Cheltenham: Decision on 250 homes near ex-GCHQ site delayed

What the 250 homes on Oakley Farm could look like

Plans to sign off 250 homes in a spa town have been delayed.

The proposals are for a new estate on land at Oakley Farm in Cheltenham, near the Sainsbury's supermarket and the former GCHQ site.

Cheltenham Borough Council's planning committee last week agreed to defer a decision on the development to resolve concerns including traffic.

Officers had recommended approval after a planning inspector green lit outline plans last year.

The land is bounded by Harp Hill, Wessex Drive and the Grade II listed Hewlett's Reservoir and Pavilion, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The first bid to build the homes was launched in 2020, which sparked fears the proposal would impact the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and harm the town's setting.

The latest proposals by Vistry Homes Limited and Stonewater Limited were put before councillors on 14 December.

Cheltenham Borough Council's officers recommended the committee approve the reserved matters application, which included access and the scale of the development.

However the committee voted to delay a decision due to a series of concerns raised by Gloucestershire County Council over traffic, the steepness of the site and wheelchair accessible.

Nathan Drover, Gloucestershire County Council highways officer, told the meeting the authority had objected to the outline planning application due to impacts on the nearby road network.

He said the new housing would have a severe impact on Priors Road, Hewlett Road, Harp Hill's double mini roundabout, the A40 junction and the traffic lights on Priors Road and Redmarley Road.

Mr Drover said the planning inspector did not agree with them on that point and concluded the traffic impact had been overestimated.

Councillor Paul Baker, chair of the planning committee, said the sensible thing would be to defer any decision to resolve the concerns.

The committee voted unanimously to defer the proposals.