DEVELOPERS have made a fresh attempt to build new homes on green belt land in Leckhampton.
Newbridge Construction has dramatically cut the number of houses it wants to build near Brizen Farm.
It has reduced the figure for the number of properties by almost half after its initial attempt five years ago was thrown out by councillors.
The latest plans have been submitted to Tewkesbury Borough Council, seeking outline permission for up to 175 homes on land adjacent to Brizen Farm, just off Shurdington Road.
Newbridge Construction had applied in October 2008 for permission to build 350 homes and a park and ride on the same site.
But those plans were scuppered after they were rejected by councillors.
An appeal was launched by the developer but this was withdrawn in June 2010.
The latest application would also see a new access road created onto the A46 and an area of public open space would be created.
The blueprint was submitted to planning bosses at the borough council on Thursday.
Kit Braunholtz, chairman of Leckhampton Green Land Action Group, said his group would strongly oppose the latest plans which he described as a worrying.
He added: "We are concerned because we see this as a case of they will not stop there.
"We see it as a creeping development on the whole area which worries us.
"Not only does it worry us because it looks like it will lead to further development in that area but it will also make it more difficult to defend the rest of the land in Leckhampton.
"If these plans were to go ahead, there would be a significant impact on the landscape of the countryside and on the traffic on Shurdington Road which is already appalling."
Councillor Andrew Chard (C, Leckhampton) believed that while the reduced number of houses was "preferable" to the previous number planned by the developer, it was still unacceptable because the fact remained that the land was designated as green belt.
He said he might be willing to listen to the case for the application if there was an assurance and a deal in place which would see the developer replacing any green belt land used for development on a like-for-like basis.
"I don't approve because it is on green belt," said Mr Chard.
"The message should be that the green belt is the last place we should be developing – we should not be encroaching on the green belt.
"Green belt land is green belt land regardless of if you want to build 500 houses or just one house.
"Reducing the number of homes might be preferable but it is still unacceptable."
