CPRE Gloucestershire is delighted with this decision on the controversial development off Summer Street in Stroud.  The application was turned down because the site is outside the settlement boundary, the district council is able to demonstrate a 5 year supply of land for housing, the site is not supported in the Stroud Local Plan that was adopted in November last year and due to the impact of the scheme on the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  There was also a lack of information from the developers about the effects on the ecology of the area and flooding.

The scheme would have had a significant impact on the Slad Valley, particularly as the proposal included an element of 3 storey houses as well as the effect of the associated infrastructure like access roads and lighting.

The good news on this site comes after recent decisions to withdraw an appeal for 100 houses at Rodborough Field and the withdrawal of an application to build 150 houses at Glebe Farm in Minchinhampton.  Let's hope that the adoption of the Stroud Local Plan, which provides much needed certainty on the future development of this area, continues to help protect this beautiful part of the County.