A letter has been sent to council chiefs
16:05, 15 Jan 2026
There are serious concerns about a proposed 3,000-home new town near the A417 in Gloucestershire as villagers rally against the plans.
A 160-strong campaign group has been set up and they are warning councillors against committing prematurely to allocating the Glynchbrook site near junction two of the M50 at Redmarley for development.
Forest of Dean District Council’s cabinet will meet this evening (Thursday, January 15) to consider whether to recommend allocating the 281.2-acre site for development in the revised draft local plan.
The proposal to include the site in the development blueprint for the district would then be considered by all councillors at a meeting next week.
More than 160 residents under the banner of the newly formed Lowbands and Redmarley Protection Group signed the open letter at an emergency meeting.
The letter calls on the Green Party-led council to deliver housing that “reflects climate commitments, protects valuable land, and stands up to long-term scrutiny”, arguing that Glynchbrook fails to meet those tests.
Among residents’ central concerns is transport, with the group arguing that Glynchbrook is remote from existing services and public transport, with no rail access, limited bus provision and close proximity to the M50.
“As a result, it is highly likely to function as a car-dependent settlement in practice, regardless of the quality of internal layout or on-site amenities,” the letter states.
The government’s National Planning Policy Framework advises councils to avoid development that creates environments “dominated by cars”. The residents’ concerns echo warnings from national walking and transport charity Living Streets, which has previously cautioned that development at Glynchbrook risks becoming a “corridor for traffic”.
The letter also highlights what it describes as “significant and unavoidable impacts on landscape and heritage”. It notes that the site lies within the setting of the Malvern Hills National Landscape and is visible from established viewpoints.
Concerns are also raised about the loss of productive agricultural land. The site sits on Grade 3 ‘good quality’ farmland, including an established dairy farm, with residents warning that its permanent loss would undermine food security.
Flood risk is identified as a further issue, with the council’s own sustainability appraisal noting the presence of flood zones across parts of the site.
While accepting that the council faces difficult choices, the letter points to alternative approaches that residents believe better align with national policy, including expansion to the east of Lydney, which benefits from a railway station.
It also suggests that a more ambitious approach could be achieved by coordinating development at Churcham with proposed growth at West Gloucester under the emerging Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury plan, creating a settlement of sufficient scale to support high-quality public transport and greater self-containment.
“We respectfully ask councillors to reconsider the inclusion of Glynchbrook in the draft Local Plan at this stage,” the letter concludes.
Council chiefs say they recognise the concerns raised by residents and welcome their involvement in the local plan process.
However, they say the council is required by the Government to plan for a significant increase in new homes across the district.
It is understood that two new towns could be created to help meet their new target of building 12,000 homes by 2045.
A spokesperson for Forest of Dean District Council said: “The emerging Local Plan sets out how we are exploring options to meet that requirement in a balanced and responsible way, to shape the long-term social, environmental and economic wellbeing of the Forest of Dean.
“We have raised concerns with central government about the housing numbers we have been asked to plan for and have written to seek clarification. We have not received a response, and the council is therefore continuing to progress its Local Plan in line with national policy.
“No decisions have been made on any individual site at this stage. All potential locations are being assessed against a range of evidence, including flood risk, transport and access to services, landscape and environmental impacts, and sustainability considerations.
“This work is ongoing, and councillors will continue to consider the evidence alongside public feedback before any proposals are finalised.
“If sites are taken forward, they would be subject to further detailed assessment and consultation, and any future development would be expected to meet all relevant national and local planning standards, as assessed through the examination process.”
The promoters of the Glynchbrook proposal have also been approached for comment.