Archive - Wednesday, 27 March 2002


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College homes plan won't die

THE threat of housing on a key site at the heart of a community has returned this week.

On Monday a High Court judge effectively ruled that Stroud College can appeal again in its attempt to win outline planning permission for housing on its Highwood Campus at Forest Green, Nailsworth.

"We are happy that justice has been done and the college's position has been totally vindicated," said Hugh Pollock, Stroud College's principal. "We will proceed to have our planning appeal revisited by the planning inspectorate. We have every hope of a positive outcome this time."

Last year, Stroud College submitted an outline planning application for the site. Stroud District Council development control committee rejected it so the college then appealed to the Planning Inspectorate which dismissed it in August 2001.

At the time, residents headed by the Forest Green Action Group and Nailsworth Town Council breathed a sigh of relief because they feared neighbours Forest Green Rovers FC would leave, along with its leisure facilities.

They also argued that the area could not support more houses.

The college maintained that it had to find the best market price it could for the site.

On Monday Mr Justice Harrison in the High Court overruled the inspector's decision because the inspector had assumed that if she turned down the appeal, Stroud College would automatically sell the site to Forest Green Rovers FC.

"This was despite the fact that the inspector had been clearly advised that, in the event of the appeal failing, the college would review its position before proceeding," said Mr Haines.

Nailsworth mayor John Nicholson said the arguments against the plans put forward at the last appeal would be just as strong at the next hearing.

"They would outweigh the college's desire to put housing on there," said Cllr Nicholson.

"It means we've got to do it all over again which is a shame because it would be better to come up with something more mutually beneficial."