Miller Homes is planning to build 135 homes on fields near Highgrove House, the private residence of King Charles III, according to multiple reports. The proposed development includes 56 affordable homes and a children's play area, as reported by major media outlets. The site, located on Longfurlong Lane in Tetbury, consists of unspoiled permanent pasture rich in grassland species, including priority habitat for conservation within the objectives of the Cotswold National Landscape, according to Christopher Giles, secretary of the Longfurlong Greenfields Association (LGA). The area also features a shelter belt of woodland, ponds, a small stream and an area of low-lying wetland, and is already accessible via public footpaths, including the Monarch's Way, making it a popular destination for both locals and visitors, Giles said. The development would be situated just a few hundred yards from the King's private residence, raising concerns about security and privacy. The exact distance from Highgrove House has not been confirmed, but reports suggest the homes could be within 500 yards of the property, potentially encroaching on the close protection zone.
Residents and local groups oppose the development, citing security and infrastructure concerns. Christopher Giles raised security concerns that the development would bring people within yards of the close protection zone around Highgrove House, according to major media reports. Peter Martin, chairman of the residents' group, said Tetbury has severe parking problems and long waiting times to see a doctor, as reported by major media. According to BBC News - England, Peter Martin described Tetbury as having already seen over a thousand new homes in the last six years, an increase of nearly 40 per cent, and said the small rural town cannot cope with any more housing. Martin also noted that many people visited the fields during lockdown and continue to enjoy the area, according to major media reports. According to Daily Express - Main, Peter Martin described the community nature area proposal as potentially bringing even more people to the site, raising further concerns about overuse. The residents' group has also highlighted that the local infrastructure, including roads, schools, and healthcare facilities, is already under strain from recent developments. The group has collected over 500 signatures on a petition opposing the development, according to local reports.
If we turn this into a public wildlife area, it will bring even more people here.
Political opposition has emerged, with Conservative councillor Laura Hall-Wilson saying the plans would 'concrete over an important part of countryside', according to major media reports. According to BBC News - England, Laura Hall-Wilson described the development as a 'bolt on' style development that is not well positioned in the town, where other areas have been identified through the local plan. She added that the loss of this green space would be detrimental to the community and the environment. A Miller Homes spokesperson said proposals have included positive communication with local councillors, as reported by major media. The spokesperson added that the proposals for new, sustainable housing in this part of Gloucestershire have already included positive communication with local councillors, according to an official statement. The company has also stated that the development would bring much-needed affordable housing to the area, but critics argue that the location is inappropriate. The local council has not yet indicated when a decision on the planning application might be made.
The Longfurlong Greenfields Association has submitted an application to Cotswold District Council to establish a community nature area on the site, according to major media reports. The community nature area would be sensitively managed with the objective of enhancing biodiversity and landscape, balanced against providing public access, so that residents and visitors can derive maximum health and wellbeing benefits, according to Christopher Giles. This would be achieved by providing accessible entrances, a network of mown paths, and benches for people to sit and enjoy this inspiring natural environment, Giles said. The LGA's proposal has garnered support from local residents who want to preserve the green space for future generations. The King, Highgrove and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have been approached for comment, according to major media reports. Several questions remain unanswered, including the official position of King Charles III or the Royal Household on the proposed development, whether Miller Homes has formally submitted a planning application to Cotswold District Council, the exact size of the close protection zone around Highgrove House and how close the new homes would be, the timeline for the planning decision, and the level of local support for the LGA's alternative proposal. There is also a discrepancy in the number of homes reported: some sources say up to 130 homes, while others say 135, which may reflect different stages of planning or rounding.
This is an entirely cynical move by Miller Homes.
Tetbury has already had over a thousand new homes in the last six years, an increase of nearly 40 per cent. We're a small rural town that cannot cope with any more housing.
This 'bolt on' style development is not well positioned in the town where other areas have been identified through the local plan.