A DEVELOPER’S plans to build 25 homes on a field in Wotton-under-Edge have been branded a “great tragedy”.

Oxford Law has notified Wotton residents about their plans to build the homes on land off Court Orchard behind Synwell Playing Field.

An application has not yet been submitted but many residents have already unified in staunch objection to the proposals.

Julia Fry, 53, lives in Court Meadow in a home which overlooks the site. She spoke to the Gazette about her concerns that, if the development went ahead, it would set a precedent for building against the local plan and rules around areas of outstanding natural beauty.

“Wotton is a great town with a wonderful atmosphere, but it’s not really a town that could cope with much more development,” she said.

“I think it would set a huge precedent for building further up the valley and I don’t know how we could protect anywhere if we can’t protect this site, as there are so many valid planning reasons to refuse it.

“It's a great tragedy. You might as well rip up the Local Plan and the AONB plan if this goes ahead.”

In the brief pre-application information already supplied by Oxford Law, via consultancy firm Framptons, they suggest that the housing needs of the district cannot be met through the use of brownfield sites alone, and that greenfield site development is “inevitable”.

They say the development, despite being outside of the district’s local plan, would be sustainable, providing economic and social gains for the area and much needed homes for the district. They also note that the “special qualities” of the AONB will be preserved.

A lot of the concerns raised in early objections relate to traffic problems, as well as more general fears that this development will lead to further development.

Mrs Fry continued: “You’re going to be taking away from the real beauty of Wotton and adding to its problems with more traffic. The roads here can already be dangerous, and the junction they intend to put at Court Orchard would be lethal.”

Fellow Wotton resident Theresa Thompson added: “I doubt anyone's in support of the proposal. More traffic in a congested area and it will probably increase the likelihood of further development on neighbouring fields. The only winner might be the landowner who sells the land."

Oxford Law did not respond to a request for comment.