Decision expected on 4,115-home development

A decision on plans for a controversial development of 4,115 homes is due to be made this week.

The proposed £2.5bn Elms Park development in north Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has prompted a backlash from locals and parish councillors who fear it will have a "disastrous effect" on the area.

They are concerned about the appearance of the housing development, as well as road safety, parking, pollution and flood risks.

Borough council planners are due to approve or reject the proposals, submitted by two developers, on 29 May. Consultants working on the scheme say Elms Park would be a new sustainable neighbourhood that would deliver a "thriving community".

The development, proposed by Bloor Homes and Persimmon Homes, would stretch from Swindon Village to Uckington, at the north suburb of Cheltenham, and from the Tewkesbury Road to Brockhampton.

It includes plans for a 25-acre business park, a GP surgery, a hotel, shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs and takeaways.

The parish councils of Uckington, Swindon, Elmstone Hardwicke, Stoke Orchard and Tredington, Bishop's Cleeve, Leigh, and Leckhampton with Warden Hill have all objected.

Objectors believe the scheme conflicts with planning policies, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A total of 111 people have written to both Tewkesbury and Cheltenham's borough councils in opposition of the scheme while only four letters of support have been submitted.

One objector called the scheme "short-sighted", writing: "I run on those fields regularly and the degree of water retention on those fields particularly is immense.

"And local amenities will be overwhelmed, especially healthcare and hospitals."

Locals argue developments of this scale should be carried out as "new towns".

Concerns have been raised ever since the first outline submission for the project was put forward in 2016.

The whole of the development site falls within an area of land allocated for development in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury's joint planning strategy.

The Elms Park Consortium said the scheme includes more than 1,000 affordable homes, a modern business park, three schools and improvements to offsite cycling routes, extensive green infrastructure and a new transport hub with buses into Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.

It said a new sports hub including tennis courts and an all-weather pitch, a new community centre and a new doctor's surgery would be built.

The consortium said there would also be about 250 acres of publicly available open space, including a large new park and multiple play areas for younger and older children.

"The proposed development will deliver much-needed housing, and particularly affordable housing, to the region and we hope that the planning committees considers the application favourably," a spokesperson said.

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