The Cotswold District Council faces mounting opposition over plans to build approximately 14,665 new homes across the region over the next 18 years. A recent poll commissioned by the Ampney Crucis Residents Action Group, in partnership with Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now, reveals significant community concern about the scale and placement of this development.
Driven by Government mandates increasing housing targets by about 35 percent, the council must accommodate these new homes. However, 79 percent of the Cotswold District lies within the Cotswolds National Landscape, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). To protect this, the majority of new housing is concentrated in just 21 percent of the district’s land outside the protected area.
This approach, critics argue, risks creating unsustainable high-density developments predominantly clustered near Cirencester, Fairford, and Moreton-in-Marsh—small rural communities that fear being overwhelmed.
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Polling data from 116 respondents across the district underscores the unease: over 50 percent oppose the new Local Plan, while 64 percent consider the scale of development excessive for the region. Additionally, almost two-thirds believe focusing growth around key towns harms the region’s character.
The village of Ampney Crucis exemplifies local concerns. Currently home to around 245 residences, the village faces a planned expansion of 660 homes—a 270 percent increase—that would bring its total to 905. The Ampney Crucis Residents Action Group warns this would irreversibly damage a historically significant village, home to 45 listed buildings and a conservation area.
“Such a large urban extension threatens our heritage landscape, which cannot be restored once lost,” the group exclaimed. “We lack the necessary infrastructure—our quiet country lanes, primary school, and public transport network are all insufficient to support such growth.”
Residents are urging the council and planners to reconsider, emphasizing that planning decisions of this magnitude will profoundly affect not only Ampney Crucis but also surrounding villages and Cirencester itself. They encourage community members to submit their opinions during the ongoing consultation period, which runs until January 2, 2026.
The online survey conducted between November 21 and December 3, 2025, involved 114 adults, with responses balanced by gender and age to ensure representative insights.
As debate continues, the challenge remains: how to balance much-needed housing with preserving the unique character and sustainability of one of England’s most treasured landscapes.