Issues

Tewkesbury Garden Town project

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​Without doubt the most significant potential development beyond the Conservation Area is the Tewkesbury Garden Town project with development centred on Ashchurch.
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TBC’s success in getting Garden Town status along with £750,000 in grant to progress the ideas does allow them to take a more holistic approach to what was becoming a fragmented set of commercial initiatives in that area (Retail Park and Garden Centre - Sainsburys, Fiddington, MOD site etc.).

​The more recent award of £8M to fund a bridge over the rail line north of the present A46 bridge will, it is claimed, be key to the project’s success. See Planning Application (20/00896/FUL).

There will be the opportunity for over 10,000 new homes by 2040 and surely a solution to TBC’s current shortfall of 2450 by 2031!
 
There will be an undoubted effect on Tewkesbury town as we know it but whether we will see this as beneficial or otherwise we cannot predict.
 
There is a website created for those that wish to follow progress on this project more closely, access it here.

​​The Concept Masterplan used as the foundation for Garden Town status application can be found under “Documents” as can much else. The “Latest News” section covers the MOD’s decision to invest further in their Ashchurch site whilst releasing fifteen hectares for housing.
 
The recent decision by Moog to make a further £40M manufacturing and design facility investment at Ashchurch gives further impetus to the proposed Garden Town, see more detail here.

However, the proposals do not meet with favour in some quarters, Ashchurch Rural Parish Council’s (ARPC) opinions are to be found here.

​ARPC challenged the Planning approval for the aforementioned road bridge over the railway, a High Court decision against them is detailed here.