A cherished wildlife and natural beauty area on the outskirts of Cheltenham is under threat from proposed housing development, sparking strong local opposition. Waddeton Park Ltd has submitted plans to build four self-build homes and open space across more than four acres of grassland on the south side of Glenfall Way, Charlton Kings—land within the protected Cotswold National Landscape.
Cheltenham Borough Council is scheduled to review the proposals at their planning committee on Thursday, November 20, with planning officers currently recommending approval. However, nearly 100 residents have voiced objections, describing the impact as potentially “devastating” to the environment and community.
The countryside charity CPRE Gloucestershire has also formally opposed the development, urging the council to reject the scheme due to its threat to local wildlife and landscape value. Kate Murray, coordinator of Save Glenfall Way AONB, expressed deep concern over the repeated attempts to develop this “beautiful field,” which hosts “countless” species and benefits the community as a vital natural asset.
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“This land is part of the Cotswold National Landscape, offering the highest level of protection. Losing it would be catastrophic—not only for wildlife but for the local community who treasure this natural space,” Murray said. “Once developed, this precious habitat will be lost forever. The community’s commitment to preserving this natural treasure is overwhelming.”
Additional opposition comes from the Cheltenham Civic Society, which criticized the proposal as catering to “profit for a single developer” rather than meeting genuine housing needs, emphasizing the importance of conserving open countryside and natural heritage.
Battledown councillor Chris Day, representing the area, supports the campaign and called for the planning committee to thoroughly scrutinize the application instead of leaving decisions to officers. Day highlighted the UK’s significant nature depletion and stressed the development’s admission of inevitable habitat loss. “The community is united in rejecting this development, and the strict protections afforded to the AONB must be upheld,” he stated, pledging to speak against the application.
Conversely, consultants for the applicants maintain that the scheme has been sensitively designed to suit the site’s edge-of-town location within the Cotswold National Landscape. They claim key scenic views from Glenfall Way and Ryeworth Road will be preserved and even enhanced, with the housing layout strategically placed to minimize visual impact and provide landscaping benefits.
The developers argue the project addresses a serious shortage of self-build plots within the district, offering “extensive public benefits” such as new homes in a sustainable location, improved public rights of way, and habitat enhancements delivering biodiversity net gain well above statutory requirements. They assert these benefits outweigh any adverse effects.
The planning committee is due to consider all arguments before making its decision on November 20, as the fate of this valued green space hangs in the balance.