We have secured planning permission on appeal for 50 new homes on a 5.5-acre Grey Belt site in Shurdington, Gloucestershire. The scheme, which is well suited to SME housebuilders, will deliver a comprehensive package of benefits for the village alongside much-needed housing.
The site was previously allocated for housing in Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Regulation 22 Local Plan but was deleted by the examining Inspector following the hearing sessions held in March 2021. Richborough initially submitted a planning application in October 2021 but withdrew when it was recommended for refusal by officers owing to Green Belt policies at the time. A revised outline application was submitted in October 2022.
This amended scheme was refused by Tewkesbury Councillors in June 2024, citing the change in visual character and appearance to the landscape, owing to the partial removal of an established hedgerow boundary; whether the proposal makes adequate provision for the increased requirement in infrastructure and servicing and material considerations.
Our appeal has been upheld by Inspector R E Jones, saying the sustainable development benefits outweigh any perceived adverse impacts.
Half of the homes will be affordable including 60% at social rent with a further 10% of the homes will be self- or custom-build properties, ensuring greater choice and diversity of supply. All homes will be delivered to energy-efficient, low carbon standards that far exceed current building regulations.
In addition to new homes, the development will provide:
- Highway improvements, including new traffic lights at the A46/Badgeworth Lane junction.
- A new pedestrian and cycle access onto Shurdington Road.
- Footpath upgrades along Badgeworth Lane.
- Bus stop improvements.
- Over an acre of public open space, including a new children’s play area.
- Dedicated visitor parking for Shurdington C of E Primary School and a new signalised crossing between the school and the site.
- Financial contributions towards local services.
At present, there is no alternative funding arrangement in place for these vital improvements.
Nick Banks, Senior Regional Director at Richborough, said:
“This is a hugely positive outcome for Shurdington. The site is in a highly sustainable location, within easy walking distance of schools, shops, and employment at Endsleigh Park, with excellent transport connections by cycle, bus, train and road. Having been previously allocated for housing by the local authority, it should have come forward years ago, and its delay is a clear example of why government reforms to the planning system were so necessary.
“This decision will not only deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes but also provide affordable housing well above policy, self-build opportunities, and vital infrastructure upgrades for the local community.”
The scheme underlines the important role Grey Belt land plays in tackling the housing crisis and enabling SME builders to deliver new homes. Smaller developers, who rely on promoters like Richborough to unlock sites, are essential to diversifying housing delivery and boosting local supply chains.
“Government has made clear that a functioning planning system must support a steady pipeline of deliverable sites,” Banks added. “Shurdington is proof of that principle in action. Grey Belt release, coupled with support for SME sites, is critical to getting homes built.”
Our thanks to RPS for their work on the Appeal.