More than 200 homes could be built on the edge of Gloucester but residents have vowed to fight the proposals.

A planning application has been submitted to Gloucester City Council by Gladman Developments for 245 homes to be built in Hempsted Lane, Gloucester.

However, residents in the area and councillors are dead against the idea and have made their thoughts very clear to the city council.

The proposal would see 245 houses, the size of which is not yet known, built on a 12.22 hectare site to the south-west of the city centre. The site would have access from Hempsted Lane, and extend as far as Rea Lane and Secunda Way on each side.

Of the 245 homes, 40 would be affordable and 196 built at market rate.

Linny Jordan, chair of Hempsted Residents Association, said: The Council has already assessed the suitability of the site for residential development through its Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment and concluded it was unsuitable for a number of reasons.

Importantly, this conclusion was endorsed by a joint panel including representatives of the development industry.

Whilst there is a clearly identified need for new housing in Gloucester and nationally, this does not mean that unsuitable sites should be released for development.

Dozens of residents have already submitted objections to the planning application.

'Enough is enough'

Dr Rebecca Trimnell, from Hempsted and Westgate Liberal Democrats, has also submitted an objection to Gloucester City Councils planning department.

She said: We will fight any attempt to build hundreds of new houses at Hill Farm.

It is in the cordon sanitaire and the visual impact upon the village of Hempsted would forever be tarnished.

I am also personally concerned about the impact upon local wildlife, including possible badger setts, the presence of newts and foraging bats.

There has already been considerable recent development in the Hempsted area. We shouldnt build on every piece of green open space. Enough is enough.

Hempsted is the last village in Gloucester and we should protect it.

The developers point to various benefits in their plans, including 221 construction jobs over six years, and new residents bringing 8million a year to the city.

Gladman Developments said in their planning statement: It is clear there are significant material considerations, including the identified housing shortfall in the Gloucester City area and the contestable nature of Gloucesters current housing land supply, meaning that any areas of conflict with the development plan and this proposal should only be given limited weight.

This development is poised to deliver much needed housing for Gloucester and can demonstrate technical soundness and a lack of harm for the wider area.

The application should therefore be approved without delay

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245 homes could be built on greenbelt land in the 'last village in Gloucester' - Gloucestershire Live