Cheltenham Planning Committee meets this week to agree Council's position on Robert Hitchins appeal

An appeal has been lodged by Robert Hitchins Ltd, direct to the Planning Inspectorate at central government, for the development of 250 houses on Cheltenham's AONB at Oakley Farm Pasture Slopes. The appeal is likely to be heard later in the summer. In the meantime, Cheltenham Borough Council's Planning Committee will meet this week, on Thursday 20th May at 2pm, to agree the Council's position and to confirm the grounds on which the appeal will be defended. The meeting will be shown live on the council's YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/user/cheltenhamborough

Over 360 people have taken the time to object to this application because of its prominence in the Cotswold AONB and the devastating impact such a development would have on land that is ordinarily afforded the highest level of protection. Objections also cite:

• inadequate road infrastructure;

• pollution;

• a lack of consideration to other road users such as walkers, cyclists and horse riders;

• flooding concerns; and

• its proximity to one of Cheltenham's heritage assets, the Pavilion at Hewlett's Reservoir.

See all details of the proposed application for 250 houses on Cheltenham's AONB here:

https://publicaccess.cheltenham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=QCTW0XELKPH00&activeTab=summary

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