Crest Nicholson is at the centre of major dispute with local residents in Gloucestershire. Crest Nicholson, a national builder of some repute, was bought this year for £715m by a consortium company, Castle Bidco Ltd; owned by Scottish Billionaire Sir Tom Hunter and HBOS. Crest Nicholson are finishing off a building development in Woodmancote near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. The local planning authority, Tewkesbury Borough Council refused planning permission for the development, but this was overturned on appeal by, the then, John Prescott Office. Indeed John Prescott made a fleeting visit to the proposed site before permission was granted.

Since then their have been many contentious issues with the development, which is crammed to capacity with a wide range of 2 and 3 story houses. The issues have ranged from flood risks to the lack of space for refuge vehicles and the Emergency Services. The latter seems fundamentally wrong.

However, there has been no issue more contentious than where the building work crashes into Bushcombe Lane. The high profile of the houses, their proximity to the Lane and an ill conceived and dangerous access footpath have has infuriated local residents, whose views were ignored during the planning process and are now faced with an eyesore which meets with universal condemnation. Most Bushcombe Lane residents fear at least a 10% reduction in the value of their properties. The residents have created a WEB Site at www.crestnicholson.org to highlight their plight but fear that little will be done.

It can only be hoped that Sir Tom Hunter's largesse will spill over into his acquisitions and cause Crest Nicholson to have a change of heart on the Bushcombe Lane landscaping issues.