THE village of Wickwar will need a new bypass if another 90 homes are built, councillors say.

Gladman Development’s plans for the properties on agricultural land south of Horwood Lane have been recommended for approval by South Gloucestershire Council officers.

It comes after an outline scheme for 80 homes in a nearby field was approved last year – and if both are approved the number of homes in the village will increase by nearly 30 per cent.

The second development was met with 243 objections and opposition from parish councillors, who said traffic congestion would increase and that it would place ‘further pressure on over-stretched resources’.

They added: “In the extremely unlikely event this application is actually approved there should be serious thought given, and funds committed, to building a Wickwar bypass.  

“This was first considered over 50 years ago, and we still have the outline plans should South Gloucestershire Council require.

“This would provide the required relief from the volume of traffic through the High Street, which is currently extremely congested and already a safety problem for school children and the elderly to cross the High Street.

“It would also have the potential to minimise lorries in excess of 18 tonnes, and excessive speeding which plague Wickwar on a daily basis, reducing the quality of life for our parishioners, and adding to road safety and rising pollution levels.”

Residents raised concerns the village lacks the the infrastructure, shops, medical facilities and schools to serve a development of this size. Many were upset about the loss of a greenfield site.

Luke Hall, the MP for Thornbury and Yate, said: “Approval has already been granted for 80 new homes in the area, which already constitutes a substantial amount of new houses for a village like Wickwar.

“The erection of a further 90 dwellings close to this site would only increase the burden on the village and infrastructure.

“Should permission be granted for this application, Wickwar will see a further increase in the volume of traffic and levels of pollution, adding to current congestion problems on the main road and considerable pressures on road infrastructure.

“The unsustainability of the proposals is also highlighted by the absence of any provision of additional facilities for the village such as shops, schools or other amenities to cater to the increased number of residents.”

Under the proposals, less than half of the 5.63-hectare plot would be built up, with 3.26 hectares used for public open space, a children’s play area and allotments.

Gladman Developments said this would mitigate the impact on the Cotswolds AONB. 

It said the homes would be a positive addition to Wickwar and deliver market and 32 affordable homes. 

The developer also said South Gloucestershire Council could not demonstrate it can deliver sufficient numbers of homes for the next five years – so it will be difficult for it to oppose the application.

It has offered to provide a new bus stop and to contribute towards transportation for secondary school pupils.

South Gloucestershire Council planning officers said there are currently 584 homes in Wickwar, so the combined 170 extra properties across the two sites represent a 29 per cent increase.

They said the development would create a reliance on cars and would encroach on the countryside.

But this was balanced against the need to deliver homes, the provision of new footpaths and improvements to existing routes, and a net gain in green infrastructure.

The officers have recommended approval.

South Gloucestershire Council’s development control committee will decide the fate of the application when it meets at 3pm on Thursday, May 3.