Minchinhampton is fortunate in its location in the Cotswolds and in its unique combination of town and countryside. This is because of the proximity of common and agricultural land to the town centre. Within a few minutes’ walk the town is left behind and green fields where animals graze meet the eye.
Changes in planning regulation and the lack of a Neighbourhood Development Plan for Minchinhampton have encouraged developers to launch increasingly aggressive and speculative schemes, motivated by the prospect of financial gains from turning agricultural land into desirable residential property.
Protect Our Space was first formed in 2012 as a Community Action Group to oppose one such development, on the Lemon Field in the heart of old Minchinhampton. Planning applications for this field have now twice been refused, thanks in large measure to campaigning by this group. The site is now up for auction, advertised "with development potential".
A second Action Group was formed under the Protect Our Space banner in April 2015, vigorously to oppose a proposed development at Well Hill Old Vineyard and to boost the campaign for the creation and adoption of a Neighbourhood Plan for Minchinhampton. Over 240 objections to this scheme were received by Stroud District Council, together with a petition signed locally by more than 650 people. The application has now been rejected. You can read the rejection notice here.
Protect Our Space has also worked to raise awareness of other significant development proposals which are working their way into and through the planning system, exploiting the current weakness in planning regulation with plans to develop green field sites. Minchinhampton is under attack from these schemes, which threaten to destroy its essential character.
We use our website, Facebook page and email database to make people aware of these schemes and to brief them on our views and on grounds for objection.
We wrote to our members about the proposed development of The Knapp, inviting them to register their objections. More than 100 objections to this scheme were registered, including one from Minchinhampton Parish Council and more than 50 from Protect Our Space members. This application has now been withdrawn, at least for now.
A renewed planning application was made for 4 houses on private land in Tetbury St., opposite Tobacconist Rd. - rejected two years ago because the houses would mostly lie outside the town's settlement boundary. We briefed our members on objection, Minchinhampton Parish Council objected and the application was refused in late August.
A new Action Group, Save Glebe Farm, came together in 2015 under the umbrella Protect Our Space movement. We first publicised this major proposed development at Tobacconist Farm and Glebe Farm in June 2015, in advance of a public consultation meeting on July 1st. This proposal was presented to Minchinhampton Parish Council on Monday, 12th October and a planning application was subsequently made. Following a resounding objection from Minchinhampton Parish Council, the proposal has been withdrawn - at least for now.
We recognise that difficult choices need to be made about development outside the current settlement boundary if Minchinhampton is to thrive. We think that it is vital that such decisions need to take place within a policy framework that has the backing of the community. We are pleased that Minchinhampton Parish Council has decided to embark upon a Neighbourhood Plan but there is much hard work to do to bring one to fruition. If you support the need for Minchinhampton to create its own Neighbourhood Plan or would like to get involved, please do let us know.
Changes in planning regulation and the lack of a Neighbourhood Development Plan for Minchinhampton have encouraged developers to launch increasingly aggressive and speculative schemes, motivated by the prospect of financial gains from turning agricultural land into desirable residential property.
Protect Our Space was first formed in 2012 as a Community Action Group to oppose one such development, on the Lemon Field in the heart of old Minchinhampton. Planning applications for this field have now twice been refused, thanks in large measure to campaigning by this group. The site is now up for auction, advertised "with development potential".
A second Action Group was formed under the Protect Our Space banner in April 2015, vigorously to oppose a proposed development at Well Hill Old Vineyard and to boost the campaign for the creation and adoption of a Neighbourhood Plan for Minchinhampton. Over 240 objections to this scheme were received by Stroud District Council, together with a petition signed locally by more than 650 people. The application has now been rejected. You can read the rejection notice here.
Protect Our Space has also worked to raise awareness of other significant development proposals which are working their way into and through the planning system, exploiting the current weakness in planning regulation with plans to develop green field sites. Minchinhampton is under attack from these schemes, which threaten to destroy its essential character.
We use our website, Facebook page and email database to make people aware of these schemes and to brief them on our views and on grounds for objection.
We wrote to our members about the proposed development of The Knapp, inviting them to register their objections. More than 100 objections to this scheme were registered, including one from Minchinhampton Parish Council and more than 50 from Protect Our Space members. This application has now been withdrawn, at least for now.
A renewed planning application was made for 4 houses on private land in Tetbury St., opposite Tobacconist Rd. - rejected two years ago because the houses would mostly lie outside the town's settlement boundary. We briefed our members on objection, Minchinhampton Parish Council objected and the application was refused in late August.
A new Action Group, Save Glebe Farm, came together in 2015 under the umbrella Protect Our Space movement. We first publicised this major proposed development at Tobacconist Farm and Glebe Farm in June 2015, in advance of a public consultation meeting on July 1st. This proposal was presented to Minchinhampton Parish Council on Monday, 12th October and a planning application was subsequently made. Following a resounding objection from Minchinhampton Parish Council, the proposal has been withdrawn - at least for now.
We recognise that difficult choices need to be made about development outside the current settlement boundary if Minchinhampton is to thrive. We think that it is vital that such decisions need to take place within a policy framework that has the backing of the community. We are pleased that Minchinhampton Parish Council has decided to embark upon a Neighbourhood Plan but there is much hard work to do to bring one to fruition. If you support the need for Minchinhampton to create its own Neighbourhood Plan or would like to get involved, please do let us know.
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