HUNDREDS of people are opposing a plan to build 375 homes, a new school and employment land in Newent, which they fear would turn the historic market town into a “dormitory of Gloucester”.
Robert Hitchins Ltd submitted proposals to the Forest of Dean District Council in April to develop almost 60 acres of agricultural land south of Gloucester Street.
The outline planning application is for up to 375 homes, a first form entry primary school including nursery, up to 83,958.5 sq ft of employment land and a centre which could have shops, cafes and a hot food takeaway.
However, opposition to the scheme is growing and a petition against it has already more than 460 signatures.
There are also more than 80 objections against the proposals on the council’s website and some fear it will turn Newent into a dormitory town for Gloucester with “no identity”.
Karen Draper, an objector, says Newent is being overdeveloped without any new infrastructure being provided.
She says there is already congestion in the town with lorries going through the town from Culver Street causing gridlock.
“The development plan has not been looked at and this is outside the development area. No provision for residents which includes GP.
“Sewage works cannot cope already, lorries are always in and out all day,” she said.
“Highways will not upgrade the B4215 to an A road even though it takes as much traffic as the A40.”
Deborah Richardson, who is a small business owner in the town, has also strongly objected to the plans.
“Newent businesses are struggling as footfall is still low following Covid and we are struggling to pay our bills when our turnover is low,” she said.
“Currently there are five empty retail properties in the town centre with two businesses closing last month in May 2023.
“Therefore, it is difficult to justify why new retail units need to be built when there are empty shops in the town with ample parking available.”
Consultants working on the scheme say the new estate would provide a range of one to five bedroom homes.
And they believe proposals demonstrate that a high quality, responsive and sustainable development is achievable and deliverable for land south east of Newent.
“The overarching vision is to create a distinctive development with a strong identity that responds to the local character of the site, its position close to newly built development and environmental context, to deliver a new development appropriate to its location and setting,” the design and access statement reads.
“The proposed development will create much needed housing in Newent in a sustainable location whilst improving public access across the site and to the wider pedestrian and cycle network.”
They say it would create a mixed use scheme which integrates within the existing residential community through a sensitive relationship with the existing residential development of Newent.