By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The construction of more than 130 homes near Gloucester may now go ahead after plans were approved by civic chiefs today.
Taylor Wimpey has been granted permission by Tewkesbury Borough Council to develop phase seven of the 1,300 Whittle Gardens development on land north of Innsworth Lane in Innsworth.
Their proposal which included details of access, appearance, layout, scale and landscape of the 136 home estate has been approved by the planning committee. A total of 46 of the properties will be affordable.
Joshua Kittlety, design and planning manager for Taylor Wimpey, spoke at the meeting. He called councillors to approve the plans.
“We will be delivering a tenure mix of 60 per cent affordable rented and 40 per cent intermediate housing,” he said.
“The affordable homes are evenly distributed throughout the site and designed to blend well with the proposed market housing.”
He said the proposals are designed in keeping with the neighbouring sites and Taylor Wimpey have responded to feedback.
“I seek your permission to deliver our next phase of quality homes as part of the new Innsworth community,” he added.
“Therefore, I endorse your officer’s recommendation to approve this application.”
Questions were raised over sewage systems in the area during the debtate but the local councillor said this was not an issue residents raise with her in Innsworth.
Cllr Sarah Hands (LD, Innsworth) said: “As the ward member, it covers three areas that has a lot of development.
Innsworth is the one development I do not get messages from residents with issues with foul drainage.
“From having meetings and speaking with developers with this issue they have very robust schemes they do themselves. They pay a lot of money to work out the network so they can work with Severn Trent.
“This isn’t something that happens on other developments.”
Cllr Hands said if she thought there were any issues with sewage she would be speaking against the proposals.
She also said halting the proposal now would hold up the introduction of other infrastructure for the people already living there.
Her proposal to grant permission was seconded by Councillor Jim Mason (C, Winchcombe).
The committee voted to grant approval.