Gloucester City Council has approved the sale of publicly-owned land in Matson to support a significant housing development project. On July 9, council leaders agreed to sell a ransom strip of land that forms part of Sneedham’s Green Common, enabling Bromford Developments to move forward with plans to build 180 homes near Winnycroft Lane.
The development will cover just under 20 acres, with approximately 136 of the homes designated as affordable housing — making up 76% of the project. This marks a substantial increase from the council’s standard 20% affordable housing policy, showcasing a strong commitment to addressing the city’s housing needs.
To facilitate the development, an exchange of land is being arranged: around 3,776 square feet currently owned by the council will no longer be considered common land, while an additional nearly 22,520 square feet will be added as common land. Importantly, the council will not assume ownership or maintenance responsibilities for the new common land.
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Bromford Developments is purchasing the main Snow Capel site from a third party. The council’s sale of the ransom strip to Bromford will occur simultaneously with that transaction, streamlining the process.
In recognition of the increased affordable housing component, the council has agreed to a 56% discount on the access land sale price. To ensure the land is used as intended, an overage clause has been included in the land transfer agreement: if the extra homes are not developed for affordable housing, Bromford will be required to pay the market value of the land.
Resources cabinet member Declan Wilson highlighted the significance of the project: “Once the land swap and deregistration of the common land are finalized, this development will feature 76 percent affordable housing — a remarkable achievement.”
Housing cabinet member Luke Shervey emphasized the scheme’s importance: “This is a critical step in delivering much-needed affordable housing across Gloucester.”
Council leader Jeremy Hilton praised Bromford’s approach, noting, “The plans include substantial green spaces for residents and resolve access issues by removing landlocks. This land transaction actually increases common land significantly. It showcases how this administration is working effectively with a registered social landlord to deliver more affordable homes than would otherwise be possible.”