Land for sale: The Gloucester residents not impressed by neighbouring university
The issue of development on green space is at play here
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“Lots of residents want to keep it as a green space”
How important is green space to your community?
It is true that green spaces are good for our health, the environment, social cohesion, wildlife, and a place to partake in physical activity. On the other hand, it is also true that there is a housing crisis caused by a combination of factors such as a shortage of homes, high prices, and a lack of affordability.
A difficult balance to strike, the housing targets for Gloucestershire set by the current Labour government are well documented and in Gloucester specifically, figures from as recent as August 2024 show that 4,700 people are on the housing waiting list.
Where do you build the housing and infrastructure people desperately need?
One piece of land in the city, specifically Longlevens, is an area this latest post focuses on due to residents feeling concerned by recent action the neighbouring University of Gloucestershire at Oxstalls campus has made.
Erecting fencing around a field that used to be the Debenhams Sports and Social Club, the land was purchased by the university in 2015, a planning application in 2017 for student accommodation expired, but now residents along Estcourt Road have been blocked from gaining access to the green space behind their back gardens – a space the university are prepared to put up for sale.
Used daily by dog walkers and children, resident Mark Palmer and others in the community are not happy due to their right to roam being stopped. At first access was fine but earlier this month residents found the fencing pushed further right up to their property. Mr Palmer says there was no communication and no notice.
“We feel very frustrated with the actions of the university, he said. We know that it is private land but there was an agreement that residents could still have access for many years as we do have a right to roam. I and others are disappointed that the university did not put letters through the doors to tell us. I personally would have liked the university just to let us as residents know.”
Mr Palmer adds: “I am devastated that the university are not being a good neighbour. We will fight this and this space is an important green space. Lots of residents want to keep it as a green space and protect for future generations.”
Taking hope from last year’s agreement at Thrupp Farm near Stroud, residents feel the university has used “bully boy tactics” to put up the fencing, a view that resident John Bond argues because he has written many times asking for a meeting only to get letters telling him to stop planting flowers right on the boundary, something Mr Bond says he has done for 30 years.
“I feel that the university are being very petty and they are supposed to be neighbourhood-friendly but their record is zilch, Mr Bond said. No consultation, no advanced warning, the bottom line is that they wrote to me saying I should stop planting flower beds. My predicament is that my boundary comes right up against theirs and I feel that the university has not communicated effectively. This is a big problem for those of us trying to gain access to the land.”
A joint letter addressed to residents by all three Liberal Democrat City councillors representing Longlevens has been seen. Councillors Linda Castle, Sarah Sawyer, and Luke Shervey (Cllrs Sawyer and Shervey are cabinet members for planning and housing) have met with the university. Together they said: “The university has recently written to a limited number of residents whose properties back directly onto the field, inviting them to a one-to-one meeting. These meetings are intended to address concerns regarding fencing boundaries and potential encroachment onto the field.”
The letter adds: “During our discussions, the university assured us that once they are prepared to move forward with the sale of the land, they will hold an open meeting to consult with the wider local community. We highlighted that some residents are interested in purchasing sections of the land before it is placed on the open market. We will continue to advocate for this option in our ongoing discussions with the university. Currently no new planning application has been submitted for the site.”
In a statement, a University of Gloucestershire spokesperson said: “We have put a fence around our site because, like any landowner, we do need to ensure our private property is secure and that our rights over the land are clear. While the land is private property with no right of access or ‘right of way’ in place, we are keen to ensure that we maintain a positive relationship with our neighbours, so we have arranged drop-in sessions for residents to meet with senior members of our team so we can understand their concerns and answer any questions they may have.”
It is understood that residents have submitted a breach of planning to Gloucester City Council relating to a previous planning application for two green gates and the University has agreed to lower the fencing on people’s property but insist other parts of the fencing remain.
This is a battle which neither university or resident intends to back down. A sale of the land for development or similar to Heaven Valley, will compromise see the Longlevens community purchase the land to keep as a green space?
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This is just one of the many pieces of land the university is hoping to sell off to meet the shortfall in their finances and the ever increasing costs of the Debenhams building. The Folley playing fields in Cheltenham, formerly playing fields on which the uni has refused bookings since 2019, despite a shortage of pitches locally, has met with substantial local objections. As well as many objections from locals including a petition, there are also objections from Sports England and Cheltenham Borough Council, and a 10 page list of conditions from Gloucestershire Highways. The university is also selling off Hardwick Campus in Cheltenham. While much of this campus is brownfield site (university buildings) the marketing materials suggested that Hardwick Green could also be developed. Hardwick Green is similar to the site in this article with a long history of community use for recreation and dog walking. But unlike this site, it does not have prior planning permission for development.
At the end of the day if this land belongs to someone else it’s theirs.Its not public land and it’s not essential to have a gate in your back garden or needed on someone’s else’s property.
Things change which is a normal part of life.