RESIDENTS in Olveston have voiced their concern over a delay in being told that a new four-home development could arrive on their doorsteps.

The proposed development by Elberton Road (SW) Ltd on the road of the same name, would see four new homes and private parking mere metres from the village’s primary school.

Already a notorious ‘rat-run’ with parents parking on both sides of the narrow lane on schooldays, residents have said it could “add to the existing chaos”.

The application for outline planning permission on the site, a former garden nursery, is the latest of several, with a number of applications having been rejected in recent years.

But neighbours are concerned that no-one was informed of the proposals until Saturday when the standard notification from South Gloucestershire Council arrived in the post – almost two weeks after the submission.

Applications in South Gloucestershire require a 21-day period for public comments, either by post or online, with cards sent to residents living nearby.

“We just want people to be aware of it so they can voice their opinion,” one neighbour told the Gazette. “There are only a few days left to do so and it concerns us that we have received nothing through the post until now.”

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said the consultation phase is open until June 23 and encouraged residents to comment by visiting developments.southglos.gov.uk and searching for application number PT17/2102/O.

Kit Stokes, the developer’s agent, said the houses would make good use of previously developed land, offering new homes new to the village and within walking distance of the school, and that it helps with SGC’s preference to build on previously developed sites, rather than new greenfield sites.