Plans to build 35 homes off the A38 to be discussed next week

Plans to build 35 homes off the A38 in a village north of Gloucester are up for debate next week.

Powells Rural Property Professionals Ltd want permission from Tewkesbury Borough Council to develop just under four acres of land off Tewkesbury Road in Norton.

More than 30 villagers are opposed to the plans which they say will put pressure on the existing A38 junction which is an unsafe road.

They also claim the plans are just a case of a developer taking advantage of the Borough’s lack of a five year housing land supply.

And they point out that Norton, with just a pub, school, village hall and bus stop, does not have the facilities to cope with another 70 to 100 residents.

Council officers have recommended approving the scheme as they say the authority cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

They say the proposal is not in a location where the principle of development is accepted but in all other respects they consider it to be in line with planning policies.

“The proposal is located adjacent to an existing settlement that is identified as service village in the development plan and would have access to a range of services and sustainable transport options,” the report reads.

They conclude that the benefits of the scheme “clearly outweigh the limited harms” and that there is no reason to refuse the plans. Councillors will have their say on the proposals at the planning committee meeting on August 20.