Hundreds of homes could destroy village's identity

Plans for 280 homes have been given the go-ahead

Hundreds of new homes set to be built near a rural village could destroy the area's "distinct identity", residents fear.

Robert Hitchins Ltd has been granted outline permission to build 280 houses on more than 33 acres of farmland off Kingshill Lane in Preston, near the edge of Cirencester.

Despite dozens of objections, Cotswold District Council's approved the application at a meeting on Wednesday.

Councillor Joe Harris told the committee that people needed to be "honest with themselves" about the urgent need for housing in the area.

Julie Tomblin, chairman of Preston Parish Council, told councillors the small village has its own distinct identity and is typically rural with a summer fete, village hall and thriving community groups.

"It is separated from Cirencester to the west by agricultural fields," she said. "It is on these fields that development would be situated.

"The scale of the development and its upward slope mean it would be highly visible from the A419 gateway route into Cirencester, blurring the boundary between urban and rural.

"There is a real danger that the village would be absorbed by urban sprawl and its rural identity would be lost."

But, councillor Harris said the development touches on the most pressing issues that the Cotswolds face, which is access to housing.

"We all value the Cotswold, its landscape, its heritage, its rural identity, but we've also got to be honest with ourselves," he said.

"Right now 794 people in Cirencester are on the housing waiting list. Next door in Siddington, 262 and 15 more in Preston, a small number, yes, but for a village the size of Preston, it feels the impact all the more. This accounts for over half the entire district's figure."