Villagers in Down Ampney, a small community in the Cotswolds, have expressed strong concerns that their voices are not being heard amid proposals to build more than 1,600 new homes. This significant development would expand the village’s housing stock by more than six times its current size.
Down Ampney, located seven miles south of Cirencester, is a well-established farming village featuring around 300 homes and a population of 572 according to the 2021 census. However, under plans outlined by Cotswold District Council as part of its housing strategy, 1,658 new homes could be constructed in the area. This would represent an increase of over 500 per cent.
The council is under pressure from government mandates to deliver higher housing numbers, with local targets rising substantially in recent years. Despite this, many residents question whether Down Ampney is a suitable location for such rapid, large-scale expansion.
READ MORE: Plans for 3,000 New Homes near Gloucester Raise Overdevelopment Concerns
The Down Ampney Action Group, representing village residents, supports organic growth and has historically backed developments that gradually bring new people into the community and support local amenities, such as the village school. However, they argue that the current proposal is unprecedented and would drastically alter the character of their village.
Jane Dickson, chair of Planning for the action group, stated: “Meeting housing targets is not the same as creating a sustainable community. We support organic growth, but we are challenging the scale and location of this plan.”
She went on to highlight concerns including existing infrastructure limitations, transportation access, flood risks, agricultural impacts, and environmental constraints. “The plan does not convincingly demonstrate that this number of homes in Down Ampney is appropriate, nor that necessary services and infrastructure will be in place at the right time,” Ms Dickson added.
Cotswold District Council has explained that its housing requirement has increased from fewer than 500 homes per year to 1,054 per year, necessitating the allocation of over 18,000 homes across the district by 2043. Down Ampney’s share has grown from 369 homes at an earlier consultation stage to 1,658 in the current plan, marking the greatest increase in the district.
Adam Crawford, a member of Down Ampney Parish Council, expressed frustration at the consultation process: “We are not being heard. While the council states that a further consultation was not legally required, residents have not been given a genuine chance to understand or challenge the significant changes.”
He also noted the technical complexity of the planning process, which can be difficult for laypersons to navigate without professional expertise, making meaningful engagement challenging.
Another unusual factor in this development is its proximity to an active military flight path. The northern part of the proposed housing would lie beneath the operational flight path of RAF Fairford, near the runway’s end. While the action group does not oppose RAF Fairford or military aviation, it questions whether placing a large new residential population in this location has been properly assessed with regard to aircraft noise, public health, and safety.
Concerns raised during the scrutiny process about noise and environmental impact were met with the response that the Ministry of Defence had been consulted and raised no objections.
The Down Ampney Action Group is now calling on the council and the independent planning authorities to rethink whether such a substantial development is appropriate for the village. Their position is not an outright objection to housing but a plea to balance targets with the capacity of locations to accommodate growth without irreparable harm to communities, infrastructure, agriculture, and the environment.
Mr Crawford emphasised: “This is about ensuring growth is proportionate, sustainable, and appropriate. Simply fitting housing numbers to any location is not the answer. We need to consider where homes can be supported by infrastructure and local employment, and where the unique qualities of the Cotswolds can be preserved.”
The group is currently fundraising to secure independent professional planning and legal advice to scrutinise and challenge the proposals effectively.
The consultation on the latest plan, including the proposed 1,658 homes in Down Ampney, remains open until 11:59pm on 3 November.