Hundreds of residents from the Forest of Dean district have signed an open letter urging councillors to exclude plans for a controversial new town of 3,500 homes along the A417 from the council’s revised housing strategy.
The proposed development was previously suggested for Glynchbrook, near junction 2 of the M50. However, Forest of Dean District Council withdrew its draft local plan on June 30, deciding to develop a new blueprint that will outline the construction of over 13,000 homes in the district over the next two decades.
Local residents from the Redmarley area have expressed strong opposition, describing the Glynchbrook site as “unsustainable.” A recent gathering in Redmarley Village Hall, attended by Forest MP Matt Bishop, reaffirmed community resistance to the proposed development.
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Vicky Goodall, a nurse aged 52 from Redmarley, highlighted the community’s position: “Our open letter offers the council a workable solution that meets housing targets while ensuring development is sustainable.”
United Against Glynchbrook (UAG), a residents' group, organised the meeting on August 4 near the site earmarked for the new town. The proposed location lies adjacent to the Malvern Hills National Landscape and the historic villages of Redmarley and Lowbands.
MP Matt Bishop commented after the event on social media, emphasising his opposition to the large settlement and urging residents to participate actively in shaping the local plan so it reflects genuine local needs.
Mike Holtom, a 66-year-old retired supply chain planning manager, stated: “Everyone, including the council, acknowledges that Glynchbrook is not the right place for new homes. Nonetheless, we understand the necessity to meet housing targets. Our proposals suggest expanding existing towns like Lydney and Tutshill, which can be developed into even better places to live, obviating the need for new towns.”
At the meeting, Vicky Goodall reiterated: “We support building new homes, but they must be located close to essential facilities such as stations, schools, and shops. Our plan outlines how to deliver this effectively, and we hope councillors will consider it seriously.”
While residents welcome the withdrawal of the initial local plan, UAG remains concerned that the council may reintroduce the Glynchbrook proposal in the revised plan.
Phil Waring, a 66-year-old resident of Lowbands, remarked: “The new local plan is an opportunity to reassess sustainable ways to provide new homes in the Forest of Dean. Glynchbrook must be excluded because it is not viable. We hope the council will consider Lydney and Tutshill, which offer sustainable options to meet housing targets.”
The open letter issued by residents argues that Glynchbrook would not comply with the government’s updated National Planning Policy Framework criteria. They point out that the site lacks sustainable transport options, being heavily dependent on cars due to its distance from the nearest town (10km away) and railway station (11km away). The development would increase local road traffic by approximately 50% during morning peak hours.
An independent study describes the site as “essentially unsuitable for a new settlement” and warns it could harm the historic Chartist village of Lowbands. Residents further note that critical assessments such as an Infrastructure Delivery Plan, viability assessment, or Strategic Flood Risk Assessment have not been prepared for Glynchbrook.
Using the government’s new methodology for local plan decisions, UAG highlights alternative sites with existing infrastructure, notably Lydney - the district’s largest town. Studies by Create Streets suggest that a “gentle density” of well-designed streets there could accommodate 3,200 to 4,600 additional homes centred around its current station, schools, and high street.
An independent landscape assessment by LVIA Ltd identified Lydney as “most capable of accommodating growth.” Furthermore, a proposed modest expansion of Tutshill, adding 500 to 700 homes within 2km of Chepstow station, along with smaller dispersed developments amounting to 2,800 homes, was also recommended. The landscape study recognised “strong potential for landscape-led expansion” in these areas.
UAG has pledged to work constructively with the council as the new local plan is developed.
The council’s decision to withdraw the initial draft plan followed more than 3,600 responses to a public consultation held between January and March this year. Feedback pointed to widespread concerns about the options to meet government housing targets and the suitability of proposed sites within the Forest of Dean.
Council leader Adrian Birch (Green Party, Tidenham) said this decision reflects the council’s priority to listen to residents. “After engaging with many residents and reviewing consultation feedback, it is clear that the current options to meet housing targets require further work to suit our area,” he commented.