Residents' fury over plan to build 54 homes and a sewage plant below people's windows - and they are even angry at the new postcode

Published: 12:56, 7 May 2026 | Updated: 12:59, 7 May 2026 Plans to build 54 homes and a sewage pumping station 'beneath people's windows' have caused fury among locals who blasted the 'spiteful' plans. The development, in Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, has been given the green light by councillors despite serious concerns raised by neighbours. The proposal has been described as an 'accident waiting to happen', due to concerns about hundreds more cars using a 'dangerous' road.  The new plan includes a mix of affordable and shared ownership houses, including eight one-bedroom flats, a pair of two-bedroom bungalows, 16 two-bedroom properties, 22 three-bed houses, five four-bedroom homes and a single five-bed dwelling alongside a sewage pumping station.  The proposals have been met with fury from neighbours, with 18 writing to object to the development. They have even criticised the postcode of the new site, which was branded 'insensitive'.  One of the objectors, Nick Hartshorn, said he had lived next to the site on Lynton Fields for 28 years and had spent 27 years nervously waiting for what could fill the empty space, which was once a chicken farm. Mr Hartshorn said the plans were 'spiteful', as the sewage plant would be placed '10 metres from our home, directly beneath our window'. Plans to turn a former chicken farm into a new development of 54 houses and a sewage pumping station have been criticised by neighbours Plans show the new affordable homes development connected to the 'dangerous' Nass Lane Mr Hartshorn said previous proposals for a car boot sale in the area were withdrawn due to access onto the 'dangerous' country road, Naas Lane, surrounding the site.  He told Gloucester City Council's planning committee: 'Every previous proposal has been rejected due to highway safety; nothing has changed but the way our concerns are being treated has changed dramatically. 'After 27 years of pressure, this application feels particularly spiteful as the pumping station is placed 10 metres from our home, directly beneath our window 'With a 24-hour operational plant use, noise, vibration, odour and maintenance traffic, no assessment has been provided to demonstrate that this will not harm us.' Mr Hartshorn also complained that 'socially rented homes' in the development would be 'clustered' against his home. He also hit out at the site's proposed new postcode, which residents believe to be mocking them with its final two letters. He said: 'The road layout suggests the future linkage is directly under our bedroom and the new postcode GL2 2FU shows a level of insensitivity that is frankly astonishing.' He added: 'It is troubling that the same constraints are now being treated as acceptable. 'Planning decisions must be consistent, evidence-based and grounded on the physical realities of the site, not on who is funding the development.' Salford-based affordable housing firm Bowsall Developments Limited and Birmingham housing association Platform Housing Limited are behind the project. They said it was a 'unique opportunity to regenerate a vacant site' and provide much-needed affordable homes. However, residents wrote to the council, concerned that the quiet road on the outskirts of Quedgeley would become a 'concrete jungle' Nick Hartshorn said the sewage pumping station would be 'beneath his window' The former chicken farm site sits next to existing homes, with residents who are angry at the proposals Another wrote: 'I think adding more social housing in this area is a joke. Kingsway is bad enough as it is, what a way to make crime worse in the area.'  Multiple concerns were raised about Naas Lane, which would provide access to the new development. One wrote: 'Naas Lane is probably one of the most dangerous roads I have come across.  'The road is barely wide enough for two cars. The proposed entry point of the site is located on a blind bend.  'Any vehicle pulling out of the site will encroach on the opposite side of the road due to the width of the current road, creating a situation for a fatal accident waiting to happen.' Mr Hartshorn also raised the issue of Naas Lane, adding: 'Over the years, applications for commercial use, mixed use, most recently a car boot sale were refused because access onto Naas Lane was considered far too dangerous.' Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Andy Lewis shared their concerns, saying the road would become a 'rat run' and a 'nightmare'. Despite those concerns, he said there were no real planning reasons to refuse permission and said the homes are desperately needed.  Cllr Karen James said the waiting list for affordable homes in the area has nearly reached 5,000 people. Cllr Alastair Chambers was the only councillor not to support the development, saying the plan was ill-thought-out. He said: 'For me, it looks like overdevelopment, they have squeezed everything into that space, it is like a little rat-run. 'We need play areas, open spaces, there is nothing there at all. 'If anyone uses this road, which I do regularly, it is a very dangerous road. There are cars speeding down it and minimal spaces to pass by. 'And you are looking at 200 plus car movements a day in what is already a very congested small lane. 'The pumping station, I appreciate there has been some comments that it doesn't smell. When you pump poo - it does smell, you can dress it however you want, it is a concern.' Joanne McGrath, a planning consultant on behalf of the development said the scheme would be a solution to families 'in need of a quality affordable home'. The rest of the committee voted to grant permission.  Gloucester City Council has been contacted for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. 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