Parish Council objection to Glynchbrook Development

Proposed Glynchbrook Development – HAVE YOUR SAY

Deadline Wednesday, 18 March

The Forest of Dean District Council are currently consulting on their Local Plan, including a proposal to build 3,500 homes and 9 hectares of employment land at Glynchbrook, only 8 miles from Hanley Swan.

The proposed development – akin to a new town - would be located near Junction 2 of the M50 between the villages of Redmarley and Pendock, right next to the Worcestershire border.

Hanley Castle Parish Council strongly oppose this development because of its potential impact on Hanley Swan and local environs and will be submitting its objections to Forest of Dean. Neighbouring Welland and Castlemorton are also expected to express strong opposition.

The Forest of Dean section of the plan is here The Planning Consultancy site is here

Our own main points are:

·         The development is not sustainable being in a remote, isolated location making it wholly dependent on car travel and with surrounding lanes unable to cope.

·         The primary access to the development would be very near the B4208 with increased traffic coming north along this route through Castlemorton, Welland and Hanley Swan to Malvern and Worcester. The daily impact for Hanley Swan could be significant through traffic along Welland Road and Worcester Road to the B4211 and back again.

·         Potential extra pressure on Malvern Community Hospital and A&E services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

·         Potential pressure on our High School to take more students (we think the development is unlikely to have a secondary school), with more problems of parking in Hanley Castle.  

·         The site would be in a highly sensitive area in open countryside just 300 metres from the Malvern Hills Landscape England boundary (previously called AOB) at the southern end of the Malverns. This would destroy the rural and special character of the area.

·         The current uninterrupted rural views from the southern end of the Malvern Hills would be materially changed forever. You would see housing and commercial buildings instead of countryside.

·         The development would be built on productive farmland with increased environmental damage to the southern end of the Malvern Hills and Castlemorton Common as a result of extra footfall and traffic.

·         This is a flood plain with a history of flooding from the Glynch Brook.

We urge you to have your say. Email localplans@fdean.gov.uk with your comments.

Deadline 18 March 2026

Hanley Castle Parish Council