Stroud District Council's Local Plan earlier allocated land for 1,750 new homes at Hunts Grove, on the edge of the district at Hardwicke and Haresfield, but after objections from MPs David Drew and Parmjit Dhanda that allocation has now been re-examined at a public local inquiry and the inspector's decision on whether Hunts Grove goes ahead is awaited.

Cllr Philip Booth, a spokesperson for Stroud District Green party said: "Concerns are mounting about where the 1,750 homes might be built if Hunts Grove falls. In the past other sites have been identified for housing like fields opposite historic Berkeley Castle to take 300 homes, 50 homes in lands off Brimscombe Lane, at Kilminster Farm, 50 homes at Wade's Farm at the top of the Slad valley and 100 homes at Grange Fields. All these have been thrown out by councillors and communities in a proper full consultation process, but if Hunts Grove is not approved then these consultations will be ignored and many more sites in our villages face increased housing."

Cllr Martin Whiteside said 48 or so homes off Brimscombe Lane would add traffic to already over used lanes and would mean extra vehicles using the dangerous exit onto the main London Road. Martin Whiteside, who has protested strongly in the past on this and other sites said: "Hill Farm, as it is known locally, is a beautiful field . . . that forms a natural and historic boundary. It should not face development."

The Hunts Grove inspector's decision is expected at the end of May or beginning of June.