Hundreds of villagers in Gloucestershire voiced their outrage as controversial plans to build over 12,000 homes across two new towns moved closer to approval. Despite heavy rain, around 100 concerned residents gathered outside the Forest of Dean District Council offices in Coleford to protest the development proposals ahead of a key council meeting.
The draft local plan, narrowly approved for public consultation, outlines ambitious housing targets for the next 20 years — including a 3,500-home new town near the Ledbury junction of the M50 and a 2,000-home settlement west of Gloucester between the A40 and A48. Additional developments include 1,800 new homes in Lydney and 1,000 in Newent.
Residents like Tom Burr and Kaylie Dean from Redmarley emphasized that while they support new housing, the scale of these developments threatens to overwhelm already stretched infrastructure. Burr highlighted concerns about overloaded roads such as the A417, pressure on Gloucester hospital, and risks posed by building on floodplains. Dean described the impact as “catastrophic,” referencing recent flooding that has affected access roads.
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Opponents from Churcham and other nearby villages also rallied in Coleford, with many unable to enter the council chamber due to space limits. Several councillors voiced sympathy with the protests, raising questions about whether strong public opposition might influence the inclusion of some sites, like the 600-home village planned for Beachley.
Concerns regarding inadequate provisions for employment, transport, health, and education led some councillors to criticize the plan as poorly thought out. Reform UK’s Stuart Graham condemned it as favoring developers at the community’s expense, while others warned that failing to adopt a local plan could result in uncontrolled development.
Council leader Adrian Birch acknowledged the tension but stressed the importance of moving forward with a formal consultation. He assured that the process would provide residents a lawful and meaningful chance to influence future decisions, calling the plan a choice between local leadership and uncertainty.
The vote on proceeding to consultation ended in an 18-18 tie, with Greens and Labour in favor and other parties opposed. Chair Di Martin cast the deciding vote to approve the consultation step, sparking cries of “shame on you” from protesters.
The council’s strategy balances the creation of new towns with investment in existing urban centers and modest village growth. Despite fierce opposition, the consultation is set to begin this month, offering the wider community an opportunity to shape the district’s development trajectory.