Principal Settlement NP In Development

Siddington

A village proposed to more than triple in size

881 homes proposed (1,100 total capacity) Respond by 2 January 2026

339

Current homes

907

Proposed by 2043

~1,130

Full capacity

268%

Growth

What the Local Plan Proposes

Source Homes
Planning permissions 5
Windfalls 21
Strategic allocation (by 2043) 881
Total 2025-2043 907
Full capacity 1,100
  • Siddington currently has 339 homes - a distinct village
  • By 2043, it would have over 900 homes
  • At full buildout, approximately 1,130 homes
  • The village would grow by 268% - more than tripling

Siddington is outside the National Landscape and adjacent to Cirencester, making it a target for strategic growth. Combined with the adjacent Preston expansion, this area would see over 3,600 new homes.

Source: Local Plan Tables 2 and 3

CDC's Own Evidence

From the Council's published evidence base documents

The following findings come from CDC's own technical studies. You can cite these in your consultation response.

Landscape Sensitivity Assessment

Source: Broad Zone 21c (South of Cirencester/Siddington)

Small Extension

M-H

500-1,500 homes

Medium Extension

M-H

1,500-3,500 homes

Large Extension

HIGH

3,500+ homes

"Broad Zone 21c presents a sensitive transitional edge to Siddington and Cirencester, where the defined settlement form, low-lying topography, and strong visual openness limit capacity for large-scale change... development to the east of Siddington risks weakening settlement separation and rural identity."

— Landscape Sensitivity Assessment, November 2025

Key constraints identified:

  • Old Canal bisects the southern area from east to west
  • Large solar farm dominates the south-eastern area
  • Low-lying topography and strong visual openness
  • Only "northern edge of the zone" has any development capacity

Settlement Coalescence Risk

Source: Assessment of Broad Strategic Development Locations, November 2025

Development at Siddington "would remove the rural buffer between Cirencester and Siddington"

— Strategic Locations Assessment, November 2025

This is a direct quote from CDC's own assessment. The evidence explicitly acknowledges that this development would eliminate the separation between the two settlements.

Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA)

Source: CDC IIA Report, November 2025

Predicted Impacts

  • Risk of coalescence with Cirencester
  • Historic character of village at risk
  • Flood risk constraints in southern areas

Strategic Context

  • Only 16% of district land is unconstrained
  • Scenario 5 delivers only 79% of housing need
  • District is "seriously water stressed"

Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA)

Source: CDC HRA, October 2025

"All scenarios could have likely significant effects on Habitats Sites"

— Habitat Regulations Assessment, October 2025

Relevant concerns for Siddington:

  • Development would increase traffic contributing to air quality impacts near Habitats Sites
  • Cumulative impact with Preston and Cirencester expansion
  • Scenario 5 contributes "largest traffic contribution to the road network near the Habitats Sites"

Site-Specific Constraints (Zone 15)

Source: Appendix A Site Assessment Sheets, November 2025

Heritage Assets

  • • Poulton and Meysey Hampton Conservation Areas setting
  • • Ranbury Ring Scheduled Monument ~400m west
  • • Many listed buildings including at Poulton and Maiseyhampton

Ecological Designations

  • • Entirely within Cotswold Water Park Nature Improvement Area
  • • Entirely within North Meadow SAC Outer Zone of Influence
  • • Watercourses hydrologically linked to Cotswold Water Park SSSI

Water & Minerals

  • • Fully within Source Protection Zone AND Drinking Water Safeguarding Zone
  • • Most of zone within Mineral Safeguarding Area

Accessibility

  • • Supermarket: Impossible by public transport
  • • Hospital: Impossible by public transport
  • • 18,555 jobs within 45 min walk/bus

Landscape Sensitivity: HIGH at all scales. The assessment states the zone is "not well suited to a new settlement, which would risk fundamentally altering its landscape character and perceived tranquillity."

How to use this evidence: When responding to the consultation, you can reference these official findings from CDC's own evidence base. The coalescence quote is particularly powerful - it directly contradicts the notion that Siddington would remain a distinct settlement.

Neighbourhood Plan In Development

Neighbourhood Area designated June 2023

Siddington Parish Council is developing a Neighbourhood Plan - but it is not yet complete.

This creates a challenging situation:

  • The community is trying to plan its own future through the NP process
  • The Local Plan proposes major strategic growth before the NP can be completed
  • Residents may wish to comment on how these two processes should interact

Key Issues for Residents

When responding to the consultation, you may wish to consider:

Village Identity

  • Siddington is currently a distinct village separate from Cirencester
  • Would this scale of growth effectively merge it into Cirencester's urban area?
  • What green gaps or buffers would be maintained?

Neighbourhood Plan Timing

  • The community is developing its own plan
  • Should the Local Plan wait for the NP to be completed?
  • How can residents ensure their emerging NP priorities are reflected?

Cumulative Impact

  • Combined with Preston (2,510 homes) and Cirencester expansion (1,290 homes)
  • This corridor would see approximately 4,900 new homes
  • What assessment has been made of cumulative impacts?

Timeline

June 2023

Neighbourhood Area designated

14 November 2025

Local Plan consultation opens

2 January 2026

Consultation closes

TBC

Neighbourhood Plan completion

Summer 2026

Draft Local Plan (Regulation 19)

Have Your Say

The consultation closes 2 January 2026.

Submit Your Response

Local Contacts

Siddington Parish Council
Find via CDC Parish Directory

Last updated: December 2025. For definitive information, refer to official consultation documents on the Council's website.

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