The Planning and Licensing Committee met on 10 September 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including proposals for large residential developments in Mickleton and Fairford. The committee voted to refuse the outline applications for 120 dwellings on land north east of Mickleton and 30 dwellings on land parcel north of Olimpick Drive in Chipping Campden, citing concerns about sustainability, landscape impact, and access. They approved the full application for 98 dwellings on land west of Hatherop Road in Fairford, subject to conditions and a legal agreement. The committee also approved permission in principle for one self-build dwelling on land at Ethans Orchard in Middle Chedworth, pending an assessment by Natural England¹.

Planning Applications

The committee reviewed and made decisions on four planning applications.

Land North East of Mickleton

The committee refused an outline application for up to 120 dwellings on land north east of Mickleton ². The planning officer, Martin Perks, recommended refusal. Councillors Gina Blomefield and Tom Stowe represented the ward. Key issues raised in the Case Officer Report included:

• The development site is outside of a designated development boundary.
• The proposed housing mix and affordable housing provisions.
• The impact on the character and appearance of the area.
• Access and highway safety.
• The impact on residential amenity.
• Biodiversity.
• Flooding and drainage.
• Archaeology.

The application was referred to the Planning and Licensing Committee because it was considered a major development.

The site is adjacent to the north-eastern edge of Mickleton, with post-war residential development to the south-east and south-west, and agricultural fields to the north-west and north-east. It is outside the Cotswolds National Landscape, but near its boundary. A public right of way, part of the Heart of England Way, crosses the site.

Gloucestershire County Council Highways objected to the application, stating that the site did not have a connection to the adoptable highway and therefore could not demonstrate a safe and suitable access.

Mickleton Parish Council also objected, raising concerns about the impact on traffic, access to the public highway, lack of village amenities, education, employment, population increase and the effect on the environment.

Other grounds for objection included:

• The views and land that will be ruined as well as the impact it will have on so many people and houses makes this utterly ridiculous.
• Mickleton is over-developed.
• Inadequate infrastructure.
• Difficult to obtain doctor and dentist appointments.
• Mickleton school is not big enough.

Some grounds for support were:

• I fully support this development with the provision of social housing.
• I'm all for this development, it is something I feel is needed as at this moment in time my partner and I can't get a 3 bedroom house for our 2 teenage boys and 14 month old baby anywhere near where our family and work places are.
• Fully support. Big social housing need for the children who have grown up in the village now wanting to stay in the village.

The committee agreed with the officer's assessment that the adverse impacts of the scheme significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits arising from the delivery of the proposed housing.

Land Parcel North of Olimpick Drive

The committee refused an outline application for a residential development of up to 30 dwellings on land parcel north of Olimpick Drive in Chipping Campden ³. Martin Perks also served as the planning officer for this application, and Councillors Gina Blomefield and Tom Stowe again represented the ward. The main issues considered were:

• Residential development outside a development boundary.
• Housing mix and affordable housing.
• Impact on the character and appearance of the Cotswolds National Landscape.
• Access and highway safety.
• Flooding and drainage.
• Biodiversity.

Councillor Blomefield raised concerns about flooding and traffic on narrow roads.

The site is located on sloping ground adjacent to the western edge of Chipping Campden, within the Cotswolds National Landscape. A public right of way crosses the site.

Gloucestershire County Council Highways objected due to insufficient information.

Chipping Campden Town Council had major concerns about flooding and requested a review of problems encountered in the first building phase at this site.

Reasons for objection from other parties included:

• This development will impact the nature of the Conservation Area and as such should be rejected.
• Building stage will be noisy and dusty.
• Increased risk of flooding.
• The site is outside the permitted development boundary.

One comment in support stated:

• Not adverse to new building in that area, although would like some understanding and respect for nature.

The committee agreed with the officer's assessment to refuse the application.

Land West of Hatherop Road

The committee approved a full application for the erection of 98 dwellings on land west of Hatherop Road in Fairford ⁴, subject to conditions, no objection from Gloucestershire County Council Lead Local Flood Authority, and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement⁵. Martin Perks was the planning officer, and Councillor Michael Vann represented the ward. The key issues were:

• Residential development outside a principal or non-principal settlement.
• Affordable housing and housing mix.
• Design and impact on the character and appearance of the area.
• Access and highway safety.
• Flooding and drainage.
• Impact on residential amenity.
• Biodiversity.

The site is a parcel of agricultural land adjacent to the northern edge of Fairford, outside a Principal or Non-Principal Settlement but within Fairford's development boundary. It is allocated for residential development in the Fairford Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2031. The site is located approximately 160m to the east of Fairford Conservation Area, outside of the Cotswolds National Landscape, and within the Zone of Influence of North Meadow and Clattinger Farm Special Area of Conservation.

Gloucestershire County Council Highways had no objection, subject to conditions attached to a previous permission.

Fairford Town Council had no objections, subject to comments on flood mitigation, building design, materials, footpaths, lighting, utilities, and sustainability.

Objections from other parties included:

• This is a further application from the initial application from 2024.
• No indication had been given on the original application regarding the additional sewage disposal via Thames Water relating to these dwellings.
• Concerned that Lovers Lane could be illuminated.

Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP), a registered charity, objected to the application, citing concerns about the capacity of Fairford Sewage Treatment Works to handle the increased sewage.

The committee approved the application, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 agreement covering affordable housing, custom/self-building housing, biodiversity net gain monitoring, financial contributions to North Meadow and Clattinger Farm Special Area of Conservation, provision of public open space, access connection to field to west, financial contributions to library services, public transport and a travel plan.

Land At Ethans Orchard

The committee approved permission in principle for the erection of one self-build dwelling at land at Ethans Orchard in Middle Chedworth ⁶, subject to agreement of appropriate assessment by Natural England. Amy Hill was the case officer, and Councillor Paul Hodgkinson represented the ward. The main issues were:

• Principle of development.
• Impact on the Chedworth Conservation Area and the setting of a listed building.
• Impact on the Cotswolds National Landscape.
• Highways and access.
• Biodiversity.
• Other matters.

Councillor Hodgkinson requested that the application be considered by the committee due to concerns about the impact on the conservation area and national landscape.

The site is located within the Chedworth Conservation Area and the Cotswolds National Landscape, and within the setting of a Grade II listed building.

Chedworth Parish Council objected to the application, stating that the site lies within Chedworth Conservation Area and the Cotswolds National Landscape, and that the proposal would represent encroachment of residential development into the AONB landscape.

Other objections included:

• Harm to the conservation area.
• Harm to the Cotswolds National Landscape.
• Loss of openness and green gaps.
• Harm to pattern of development within Chedworth.

The committee approved the application, subject to agreement of appropriate assessment by Natural England.

Other Business

Sites Inspection Briefing

Councillors Dilys Neill, Ian Watson, Nick Bridges, Tristan Wilkinson, and Andrew Maclean were listed as members for a possible Site Inspection Briefing on 1 October 2025.

Licensing Sub-Committee

Councillors Dilys Neill, David Fowles, and Ray Brassington were listed as members for a possible Licensing Sub-Committee on 25 September 2025.