MAJOR house-builders have been criticised for their role in the ‘stalled’ housing market in Lydney as plans for 200 homes at Allaston were given the go-ahead.

In rubber-stamping the decision of a planning inspector to agree the controversial development, the Secretary of State for Communities, Savid Javid ‘noted’ that “house-building in Lydney has a long history of being stalled.”

The scheme is described as providing “confidence of a well-thought out proposition between two landowners, both of whom have considerable experience of delivering development.”

He also agreed with the inspector who led a public inquiry earlier this year “that given the manner in which the housing market has operated in Lydney, under the control of major builders with little output and seemingly little optimism, there is justification to conclude that an entirely different approach is necessary to maximise the potential for housebuilding, avoid direct competition with stalled sites and to make this development acceptable in planning terms.”

The use of local labour and local companies would also be needed to make the development acceptable in planning terms.

The development was also given the go-ahead in the context of Lydney being a sustainable location for more housing and because “there is no evidence of a better-placed site to deliver the additional housing numbers that the district requires.”

The decision to approve the development between Driffield Road, Allaston Road and Court Road, is a blow to residents who formed a pressure group, Stop Allaston Development (SAD), and were represented at the inquiry.

The group had argued that other sites in the town were starting to deliver the necessary housing and there would “extensive conflict” between development and a “raft” of planning policies.

SAD also argued that, in planning terms, the site was a “valued landscape” but that was rejected by the inspector.

The group was also concerned about access, arguing that householders would be reliant on their cars but the inspector concluded car usage would be “neutral” on balance and the harm to traffic conditions and air quality carried “limited weight”.

Forest of Dean district councillor Alan Preest (Con, Lydney North) said: “Lydney now has its full quota of houses.

“It’s essential that the Forest of Dean District Council, in particular, urgently revisits transport, employment and basic infrastructure to forward the prosperity of this town.

“Overall the application has been thoroughly and diligently tested, ultimately by the High Court and the Secretary of State.

“Whatever, people’s personal thoughts, the town must unitedly and positively progress.

“In the cold light of day this application has the potential to bring much needed and indeed essential affordable housing to the young people of Lydney and district.”