AN ABANDONED garage in Woodford could be redeveloped into a small housing estate.

Plans to build six homes on the site of the former Taylers of Woodford garage and petrol station along the A38 have been submitted to Stroud District Council’s planning department.

Mark Snood Planning proposes the removal of the existing showroom, workshop and forecourt canopy to build two two-bed affordable housing units, three three-bed houses and one four-bed home.

This is the second application to have been submitted for this brownfield site.

The previous application, which proposed a mixed use redevelopment including a community shop, was withdrawn at the end of last year on the advice of the planning officers.

Fewer houses are now located on the front of the development, a greater turning area has been integrated into the designs to address issues raised by Gloucestershire Highways and the community shop has been dropped.

Alkington Parish Council, who had raised concerns with viability of the proposed shop, commented: “This is a small development in a rural setting so landscaping would be important to keep the rural feel.

“Good arrangements for drainage and waste are particularly important and privacy guidelines should be adhered to in order to respect the privacy of existing residents.”

Neighbours largely support the application, despite acknowledging that their properties would be overlooked.

However Berkeley Castle has raised concerns about surface water drainage, with estate manager Roland Brown saying: “I understand that surface water drainage from the site currently goes through a series of pipes and ditches that ultimately drain through Berkeley Estate property.

“It is our opinion that any increase in such run-off would create problems with the system which could then become someone else’s issue to deal with.”

A Stroud District Council spokesman said the application would be dealt with under delegated powers and a decision made by Tuesday, March 11.