Poulton
A village on the A417 near the Fairford/Lechlade corridor with 18 new homes allocated.
173
Current homes
33
Additional by 2043
19%
Growth
18
New allocation
What This Means
Poulton would see 19% growth (33 homes) including an 18-home new allocation.
Located on the A417 near Fairford and Lechlade, cumulative traffic impacts should be considered alongside the substantial growth planned for nearby settlements.
Key Issues
- A417 corridor: Part of the wider Fairford-Lechlade growth corridor
- Cumulative impact: How does this relate to 1,472 homes proposed for nearby Fairford/Lechlade?
- Village services: What services are available for new residents?
- No Neighbourhood Plan: The community has no formal mechanism to guide development
CDC's Own Evidence
The Council's own Landscape Sensitivity Assessment identifies significant concerns about development around Poulton.
Zones 15 & 16: HIGH Sensitivity at ALL Scales
Both zones around Poulton are rated HIGH sensitivity even for small-scale development - among the most constrained in the district.
| Zone | Sensitivity | Key Constraints |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 15 | HIGH (all scales) | Open plateau, parkland |
| Zone 16 | HIGH (all scales) | Open arable, no settlement integration |
Zone 16 is "an open and undeveloped arable landscape... highly sensitive to large-scale development."
Source: Landscape Sensitivity Assessment, November 2025
The Contradiction
Despite being rated HIGH sensitivity at ALL scales, the Local Plan proposes 19% growth with an 18-home new allocation in Poulton. This appears to contradict the Council's own landscape evidence.
Compare this to nearby Meysey Hampton (same Zone 15) which has the lowest growth in the district at 3%.
How to use this evidence
When responding to the consultation, you can cite the HIGH sensitivity rating for Zones 15 and 16 to question whether 18 new homes are appropriate. The Council's own evidence describes this as "highly sensitive to large-scale development."
Site-Specific Constraints
The Site Assessment Sheets identify specific heritage and environmental constraints for Zone 16 (West of Poulton).
Scheduled Monuments Within Zone 16
Ranbury Ring
NHLE: 1003322 | Within zone boundary
Prehistoric enclosure - a legally protected Scheduled Monument
Roman villa and earlier settlement remains
NHLE: 1021448 | Located 1,120m east of Harnhill Manor
Multi-period archaeological site within the zone
"Site also contains extensive known and probable non-designated heritage assets (earthworks and below-ground) of multi-period date that would be harmed/destroyed by development."
Water & Resource Constraints
Source Protection Zone
Zone 16 is fully located within a Source Protection Zone
Drinking Water Safeguarding
Zone 16 is fully located within a Drinking Water Safeguarding Zone
Mineral Safeguarding Area
Most of zone is within MSA - "significant negative effects likely"
North Meadow SAC
Most within Outer Zone, rest in Inner Zone of Influence
Ecological Designations
- Cotswold Water Park NIA: Almost the whole zone falls within the Nature Improvement Area
- Wildmoorway Meadows SSSI: Located within 2km - consultation with Natural England likely required
- Cotswold Water Park SSSI: Watercourses hydrologically connected to the SSSI
Public Transport Accessibility: GREEN
Unlike many zones, Zone 16 has good accessibility scores:
| Service | Time (mins) |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | 29 |
| Hospital | 37 |
| GP | 28 |
| Primary Education | 28 |
| Secondary Education | 27 |
However, this positive accessibility does not override the landscape, heritage and water quality constraints.
How to cite these constraints
Reference "Site Assessment Sheets, Appendix A, Zone 16" in your response. Note the TWO Scheduled Monuments within the zone (Ranbury Ring and a Roman villa), plus the water quality concerns from being fully within both Source Protection and Drinking Water Safeguarding Zones.
Have Your Say
The consultation closes 2 January 2026.
Online: Consultation Portal | Email: local.plan@cotswold.gov.uk (CC: planning@cotswold.gov.uk)
How to Respond EffectivelyLast updated: December 2025. For definitive information, refer to official consultation documents.