A DECISION to include proposals for a new Sharpness garden village in a major planning blueprint has been condemned.

Residents of Berkeley and Sharpness say they are ‘extremely disappointed’ at plans which include 2,400 new homes by 2040, and 2,600 more by 2050.

Stroud District Council’s draft Local Plan was approved at a council meeting last week.

Local plans provide a framework for managing the use of land, to address local housing, employment and other needs whilst conserving and enhancing the local environment.

This latest draft local plan sets out a requirement for at least 12,600 new homes to be built for the 20 year period 2020 to 2040.

This minimum level of housing development is set by national Government.

Across the district, major development sites include two new ‘garden village’ settlements at Sharpness (2,400 new homes by 2040 and 10 hectares employment) and at Wisloe (1,500 new homes and 5 hectares employment).

A spokesperson for the Berkeley and Sharpness Residents’ Action Group said: “We along with many other bodies have provided compelling evidence to suggest that the so called Sharpness Garden Village site is simply not sustainable or viable in terms of transport, services and employment prospects.

“It appears especially disingenuous that the Plan relies so heavily on the revival of the Sharpness rail link, when the promoters have failed in their first bid even to get funding to make a business case.

“Concerns expressed by Natural England over the impact on sensitive sites on the Severn have been brushed aside with references to yet to be defined mitigation factors.

“Alternative sites have been proposed further to the north of the district, far closer to the envisaged employment growth areas in the county and the M5 motorway. We very much hope the independent Inspector will listen to our legitimate concerns and take the appropriate action.”

A Stroud District Council spokesperson said: “The new settlement is proposed to deliver 2,400 homes by 2040, together with 10 hectares of employment land, a local centre, a new secondary school, onsite community and sports built provision set within open space.

“The site is well located in terms of proximity to local services and facilities at Berkeley, and the new settlement will provide many of the other essential services and facilities. The site will deliver a step change in public transport, including new bus and coach services and the reopening of the Sharpness branchline to passenger services.

Work on these proposals is ongoing, but the promoters have put together a business case which forms part of the District Council’s bid to Government’s Restoring your Railway Fund.

“Discussions have been ongoing with Natural England and the Environment Agency to ensure the development can be located adjacent to the Severn Estuary.

“The Local Plan includes specific policy requirements to address local impacts including the provision of a new nature reserve to provide safe feeding and roosting sites for birds.”

The draft Local Plan will be subject to a formal six-week period of public consultation starting on May 24 and running till early July 2021.

This will be undertaken online and is an opportunity for anyone who objects to the contents of the Plan to formally register their objections. These objections, the Plan itself and accompanying evidence will then be submitted to Government by the end of September 2021.

A Government appointed Inspector will consider whether the Plan meets national planning policy and will recommend any changes in a report to the Council.