A planning application to build approximately 750 new homes on green belt land north of Cheltenham has triggered significant opposition from local residents and officials.
Submitted last month to Cheltenham Borough Council by planning consultancy tor&co, the proposal targets 40 hectares of designated green belt just outside Swindon Village. The site currently comprises two large agricultural fields and several smaller ones in active farming use.
The development plan includes a mix of housing tenures, with affordable homes among them, and infrastructure enhancements like four new road access points, a children’s play area, informal recreational spaces, allotments, and a community orchard.
Despite these features, the application has been met with widespread resistance. Residents argue that the project threatens to cause severe environmental damage and disrupt local communities. Concerns about increased traffic strain, particularly around narrow roads such as Hyde Lane and Church Lane, have been frequently cited. Suggestions for traffic calming measures and improved road safety infrastructure have been proposed to cope with the anticipated influx of vehicles.
Swindon Village councillor Richard Lawler has formally requested a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), emphasizing the potential for significant environmental consequences. In contrast, tor&co’s submission contends that the site does not fall within protected designations like Sites of Special Scientific Interest or national parks, claiming the project should not require an EIA. Nonetheless, the application acknowledges certain environmental considerations, such as the loss of grassland, the presence of bat roosts and reptiles in hedgerows, and proximity to the Swindon Village conservation area just 80 meters away.
Residents have voiced their frustrations on the council’s planning portal, highlighting the risk of “significant environmental degradation” and questioning the justification for building on protected green belt land. Many suggest that alternative brownfield sites would be more suitable for development, preserving the character and ecology of the countryside.
Additionally, there is concern that the housing scheme would obstruct plans for the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Heritage Railway to extend towards Cheltenham Spa Train Station, as it would require demolishing parts of the Honeybourne Line Greenway.
One local resident summed up the community’s sentiment: “There is absolutely no reason for this application. The land in question is part of Cheltenham’s Green Belt with no public consultation on changing its status. This proposal is irrelevant and overlooks the importance of preserving our environment.”
The planning application remains open for public comment. Those wishing to express their views can do so via Cheltenham Borough Council’s Public Access portal, referencing application number 26/00833/SCREEN.