The Cotswolds District Council's Planning and Licensing Committee met on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. The committee resolved to permit the construction of an Aldi food store and Costa drive-thru at Bourton Industrial Park, Bourton-on-the-Water. They also resolved to permit the erection of a single-storey restaurant pavilion at Dial House Hotel, Bourton-on-the-Water, with one member voting against and two abstaining. The committee resolved to confirm a Tree Preservation Order for trees at The Folly, West End Gardens, Fairford, with one member abstaining.

Bourton Industrial Park, Bourton-on-the-Water

The committee resolved to permit the erection of an Aldi food store, a Costa drive-thru, and associated car parking at Bourton Industrial Park. This decision represented a departure from the local plan's allocation for employment use, but the committee deemed the economic benefits, job creation, and the potential to claw back retail expenditure from outside the village as significant material considerations that outweighed the conflict with policy. Concerns were raised by the Parish Council and objectors regarding air quality, litter, traffic, and the impact on local businesses, particularly the existing Co-op. However, the applicant's retail impact assessment suggested that the new store would not significantly harm the vitality of Bourton-on-the-Water's key centre. The committee also noted that the proposed development would still leave sufficient employment land within the allocated site. The decision was made subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement for biodiversity net gain and no objections from the Biodiversity Officer and Gloucestershire County Council Highways, with associated conditions and obligations.

Dial House Hotel, High Street, Bourton-on-the-Water

Permission was granted for the erection of a single-storey pavilion building for use as a restaurant at the Dial House Hotel. The proposal, which followed a previous refusal on heritage and amenity grounds, was amended to include a contemporary orangery design and a noise management plan. While objectors and the Parish Council raised concerns about noise, odour, light pollution, and the intensification of use, the Environmental Health Officer considered that these impacts could be adequately mitigated through planning conditions, including restricted operating hours for the pavilion and a noise management plan. The design was deemed to preserve the setting of the Grade II listed Dial House Hotel and the character of the Bourton-on-the-Water Conservation Area. The decision was made subject to conditions relating to hours of operation, noise management, lighting, parking, trees, and biodiversity. One member voted against the permit, and two members abstained.

Tree Preservation Order - The Folly, West End Gardens, Fairford

The committee resolved to confirm the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) made on trees at The Folly, West End Gardens, Fairford. The TPO was made to protect trees that contribute significantly to public visual amenity and to ensure they are considered in any future development decisions. Objections were raised by the applicant, Tim Ebley, and others, arguing that the trees had limited amenity and ecological value, were in poor condition, and that their removal would allow for a better development scheme with enhanced planting. However, the committee, supported by the Ward Member Councillor Michael Vann, and the majority of public representations, agreed with the Tree Officer's recommendation that the TPO should be confirmed. They highlighted the trees' contribution to the visual amenity of the area, their role as a landscape buffer, and the fact that a TPO provides a stronger position for ensuring trees are considered in future development, even if their removal is eventually permitted. The committee noted that the TPO does not prevent development but ensures that trees are properly considered. One member abstained from the vote.

National Scheme of Delegation for Planning Functions

The committee noted the proposed changes to the Council Constitution to implement the National Scheme of Delegation for Planning Functions, which would take effect from 31 October. These changes, driven by government legislation, will categorise applications into Schedule 1 (officer delegation) and Schedule 2 (major or sensitive developments). Schedule 2 applications will only be considered by the planning committee if a nominated officer and member agree they have local significance or raise a major planning issue, a process known as the 'gateway test'. Members expressed significant concern that these changes would reduce local democratic decision-making, limit the role of elected members and ward councillors, and potentially make the planning process less accessible to residents. They felt that the new system, particularly the 'gateway test' being decided by only two individuals, undermined local scrutiny and the ability for robust debate. The committee's strong reservations about the government's imposition of these changes were noted.