Cotswold District Council refuses Moreton-in-Marsh housing development
A major housing development proposed near Moreton-in-Marsh has been refused by Cotswold District Council’s Planning and Licensing Committee, following concerns about its impact on the town’s character, infrastructure, and environment.
The application by Bloor Homes for a 195-home development on London Road was unanimously rejected at last week’s committee meeting. Key reasons included poor connectivity to the existing town, over-reliance on car travel, and potential harm to the surrounding countryside and local wildlife.
Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, acknowledged that while the scheme would have delivered much-needed affordable housing, there were compelling reasons to refuse it.
“This decision shows that even with the Government doubling the number of homes we’re expected to plan for in the Cotswold district, our planning committee will not simply rubber-stamp unsuitable developments,” she said.
Last November, the Government increased the number of homes the council needs to plan for each year to 1,036 as part of a national drive to build 1.5 million homes during this parliament.
“We welcome proposals that meet housing needs, but they must be sustainable and well-integrated with the community,” added Cllr Layton.
“This development would have placed undue strain on local services, damaged our beautiful landscape, and increased car dependency.”
Cllr Layton said that the Council is urgently updating its Local Plan to ensure future growth is supported by the right infrastructure and environmental protections.
“With an agreed plan in place, we’ll be better equipped to ensure homes are built in the right locations and to prevent piecemeal development by speculative applications,” she said.
Last month, CDC's Planning and Licensing Committee also rejected a 30-home development planned for Chipping Campden. Read about this decision here.