Plans for 1,000 homes near Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington approved

The village of Bishops Cleeve lies at the foot of Cleeve Hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds

Plans for 1,000 new homes near two Gloucestershire villages have been approved by the government.

The 450 new homes on Homelands Farm between Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington were approved by the Secretary of State following a public inquiry.

Another 550 homes will also be built on land at Deans Farm, to the north west of Bishops Cleeve, in a development known as Cleevelands.

Locals fighting the plans said the infrastructure in the area cannot cope.

Bishops Cleeve, which lies at the foot of Cleeve Hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds, and Gotherington, are less than a mile apart.

Homelands Farm developers Comparo Limited and Welbeck Strategic Land, which is behind the Cleevelands scheme, appealed after Tewkesbury Borough Council failed to determine the applications within the required time.

The Homelands Farm plans include 450 homes, a community hall, allotments and orchards.

The Cleevelands proposals include up to 550 homes, with 30 for retired people, a high street and a community hall.