Group's fears over possible green belt downgrade

Chosen Hill near Gloucester is being remotely assessed as part of a review of greenbelt land

A group of campaigners say an area of green belt land should be protected as it is a "wildlife gem."

The Churchdown Hill Alliance is attempting to protect Chosen Hill, between Gloucester and Cheltenham, from being built on.

The government announced that 15 areas in the UK would go up for assessment to either remain as green belt or be demoted to 'grey belt', meaning some development is allowed.

Ted Stevens, from the Churchdown Hill Alliance and Hucclecote Parish said: "The people who do know the hill love it with a passion that's unbelievable."

Assessors are currently halfway through reviewing each area

He added: "I think Chosen Hill is an absolute wildlife gem. We think there's a very good case for it being retained as green belt.

"There are some bits of green belt that could be rezoned for development but I'd be anxious if they were looking at the lower ground around the hill."

Mr Stevens said the green belts around the UK are being "assessed remotely" so it doesn't "throw in the reality of the local knowledge".

• What is the grey belt and how many homes could be built on it?

A green belt is a protected stretch of land which cannot be built upon, this can be to protect wildlife, preserve the countryside or for public use.

Grey belts are pieces of land that can exist near or within a green belt that aren't thought to contribute to the purposes of a greenbelt - such as being an area for wildlife - which can be developed upon.

'Awash with wildlife"

"I didn't realise how much wildlife there was on the hill," Mr Stevens explained.

"There's otters, pine martens, all sorts of deer, and badgers. There are 71 different bird species, 18 different butterfly species, three types of snake and newts.

"It's just awash with wildlife," he said, "but it relies on being able to feed into the field around and the nature reserve to thrive.

"If development happened and it got cut off, it'd be strangling the wildlife."

Councillor Richard Stanley, leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: "We understand that development is a highly-emotive subject, and we want to reassure residents that their concerns are being heard.

He said, national policy requires "all available sites to be considered - including within the green belt where appropriate - to make sure that development is sustainable and well-planned".

"To support this, we are carrying out detailed evidence studies, including updated assessments of the green belt and local landscapes, to help guide where future development could take place," he added.

A draft plan will be coming in 2026 where residents with have opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas, added Mr Stanley.