Following Tony Baldry MP’s outspoken comments regarding certain planning decisions, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Member of Parliament for The Cotswolds has formally written to Sir Mike Pitt, Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, to formally object to the Bovis Homes Ltd development application in Stow which would see an additional 146 houses built.

The move by Mr Clifton-Brown is unprecedented and is the first time he has taken this action in his 21 years as a Member of Parliament.

It follows a public meeting which he organised in Stow on 31st May 2013, which almost 200 people attended, many of whom voiced their objections to the representatives of Bovis Homes Ltd who were present.

Bovis Homes Ltd have appealed against Cotswold District Counil’s non-determination on the original application. This appeal will be heard on the 7th January 2014, where a planning inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, will decide on the appeal.

Lodging his objections, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP said “The town of Stow has a wonderful historic square with limited parking and facilities, which makes it undesirable to absorb the current number of houses planned. In addition, this is a very sensitive site up the hill on the eastern approach to Stow in the heart of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

Commenting recently Mr Clifton-Brown said “if localism means anything, the planning inspector should listen to the vast majority of my constituents in Stow, who do not want this development. There is also considerable concern that Thames Water’s sewage and water infrastructure is not adequate for these extra houses”.