Stroud News and Journal:

CONTROVERSIAL plans for the refined development of 17 houses in Nailsworth are due to be revealed to the public.

Last spring campaigners thought they had clinched victory after Stroud District Council refused outline planning permission for the clutch of houses in Pike Lane.

However the developer Newland Homes appealed to the planning inspectorate and in December 2015 the decision was controversially overturned.

The reversal came as a heavy blow to many residents and campaigners in Save Nailsworth Valley Group, who saw the decision as an affront to local democracy.

Since then Newland Homes and Nailsworth-based architects, Austin Design Works, have been working closely with town and district councillors and are now ready to have a second go at wooing the public.

They are presenting their refined plans for the Pike Lane development to the public on Wednesday 14 December.

An exhibition will be held at The Mortimer Room in Old Market between 4pm and 8pm to show residents they re-worked details.

The 17 homes will provide a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom houses, including five affordable homes.

Tom Sheppard, design manager for Newland stressed the public’s views had been taken into consideration and the plans had been adjusted slightly to soothe fears over impact on the area.

“Newland Homes was granted outline planning permission for the Pike Lane development in December 2015,” he said.

“Since then we have met with planners, the town council and district councillors to further discuss the proposals and shape the development.

“Where possible we’ve also included as many comments that we received from local residents during the consultation events we held last year.

“Reducing the visual impact on the local landscape and neighbours has been a major part of our design approach and so people will see an increased distance between the homes and the footpath on the northern boundary.

“The location of each home has also been carefully chosen in order to minimise the impact on existing neighbours.”

Newland are presenting their proposalsto residents before they apply for full planning permission.

Stroud News and Journal:

However the developer – now a highly unpopular figure for many in the town – is sure to face strong sustained from campaigners who feel they can still influence the final outcome of the proposals.

The Save Nailsworth Valley group said: “As you know despite our hugely well supported campaign, Newland Homes received outline planning permission for the housing development on Pike Lane Meadows on appeal.

“They still have to apply for full planning permission, which will cover the arrangement of the houses, their appearance, the amount of open space to be retained and so on.

“We would encourage you to go to the meeting; comment on the proposals and say how you think they should be improved.

“Newland will present any lack of comment as support for their proposals. A strong local response will help negotiate improvements.”

At the time almost 1,000 residents from Nailsworth objected to the application and had support from town and district councillors.

Government rules mean 30 per cent of the development must come as ‘affordable’ homes.

In this case it meant five affordable houses would be included as part of the scheme.

For more information on the plans, visit www.newlandhomes.co.uk/nailsworth

Stroud News and Journal: