'Bleak' warehouses to be built despite opposition

Gloucester Business Park is located near junction 11a of the M5

"Bleak and depressing" warehouses are set to be built at a business park, despite opposition from dozens of neighbours.

The development at Gloucester Business Park in Hucclecote has been approved by Tewkesbury Borough Council’s planning committee.

Residents had objected to Gloucester BP Developments Ltd’s scheme, with 30 complaints over increased traffic, noise and pollution raised alongside concerns over the appearance of the buildings.

The applicant's agent told the committee that the height of the buildings had been reduced and the scheme would create hundreds of jobs.

'Oppression of the skyline'

Oscar Smith, a Cooper's Edge resident, spoke against the schemes at the planning committee meeting on Tuesday.

He told councillors the revised plans had failed to address concerns raised by residents over location and height.

"Not to mention the associated effects of traffic noise and the utilitarian overbearing design," he added.

Mr Smith said the scheme offered a "bleak and depressing outlook" with the "complete oppression of the skyline apart from a slither of space between units".

Grace Brocklehurst, the agent for the applicant, said her client had reviewed the application to address comments raised at a recent site visit, with building heights reduced by up to 2m.

She said the development would not lead to "unreasonable loss of light" to nearby homes and called on the committee to follow the council officer’s recommendation to approve the proposals, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.