PARISH leaders in Slimbridge have said local people are opposed to proposals for a housing estate of more than 20 homes.

Parish council chairman Philip Garrett said a survey of parishioners revealed the community rejected plans for a 24-home estate being proposed by developer First Step Homes.

The company, in conjunction with Guinness Hermitage, a social housing provider, wants to build the homes on land in Cambridge off Dursley Road, near the A38.

The site would be 50 per cent affordable housing and 50 per cent open market.

In the parish council survey local people raised concerns about sewage, traffic and access to amenities such as schools.

However, Cllr Garrett added local people were in favour of some affordable housing but not on the scale being proposed by First Step Homes.

He said: "About 50 per cent are in principle in agreement with some affordable housing but as the parish requested in the housing survey only six to eight houses.

"What is being proposed the majority think is totally out of order."

Cllr Garrett said the parish council was now waiting for First Step Homes to submit a formal planning application to Stroud District Council for the development.

He said: "Once the plans are in and we’ve seen what they are actually proposing we can clarify the parish council’s position."

Last month First Step Homes held a public consultation event in Slimbridge showing plans for the new housing.

Ed Lewis, from the company, said there was an identified need for affordable homes in the area and the site needed to be cross-subsidy, including both affordable homes and private sale, to make the development possible.

First Step Homes is due to submit plans to Stroud District Council by the end of this month.