Skip to content

Plans to save meadows near Highgrove rejected

Carmelo GarciaLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageLDRS A photograph of a green field with a large tree on the left-hand side. In the distance is a row of trees broken by a house, with white and grey clouds in the sky.LDRS
Up to 135 homes could be built on the land next to Highgrove House

A bid to save wildflower meadows, which residents claim would safeguard the tranquillity of King Charles III's Cotswold family home, has been turned down.

The fields in Tetbury, near Highgrove House, the private residence of the King and Queen Camilla, had been identified as a priority conservation habitat by Longfurlong Greenfields Association.

But the group's proposals for the fields to be used as outdoor community recreation spaces were rejected by Cotswold District Council.

Separately, plans are afoot which could see up to 135 homes built at the site, between Bath Road and Longfurlong Lane.

More from Gloucestershire

Peter Martin, chairman of the conservation group, said the plans were designed to protect and preserve the "precious" site in its current form.

Adding there would be no increase in visitors, traffic or parking because the site would continue to be used as it has been.

At the planning committee meeting on 11 August, Steve Keitley said he spoke on behalf of more than 150 residents who support saving the meadows.

He said the reason for support is to "protect and preserve" the area within the Cotswold National Landscape.

"It also provides a beautiful outlook and views for the many persons who may drive, walk, run or cycle along both Longfurlong Lane and the Bath Road and also along the public footpaths, which include the Monarch's Way," he said.

News imageLDRS A man standing next to a stone wall. He's wearing a quarter zip blue jumper with white trousers and leaning his arm on the corner of the wall. There's a stone stile on the right-hand side of him next to where he's leaning, with the path stretching into a grass meadow. There are trees in the background and an overcast sky. To the right of the image, the stone wall starts to be enveloped in ivy until you can't see it at all towards the end of the picture. In front of the stone wall on the ground is a patch of grass and dandelions. There's a lamp post as well just in front of the wall. There's a house in the background on the left-hand side of the manLDRS
Peter Martin (pictured) said the application is about preserving the meadows

However, officers recommended rejecting the scheme due to insufficient information on the proposed layout, access arrangements, long-term management, maintenance, funding and local need.

They also said information on the quality of the agricultural land was lacking, as well as information on the potential impacts of the plans on biodiversity.

Councillors voted to reject the proposals by five votes to two with one abstention.

Highgrove House has been approached for comment.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.