Update on public consultation on Tuesday 7 October 2025

Public Consultation about Outline Planning Application from Northern Trust for the erection of 60 dwellings with means of access at Foxwold House on land south-west of Broad Marston Lane.

Approximately 60 people attended the public consultation to hear updates on the various planning applications, an update on progress for Cotswold District Council’s (CDC’s) new Local Plan, and to voice opinions and comments on the latest outline planning application from Northern Trust.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Chris Cottam supported by Councillor Kevin Fletcher, both planning representatives for Mickleton Parish Council.
Councillor Tom Stowe, Ward Councillor for Campden & Vale, represented CDC.
Northern Trust were invited but declined to send a representative.

The goals for the consultation were:

1. Listen to people’s comments, questions, and suggestions in order to inform MPC’s response to CDC as a statutory consultee.
2. Make sure people know when and how to submit a comment (and how to get help if they need it).
3. Provide a general update on all the expected development applications; currently 4 in total.

The agenda was:

• Status of applications from Brookworth Homes, Catesby Estates, and Newland Homes.
  While the main focus of this session is Northern Trust’s application we also want to hear comments that may apply to other applications.
• Recap and update from Tom Stowe re CDC situation.
• Summary of Northern Trust application.
• Open discussion of Northern Trust application, and others.
• Reminder of ‘next step’ actions.

Key discussion points were:

Update on other applications

Brookworth Homes

• 120 houses at Shepherd’s Fold/Cala Homes.
• Was withdrawn 9 September, the day before it was due to be reviewed by CDC Planning Council.
• Martin Perks, case officer, had recommended refusal.
• CDC published a strongly worded comment about applications need to meet certain expectations.
• Brookworth have signalled their intent to resubmit with changes. No date for this yet known.

Catesby Estates

• Up to 200 houses at land north of Broadway Road (adjoining Tops).
• First requests for comment closed on 31 August.
• Information is on the Catesby website.
• No date for outline application so far.

Newland Homes

• 90 houses at Tops Nurseries
• Held a public consultation on 3 September at KGH, and engaged with a number of residents via online methods.
• Consultation remains open via Newland Homes website.
• No date for outline application so far.

CDC Situation

• Tom Stowe gave a brief history of how we got here and status of development of new Local Plan.
• Key point: The first published consultation document is due for release on 8 October. This is known as Regulation 18 Consultation and will give a first view of what the housing targets might look like.

Northern Trust Summary

• Outline planning application for the erection of 60 dwellings with means of access.
• Foxwold House, land South-west of Broad Marston Lane.
• Reference number: 25/02213/OUT
• Application received 15 July, but not validated until 17 September.
• Access from Broad Marston Lane.
• 30 comments submitted to CDC so far.
• There were many valuable comments made by attendees, the ones appearing to have the most common support being:
  • Availability of school places. Where will people’s children go to school as the local school is effectively full, as are surrounding village schools, as are secondary schools.
  • Safety of access to school at drop-off/pickup. All roads to the school are narrow and congested with parked cars.
  • Misrepresentation of the scale and ease of access to local facilities.
  • Misrepresentation of the viability of transport options to access more remote facilities such as main shops, leisure facilities, railway stations, healthcare resources.
  • Availability and priority of affordable housing for local people, not people ‘shipped in’ because they are on a list.
    Action Point: Councillor Cottam undertook to investigate and clarify the process around being recognised for affordable housing, and how many affordable houses are needed.
  • Concern over capacity of utilities; sewerage, water, electricity.
  • Concerns over the number of factual inaccuracies in documents supporting the application e.g. stating that the village has a Post Office, or that the nearest station is Moreton-in-Marsh.

Recap on Key Points

• Key Point: We know that making comments to CDC website has an impact. Submit comments by accessing CDC web site, navigate to planning applications, and search for: 25/02213/OUT
• Beware of timeout (30 minutes) and character limit (6,000 including spaces).
• You can also submit in writing but must provide a name and address. Details are on CDC Planning Portal.
• Key Point: If people need help or advice on submitting comments there will be representatives of Mickleton Against Inappropriate Development (MAID) available at King George’s Hall on Saturday 11 October, between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
• Key Point: Final date for comments to be submitted: 21 October.
• Significant updates will be posted on MPC website.
• People wishing to get more information or get more directly involved may wish to register with Mickleton Against Inappropriate Development (MAID). Please note, this group is not affiliated to Mickleton Parish Council.

Closing Comments

• Some people may be thinking that not commenting on one proposal will give preference to another which they see as preferable. It will not. Infrastructure issues impact the whole village, not just one location.
• Some people may believe that this is all inevitable. It is not.
• Your voice counts. Please make it heard.