Locals voice opposition to Bristol developer's plans for greenfield land
Villagers have already spoken out against the outline scheme just submitted by developers Barratt Homes Bristol.
Now Frampton Cotterell Parish Council has told planners it strongly objects to the proposal for land which is outside the village development boundary and includes space for new shops.
They are worried about the impact the development will have on the village, its roads, schools, sewers and other services, as well as local shopkeepers if the retail space is taken up by a national chain.
It also said the application was premature as it had been submitted before South Gloucestershire Council had finished consulting on the regional spatial strategy – the blueprint that says how many new homes should be provided by 2026.
Nearly local 40 people attended a council meeting to voice their objections to the scheme, which is likely to be determined by South Gloucestershire planners in December.
In giving their support to the campaign against the plan, parish councillors said they were worried that existing problems with sewerage getting into the River Frome would be made worse if the extra homes were built.
They were concerned that Frampton Cotterell would lose its village identity by such an expansion of homes and said existing shops could go out of business if a national supermarket chain moved in.
An estimated 500 more cars would be put onto the road through the proposal, making traffic problems worse, and councillors wanted to know where the extra children would be educated.
Although there were spaces in primary schools locally, they said The Ridings High School was already over-subscribed.
Earlier this year, Barratt invited people in Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath to an exhibition to show how it proposed to build on the site, which covers nearly 16 acres of arable land on the edge of Frampton Cotterell bounded by Heather Avenue, Park Lane and the Park Farm estate which the company build about 10 years ago.
Barratt claimed there was a "dire need" for housing in South Gloucestershire and it would get worse if greenfield sites were not brought forward for development.
It was accused of jumping the gun as at that point, it had not drawn up its formal application. Now its application has revealed the extent of the development, which includes houses and flats, with a proportion of them "affordable" homes for local people.
Kath Aldom, who lives near the development site, said: "We know South Gloucestershire has to have more homes but it is a question of whether Frampton Cotterell is able to cope with such a large number.
"I'm also worried that the developers will be negotiating with the supermarket chains for the retail space instead of small independent stores.
"Large supermarkets are destroying our communities and we could end up losing all our village shops if one moves in."
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