RESIDENTS breathed a sigh of relief as a controversial development of 110 new homes in the Almondsbury area was refused by South Gloucestershire Council.


The development would have seen the demolition of two century-old houses – number five and six Catbrain Hill – on land at Laurel Hill, Cribbs Causeway.


Residents and Almondsbury Parish Council strongly objected to the application, put forward by leading car dealership Dick Lovett in May last year, with fears over increased traffic in the area, the removal of a protected hedgerow for access and the loss of the century-old houses which they believe to be of historical interest.


All but one member of South Gloucestershire Council’s development control (west) committee refused the application on Thursday, September 24.


Catbrain Hill resident Peter Hazeldine, 69, who previously told the Gazette Dick Lovett should “not be delving into housing”, was among a crowd of residents celebrating the refusal.


“It’s absolutely fantastic, I knew it would be refused as it’s just wrong in the area,” he said. 


“It’s great news but now, we are all concerned that Dick Lovett will appeal the council’s decision. We really hope they will not.”


The application first went before the committee meeting on July 30, but was deferred until last week, so that the developer could look at alternative options to access the development and work with the council’s landscaping and heritage officer.


But the committee was not pleased with the new plan brought before them on Thursday, describing it as ‘ambiguous’ and ‘not detailed enough’.


Will Collins, Dick Lovett’s agent who spoke to the committee, argued the development would be highly beneficial in providing 38 affordable homes to the area.


He added that the century-old houses - one of which is currently occupied and would have been sold if the development went ahead - were not found to have historical significance through an independence assessment.


Cllr Sue Orphin said the residents were not objecting to the plans for 110 new homes, but the location of the site and proposed access, situated to the south east of the A4018 Cribbs south of junction 17 of the M5.


“The residents have accepted we need more housing in South Gloucestershire,” she said.


“But what they do object to is a big company or developer imposing on lots of people already there.”


Cllr Clare Fardell added that bringing more traffic to the country lane of Catbrain Hill would change existing residents’ lifestyles.


“This is a country lane, and as someone who lives near a country lane, I know that some people do not realise that this is a way of life,” she said.


“The development would destroy the community.”