemy acknowledged the difficulty councillors face, admitting the council is “between a rock and a hard place.” He noted that while a plan with fewer homes would be preferable, such a plan would not be regarded as sound by an inspector, risking rejection and leaving the district without a plan and exposed to speculative developments for another five years.
“It would be, in my view, a total abdication of leadership to vote down this plan now,” he declared.
The council voted 17 in favour, 11 against, with two abstentions to proceed with public consultation. The Liberal Democrat group mostly supported the plan, except Lisa Spivey and Craig Thurling, who voted against. Paul Hodgkinson and Jon Wareing abstained, while all Conservative councillors opposed the proposal.
The upcoming six-week consultation, running from 24 August to 5 October 2026, will provide exhibitions and community meetings, offering residents opportunities to ask questions and submit formal feedback before the plan is submitted for independent examination.