Residents of Bibury, a charming village in the Cotswolds home to the famous Arlington Row—hailed as England’s prettiest street—are expressing deep concerns that years of ongoing construction are seriously damaging their community. Complaints have surged over noise, erosion of verges, and daily blockages that restrict access to homes.
Since 2023, the Grade II-listed Rosemary Cottage on Awkward Hill has been at the center of these fears. Current plans include replacing the Cotswold stone slate roof tiles, adding insulation, and constructing an oak conservatory and stone summerhouse. Previous proposals for an underground garage have also sparked controversy.
Local neighbour Kent Jackson described how the prolonged works have caused physical damage, including rendering his external pedestrian steps unusable. He lamented the constant obstruction by construction vehicles, erosion of verges, and the repetitive closure of Awkward Hill for more than a year. “The scale and intensity of works have harmed Bibury’s village character, the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the significance of the listed building itself,” he said. “The property now appears overdeveloped and out of keeping with its heritage and landscape.”
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Victoria Summerley echoed these worries, citing constant heavy lorries navigating the narrow lanes, eroding road surfaces and damaging trees. Despite numerous objections filed by villagers, she fears their voices have been ignored by the Cotswold District Council. “We’re not just making a fuss—we are horrified by the damage and its impact on our lives,” she said.
Jennifer Hedgeland shared accounts of frequent access blockages caused by large delivery vehicles, a noisy dumper truck, and severe erosion of the verges and green spaces. A highways officer even witnessed a large vehicle reversing up the main road while blocking traffic in both directions—a daily occurrence, according to Hedgeland.
The Bibury Parish Council, recognising the extensive disruption, has formally objected to the District Council’s planning applications. Chairman Craig Chapman described the situation as “incredible disruption” to a historic, listed site. “While individual applications might seem reasonable, combined they drastically alter the building and wreck the surrounding lanes with heavy vehicles,” he stated.
Architects for the applicant maintain that the proposed works—such as roof repairs, a modest oak conservatory, and a traditional summerhouse—will cause less than significant harm to the listed building and its setting. They explained that the closure of Awkward Hill in 2023 was ordered by Gloucestershire Highways for safety repairs to a retaining wall, following Parish Council concerns, not initiated by the applicant. They also note that underground garage plans have full approval and reminders that recent waterworks-related road closures are unrelated to Rosemary Cottage.
The applicant, Metin Dener, declined to comment publicly, but his architects stressed the significance of repairing and maintaining the historic property, a process that inevitably involves challenges due to limited site access and protective conservation measures. However, the prolonged construction and heavy traffic continue to strain the community, leaving residents anxious that Bibury’s famed picturesque charm may be irrevocably altered.