Chestnut Tree Farm – Planning Ref. 24/00457/FUL

With regard to the proposed Chestnut Tree Farm development of 85 new homes, last year, the Planning Inspector ruled in favour to permit the planning application on appeal but with certain conditions, specifically, “Condition 12” which stated that “no dwelling was to connect to the public sewer until upgrades have been carried out to the public sewerage system”. 

The Developer wanted to remove this condition and instead, make the connection subject to drainage plans approval by the Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) Planning authority, on the basis that by the time the connection will fall due, Severn Trent Water (STW) will have upgraded anyway!

All the residential areas in this map frequently experience foul water flooding.

Arrows show the direction of sewage, arriving from Sandhurst, and then on to Innsworth. 

Heavy or persistent rain infiltrates the crumbling network of pipes and pumps, and both villages frequently suffer faeces swilling about on pavements and in people’s properties, forced up by surface floodwater – which shouldn’t be entering the system.

1. Twigworth lay-by Pumping Station – People in the area experience human waste backing up in their toilets.
2. Pumping Station by entrance to Wallsworth Lane – Human waste mixed with floodwater comes up through manholes as a matter of routine. One resident has negotiated a reduction in their bill from STW, which should be available more widely.
3. Ash Lane Pumping Station – Pumps break down when floodwater enters the system, causing widespread backing up and foul flooding of public areas and private properties. 
4. New pipeline from Twigworth Green to Innsworth – Clogged pipes have caused manholes to burst at least twice in the past two years. Drains are frequently blocked.

TBC Planning Officers were recommending that a variation to Condition 12 be accepted by the Planning Committee; however, at the Planning Committee Meeting on 18th February, before a crowded public gallery, Cllr Sharpley challenged this recommendation on behalf of Twigworth and Down Hatherley Parish Councils and their residents. 

There were also powerful augments from all the Committee Members present who voted unanimously not to support the Planning Officers recommendation. 

Clearly, TBC Planning Officers and the Developer now need to work with STW, to plan and agree a way forward and it will be interesting to see how that pans out given past experience, especially if the Developer chooses to appeal this decision.