Appeal Ref: 6002408

13th July 2026

I thought I should produce a quick summary of the appeal which was dismissed today. The PDF is here. Great community collaboration on this fight btw, including the Taits Hill Road Action Group, Cam Community Action Group, the local parish councils, and many other community spirited individuals.

As you know, Clifton Homes was appealing SDC's decision to refuse the development of up to 73 dwellings, public open space, a community orchard, and associated infrastructure on land north of Tait's Hill Road, Dursley (adjacent to Cam and the Cotswolds National Landscape).

Outcome:
The appeal is dismissed, and the original refusal by Stroud District Council stands.

Key Reasons for Dismissal
The Inspector identified four main issues, three of which caused harm:

Character and Appearance

• The development would create a "modern suburb" that contrasts sharply with the existing low-density, scattered rural character of the area.
• It would have an "amalgamating effect," erasing the distinct separation between the settlements of Cam and Stinchcombe, which is vital to the area's spatial identity.
• This conflicts with established SDC Local Plan policies regarding settlement hierarchy and design.

Cotswolds National Landscape

• Although not inside the protected landscape, the site is in its setting.
• The development would cause adverse visual impacts on the Cotswold Escarpment views, ranging from moderate to major from specific viewpoints.
• It would introduce "urbanising" elements and visual clutter, harming the special qualities of tranquillity and natural beauty.
• The Inspector accorded "substantial weight" to this harm, noting it conflicted with the statutory duty to conserve and enhance the landscape.

Highway Safety and Sustainable Transport

• The Inspector concluded that concerns regarding access safety and sustainable transport had been satisfactorily addressed by the appellant through additional evidence and Section 106 agreements.

Biodiversity

• The proposal was deemed capable of delivering the required 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
• Concerns regarding bats and the Woodchester Park SSSI were addressed by expert evidence.

Note:
The Inspector did not reach a conclusion on the impact on the Severn Estuary SAC/SPA/Ramsar site because the appeal was dismissed on other grounds, meaning a Habitats Regulations Assessment was not required.

Planning Balance
While the Inspector acknowledged significant benefits (severe local housing shortage with only 3.24 years' supply and the delivery of 40% affordable housing), these were outweighed by the harms.

Specifically, the harm to the Cotswolds National Landscape was deemed "decisive." Under national planning policy, great weight must be given to protecting National Landscapes. The Inspector determined that the adverse impacts on the landscape's special qualities provided a "strong reason for refusing" the development, even though the local housing policies were considered "out of date."

As always, if you have any questions or just want a chat I'm easily contactable, phone numbers and e-mail on my home page. Use my contact info if you spot errors or I've just got something completely wrong! Also, I'm not using Facebook much any more, but feel free to link and share these reports using whatever social media you fancy.

You can also find me on the Fediverse (social media without adverts, algorithms or outrage) here:- https://stroud.social/eco-g