Last week, the district council revealed that the previous housing target for the whole Cotswold District of 3,500 homes has been increased by the Government to a mandatory 15,000 homes, a near 330% increase.
CDCs Local Plan update has Moreton pencilled in to take around 42% of the previous 3,500 target (or ‘over 1,500’ as they put it), if the same maths are used with the new 15,000 target for the Cotswolds, this could leave Moreton taking potentially 6,500 homes up to 2046. Many will know that the town has effectively doubled in size since the early 2000s, we are simply not equipped to more than double again in the next 19 years!
Compared to this numbers, Spitfire and the new potential Bloor development will seem like insignificant specks. It really does show the scale of the challenge ahead. The campaign is not, and never has been, about stopping all development but it is about a fairer and more equitable plan. As distasteful as it may be to many, some campaign team members included, CDC must consider developing within the AONB if they intend to reach these numbers without disproportionately targeting Moreton. We are a small town with just 5% of the population and any further housing growth should be in line with our size when compared to the district. At the moment there is no balance – it simply isn’t reasonable. Many of these homes are also completely unaffordable for local people and CDC cannot be trusted on their infrastructure promises.
Following public demand at the late-2024 town meeting, Moreton Against Over Development is now a properly constituted association with its own bank account, meaning we can start to build a fighting fund. We are now fundraising, primarily to enable the campaign to seek planning counsel’s legal advice on how best to challenge these plans. Several thousand pounds in donations have already been received, which is hugely encouraging and appreciated.
If you wish to do so, please donate using the details below. All donations are treated anonymously.
Lloyds Bank
Account Name: Moreton Against Over Development
Sort Code: 30-54-66
Account Number: 19251768
We are also holding a drop in session, details on the poster above, please do come along and we hope to see many of you there.
With thanks
Moreton Against Over Development
Moreton Against Over Development 