The Planning Committee of Gloucestershire Council met on Thursday 17 September 2026 to consider applications for the variation of conditions on existing planning permissions. The primary focus of the meeting was on applications to extend the operational periods of facilities at the Shurdington Road Sand Pit, Cheltenham, which are located within the Cheltenham and Gloucester Green Belt.

Shurdington Road Sand Pit Applications

The committee was scheduled to consider four applications (Agenda Items 9, 10, 11, and 12) relating to the Shurdington Road Sand Pit site, all submitted by Elliotts (Cheltenham) Ltd. These applications sought to vary conditions attached to existing planning permissions to extend the operational life of various aspects of the waste recycling facility until October 2046.

• Application No. 25/0052/TWS73W (Agenda Item 9): This application concerned a variation of Condition 3 attached to planning permission 22/0066/TWMAJW, granted on 20th July 2023. The proposal was to extend the period for the continued operation of the development, specifically relating to an aggregate washing area, until 19th October 2046. The report indicated that this application was referred to the committee due to its strategic significance and the issues it raised regarding the interpretation and application of national Grey Belt policy.

• Application No. 25/0053/TWS73W (Agenda Item 10): This application sought to vary Condition 3 of planning permission 18/0073/TWMAJW, dated 10th June 2019. The purpose was to extend the period for the continued operation of a temporary extension to the recycling yard facility until 19th October 2046. Similar to the previous application, this was also flagged for committee review due to its strategic significance and Grey Belt policy implications.

• Application No. 25/0054/TWS73W (Agenda Item 11): This application related to a variation of Condition 2 of planning permission 17/0075/TWMAJW, dated 3rd October 2017. The proposal was to extend the period for the continued operation of a temporary waste transfer station until 19th October 2046. This application was also highlighted for its strategic significance and Grey Belt policy considerations.

• Application No. 25/0055/TWS73W (Agenda Item 12): This application sought to vary Condition 3 of planning permission 17/0081/TWMAJW, dated 3rd October 2017. The proposal was to extend the period for the continued retention and operation of a picking station until 19th October 2046. This application was also referred to the committee due to its strategic significance and Grey Belt policy implications.

For all four Shurdington Road applications, the reports detailed extensive planning policy reviews, including national frameworks such as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Policy for Waste (NPPW), as well as local development plans like the Gloucestershire Waste Core Strategy and the Tewkesbury Borough Plan. Key considerations included the principle of development within the Green Belt, the concept of Grey Belt land, the need for the development, amenity and environmental quality, landscape and ecology, highway safety, flood risk, and the restoration of the sites. Consultation responses from members of the public, parish councils, and statutory consultees were also summarised, highlighting concerns about Green Belt policy, residential amenity, noise, dust, and traffic, alongside support for the facility's contribution to recycling and local employment.

Other Agenda Items

The agenda also included standard procedural items at the beginning of the meeting, such as apologies, the appointment of a Chair and Vice-Chair, and declarations of interest. There was also provision for public and members' questions. Item 7 on the agenda was the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7th May 2026, which the committee was asked to approve. Item 8 was to receive notes from a Members' Site Visit held on Wednesday 9th September 2026. Finally, Item 22 was a Performance Report for Planning Development Management and Monitoring & Enforcement, summarising planning decisions made between April 2025 and March 2026.