Frustration 500-home scheme will be built and Matson will lose out on cash for infrastructure

Matson councillors have hit out at a “fishy” 500 home development which was allowed to avoid having to pay a community infrastructure levy (CIL).

Barratt Homes is currently developing land at Winnycroft Lane in Matson.

Plans for the site were approved in 2019 but ward councillors are concerned about the impact the new properties will have on the area.

Gloucester City Councillor Brendon O’Donnell asked council chiefs last night (Thursday March 23) how much CIL money have they paid to help the Matson community.

CIL is a charge which can be levied by councils on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities which helps deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area.

But planning and housing strategy cabinet member Stephanie Chambers (C, Quedgeley Fieldcourt) said the Winneycroft sites were allocated for residential development in the Joint Core Strategy.

As part of this process, the viability of development was tested and it was found that the sites were unable to support the payment of any CIL contributions.

“The planning inspector agreed with this approach. These sites are therefore not liable to pay any financial contributions under the CIL regulations,” she said.

Cllr O’Donnell told those present at the meeting at North Warehouse he was shocked that the CIL levy wasn’t charged.

He said: “Not only have Barratt Homes got away with not paying this levy, they also don’t have to have any social housing on the site.

“They can get 500 private homes built on greenbelt land which is the easiest to build on. It’s going to be a high profit project.

“How can it not be viable to get the money off them. It smells a bit fishy. It smells fishier than the canal water.

“So essentially, now 500 families are being brought into Matson. It’s going to have a massive economic impact on the area. You’ve got the doctors’ surgery which is known as the crappiest in Gloucester.

“We have oversubscribed schools. There’s nowhere for children to go. And play parks which are not fit for purpose.

“If Matson wants this money. Is there some way for the council to get this CIL money or is Matson going to be struggling forever.”

Cllr Chambers agreed it will have a massive impact on the economy of Matson but that it will be positive and bring in more people to the local shops and will improve the economy. She said the CIL was done by an independent viability study at the joint core strategy stage.

“It was then approved by the planning inspector. Not the city council.

“Matson will be improved and it has got financial contributions from both the big Winny and little Winny sites. This is £3.6 million of education contributions, there’s £124,000 of library contributions and highways improvements are £145,000.

“There’s allotment provision on both sites and the whole community of Matson con apply to use. There is affordable housing on the small Winny site and there will also be a junior pitch, play area which all the community of Matson can use.”

Barratt Homes has been approached for comment.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

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