Plans for a significant expansion of the Brockeridge Farm Business Centre near the M5 and A38 in Gloucestershire have been turned down by the Tewkesbury Borough Council. Tiarks Property Developments Limited sought permission to add eight two-storey warehouses totaling approximately 358,750 square feet, with maximum roof heights exceeding 49 feet, intended for storage and distribution purposes.
The proposed development would have accessed the site via an existing road connected to Brockeridge Road, with additional plans to widen the M50 slip road/A38/Brockeridge Road junction and extend footways along Brockeridge Road. The scheme included 341 parking spaces to accommodate anticipated traffic.
At the council meeting on June 17, officers reviewed the proposal amidst more than 140 objections from local residents. Keith Davies, Chairman of Twyning Parish Council, expressed strong opposition highlighting critical issues with local infrastructure, notably the sewage system. He stated that heavy rains often cause raw sewage to overflow from local manholes, flooding village roads and discharging into the River Avon. Introducing additional employees to the site would exacerbate these problems. Furthermore, Davies warned of the unsustainable increase in vehicle journeys contradicting local planning policies.
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In support of the plans, developer representative Connor Flanagan emphasized the site’s suitability for employment development, labeling it the best location in the borough for such use. He downplayed highway objections related to a footway and cycleway connection, stating it was unfeasible and unsupported by safety audits. Flanagan highlighted the economic benefits: creation of 500 new jobs, £31 million annual gross added value, £17 million in local earnings, and £700,000 in business rates revenue. He also pointed to construction phase advantages and the need to address employment land shortages. He urged councillors to accept officers’ favorable recommendation.
Despite these arguments, the planning committee expressed serious reservations. Councillor Philip Workman, representing Tewkesbury North and Twyning, stressed that while the village supports small-scale rural businesses, this large-scale project threatens Twyning’s rural character. He warned that approval would begin eroding the village’s distinctive nature.
Councillor Mel Gore agreed, citing insufficient consideration of highway objections and asserting the proposal resembled urban design incompatible with the local landscape. She noted the application failed to comply with local planning policies. Councillor Matt Dimond-Brown raised concerns over significant landscape harm unmitigated by proposed measures, questioning whether the scale of damage had been properly assessed.
Councillor Mary Jordan voiced internal conflict, balancing drainage and traffic concerns against potential economic gains. She also criticized the lack of clarity regarding the proposed floor space and design, arguing the expansion would overwhelm the existing business park’s more modest, residential appearance.
Ultimately, the council voted to decline the application, citing non-compliance with planning policies alongside unresolved issues related to sewage infrastructure and highways. This decision reflects the community’s priority to preserve Twyning’s rural environment amid growing development pressures.