By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Controversial plans to build 122 homes on a disused playing field in Cheltenham have been given the go-ahead.
Aster Homes has been granted permission to build the new housing estate on the Folley in Swindon Road which has been designed to have a mix of social rented and share ownership properties.
The site is owned by the University of Gloucestershire who previously used the greenfield site for British Universities and Colleges Sport fixtures.
And the development includes 52 two bedroom houses, 36 three beds, 26 four bedroom properties, six one bedroom maisonettes and one five bedroom house and a two bed bungalow
But the scheme sparked strong opposition from Cheltonians with more than 90 people objecting to the proposals.
Residents raised objections over the plans to develop the six hectares of land currently owned by the University of Gloucestershire.
Among their concerns is the loss of green space, impact on wildlife, insufficient local infrastructure and it will lead to an increase in traffic and pollution.
There are also fears over the impact the development will have on air quality, road safety and privacy as well as increased noise and disturbance to neighbours, the nearby animal shelter and school during construction.
On balance, officers recommended approving the scheme as it is sustainably located within a predominantly residential area and would provide a valuable contribution of affordable housing to the borough.
Richard Lawler, an objector, spoke against the plans at Cheltenham Borough Council’s planning committee meeting on April 17.
He raised concerns over the loss of the playing field which was part of an objection to the plans by Sport England.
He said the playing field was “strategically abandoned” and was a “textbook case of managed decline”.
“The gate may be locked today, that reflects a deliberate choice,” he said. “I urge you to reject it or at the very least defer and refer to the secretary of state.”
Ben Reid, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the officers had recommended approval.
He said the playing field was disused for a number of years and has no public access.
“There are no other technical matters,” he said. He said the proposal “isn’t just about housing generally”.
“It would provide affordable housing. There are 2,593 households waiting on the council housing register.
“These homes will provide opportunity and prioritise local people. It presents a major opportunity for this council to showcase it is making totally proactive decisions on housing.”
He also said the proposals would provide a five acre community park and a staff car park for the local school.
And the homes would be “highly sustainable” and “much more efficient” with a 61 per cent carbon reduction.
Swindon Village ward councillors Flo Clucas (LD) and Frank Allen (LD) along with County Councillor Bernie Fisher (LD, St Paul’s and Swindon) all spoke against the proposals.
“The Folley plays a significant part in the lives of ordinary people,” Cllr Clucas said.
She said the development was happening because the university had “decided to flog off the land”.
And the local roads are not able to take the increase in extra traffic, she warned.
Cllr Allen said there were many reasons to vote against the proposals. He said the application did not comply with national and Cheltenham planning policies.
“The Folley’s impacts will be unacceptably damaging,” he said.
It would create an unsafe and unhealthy neighbourhood, he added and cited concerns from the County Council’s highways department.
Cllr Fisher told the meeting he agreed with the points raised by the ward councillors and that approving the scheme would be “folly”.
He said there were plans for more than 7,000 homes on the outskirts of the town near junction 10 of the M5.
“If you pass this tonight, you are sending a message to developers that you don’t have to contribute to junction 10,” he said as no contributions are being sought for the motorway immprovements from The Folley development.
He also said the scheme would compound traffic problems in the area.
Cllr Barbara Clark (LD, All Saints) said she was torn and was very sorry about the green space being jeopardised.
But she asked where people are going to live and said people deserve a “roof over their heads”. She said the country is “in the grip of greed” and more social housing is needed.
“I feel we have to consider where we are going to put social housing,” she said. “There is no land in Cheltenham.”
And Cllr Tony Oliver (LD, Warden Hill) said he understood local concerns but they needed to demonstrate the harms outweigh the benefits.
He said part of the development would open up a green space available for the public.
“I can’t honestly say the benefits don’t outweigh the disadvantages,” he said. Cllr Simon Wheeler (LD, Hesters Way) said he used to live nearby and his children went to the infants school.
“I didn’t really recognise the Folley. It was behind a hedge and my children didn’t have access to it because it was the college’s.
“When I first saw the proposal my feeling was that it was already a high density area.” He said the scheme would provide a park which will be accessible by the community.
Cllr Suzanne Williams (LD, Springbank) raised concerns over traffic and the impact on the nearby animal shelter. “It’s a lovely plan but it’s in the wrong place,” she said.
And Cllr Glenn Andrews (LD, Lansdown) said on balance he would vote to grant permission as there is a “desperate need” for social housing.
Chairman Paul Baker (LD Charlton Park) said the delivery of affordable housing is one of the council’s main priorities. He said it would be crazy not to support proposals which help them meet those aims.
“It’s a great scheme,” he said. The committee voted to approve the scheme by seven votes to one.