Local authorities in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury face mounting pressure to delay approval of the colossal Elms Park housing development, slated to deliver 4,115 new homes near junction 10 of the M5 motorway. Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson has raised serious concerns about the absence of secured funding for a new police station, which is estimated to cost around £1.5 million.
In a strongly worded letter to planning committees of both boroughs, Nelson accuses the councils of failing to engage meaningfully with Gloucestershire Constabulary and ignoring its requests for adequate policing resources tied to the development. He emphasizes that without financial contributions from the developers, the police will be forced to reallocate resources from existing areas, compromising overall public safety.
Nelson points out a legal obligation exists for councils not only to consult with the police but also to address crime prevention requirements under national planning policies. Yet, he claims that officers’ reports wrongly dismiss the constabulary’s input, causing him to consider legal action after officers advised against seeking mitigation measures related to policing infrastructure.
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The police’s legal team is preparing a formal letter to councils’ monitoring officers, citing the risk that approving the development without police funding would breach planning law and community safety protocols. Nelson urges planners either to secure the necessary mitigation funding through section 106 undertakings or defer the application until meaningful engagement with the constabulary occurs.
In response, Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council insist that police views have been carefully reviewed and that the request for funding does not meet the statutory tests for planning conditions. They emphasize their sensitive and timely consultation process and highlight the development’s benefits, including much-needed affordable housing, community facilities, creation of up to 4,000 jobs, and a new 10-hectare business park.
The Elms Park Consortium, led by Bloor Homes and Permission, stands by the application, anticipating significant economic growth valued at £300 million annually. However, local opposition remains strong, with seven villages objecting and 111 residents formally opposing the scheme amid fears of negative impacts on the area.
The fate of the application now rests with Cheltenham and Tewkesbury planning committees, which are scheduled to make a decision on May 29.