Plans to build 140 new homes in the Gloucestershire market town of Coleford are set to be debated once more next week. Freeman Homes has applied for permission to construct a mix of two to five-bedroom houses on over 18 acres at Poolway Farm, located off Gloucester Road.
The proposed development aims to retain the historic farmhouse while demolishing the redundant farm buildings surrounding it to make way for modern housing. The scheme offers a variety of home types intended to meet diverse community needs.
In October, the Forest of Dean District Council’s development management committee reviewed the plans and granted delegated authority to officers to approve the project, contingent upon a legal agreement. This agreement requires a contribution of £37,440 towards local library services, a new roundabout, and ongoing maintenance of public open spaces on the site. Additionally, the agreement included a viability review to be conducted after 80 percent of the homes are occupied, along with environmental enhancements such as replacing a bat roost.
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The applicant has since proposed new clauses to the agreement. These clauses eliminate the need for a viability review and any affordable housing contribution if the development is completed within four years of construction starting. Alternatively, they agree to provide at least 56 affordable homes before 112 units (80 percent) are occupied.
A report scheduled for the upcoming committee meeting on January 20 notes that a three-year exemption period was initially proposed but has been extended in the current plan. Council officers recommend granting permission as the development’s benefits—including addressing the district’s pressing need for new homes—outweigh any negative impacts.
The Forest of Dean District Council’s development management committee will consider the latest proposals and make their decision at the meeting next week.