THERE are fears plans to build 375 homes, a new school and employment land in Newent would turn the historic market town into a “dormitory of Gloucester”.

Robert Hitchins Ltd has submitted plans to the Forest of Dean District Council to develop almost 60 acres of agricultural land south of Gloucester Street.

The outline planning application is for up to 375 homes, a first form entry primary school including nursery, up to 83,958.5 sq ft of employment land and a centre which could have shops, cafes and a hot food takeaway.

However, more than 160 people have signed a petition against the proposals and the number of objections against the scheme is growing by the day.

Christine Howley, who set up the petition, said the proposals were “too much, too soon” for the town.

“In recent years we have had development after development of new homes – most of them out of reach financially for our young people looking to get on the housing ladder. We have exceeded our new homes target in the Forest of Dean Local Plan.

“Our infrastructure is creaking and we are full to bursting point. But now there is an application for the biggest development we’ve seen yet, 375 new homes bringing nearly 1,000 new people to Newent.”

Heather Roberts, another objector, said four new estates have been built in the last ten years all exiting along Meek Road, Onslow Road, Gloucester Street then to the busy junction that joins the B4215.

“Newent currently does not have the infrastructure in place to support more residents as the schools and doctors practice are already busy and struggling to cope and we have no large chain supermarket here.

“I believe this development is only the start of a proposed larger one encompassing many fields behind this site making Newent a dormitory town for Gloucester with no identity.”

Consultants working on the scheme said the new estate would provide a range of one to five bedroom homes.

And they believe proposals demonstrate that a high quality, responsive and sustainable development is achievable and deliverable for land south east of Newent.

“The overarching vision is to create a distinctive development with a strong identity that responds to the local character of the site, its position close to newly built development and environmental context, to deliver a new development appropriate to its location and setting,” the design and access statement reads.

“The proposed development will create much needed housing in Newent in a sustainable location whilst improving public access across the site and to the wider pedestrian and cycle network.”

They say it would create a mixed use scheme which integrates within the existing residential community through a sensitive relationship with the existing residential development of Newent.

And the development would be well connected with segregated cycle/pedestrian routes throughout the scheme.