Accusations of 'extreme NIMBYism' as residents and developer clash over £11m Rooksmoor Mills plans

The SNJ met with four residents who live adjacent to the site off Bath Road, Susan Lee, Peter Wright, Nick Beardsley and Allan Nolan, between them they represent all the listed buildings in the vicinity of Rooksmoor Mills.

They feel that although the site is well in need of regeneration, the latest iteration of plans still fall short of the mark.

The accommodation for the site will feature 28 flats – some of which are penthouse apartments – and 26 town houses, ranging from one-bed to three-bed, along with 60 car parking spaces.

These units will vary in price from £100,000 to more than £400,000.

Nick Beardsley, owner of The Old Fleece pub across from the site said: “We do need more development so there are places where our kids can live, but the development must fit with the rest of the hamlet.

“It looks like a gated community at the moment, not a blend with our local heritage.”

Allan Nolan said: “What we have here is a developer who will not listen to the community.

“The impact on the environment of this particular scheme would be huge, it could increase the risk of flooding.

“The heritage impact has not changed. We all want development but we want it to be sympathetic and low-rise.”

Leonard Stanley based developers Rooksmoor Mills Ltd and Coln Residential of Cirencester had previously gained approval in 2007 but their application lapsed after they postponing their build due to the pressures of the credit crunch.

Development was then approved again by Stroud District Council in 2015.

However, The High Court ruled on the decision in December 2016, declining permission based on detrimental heritage impact.

Susan Lee was one the residents who sought a reversal of the planning approval, choosing to direct all the family’s finances to battling the proposals – a victory over SDC which she says should not have had to cost the taxpayer.

Peter Wright has concerns about the ‘sound aspect’ in the surrounding area, he feels a building as tall as the proposed scheme could cause a lot of disturbance.

He said: “Our properties are all listed buildings, we can’t allowed to change the windows to have double glazing, there could be a lot of noise disturbance caused by cars passing a building of this height.”

The site has been home to mill buildings since 1729 but a fire in 1935 destroyed many of the structures.

In their design and access statement the developers said: “The design of the scheme has been updated to retain the stone plinth and brick arches and convert the stone cottage for residential use.

“Although the site is currently occupied by low-level industrial buildings, the site was historically home to a large mill building which would have dominated the local area.

“The proposed scheme is no taller than many of the local buildings and is an appropriate scale to sit comfortably within the local context.”

Alan Tyndale, one of two company directors with the developers Rooksmoor Mills Ltd has lived in Stroud all his life and is now a Woodchester resident himself.

He said: “Heritage has been at the centre of all we have done, it’s been done to death.

“Nobody is looking at this from the viewpoint of the people who are going to live on the site.

“The whole development is being dogged by a very small number of people who are scared change – there’s some extreme NYMBYism.

“This build should help to lower house prices in the area by increasing the stock available, young people will be able to live in Woodchester.

“This will be a stunning addition to the Nailsworth valley and the housing stock for Stroud – to put the problem right for young people we need more developments like this.”

There will be a meeting of the Woodchester Parish Council planning committee on Tuesday, April 4 at 7pm in the village hall to discuss the proposed development, members of the public are welcome to attend.

To view the application in full visit the Stroud District Council planning website and search for application S.13/1893/FUL.