Fears Cotswolds town could be 'overwhelmed' by thousands of new homes

Fears are growing in Moreton-in-Marsh, a town in the Cotswolds, that it will be overwhelmed by a significant increase in housing targets imposed by the government. Cotswold District Council has been instructed by the government to increase its housing target, aiming to build over 18,600 new homes by 2043, with Moreton-in-Marsh identified as a likely area for substantial development. Councillor Daryl Corps, who represents Moreton-in-Marsh on the District Council, expressed strong opposition to the government's housing targets, stating they are out of step with the town's capacity and will negatively impact residents. While acknowledging the need for some new homes for locals, he argued that the scale of development dictated by these top-down targets would overwhelm the community and destroy its character, likely impacting surrounding villages as well. The government has stated that these new housing targets are intended to address the national housing crisis and stimulate economic growth by encouraging housebuilding in areas of greatest need, enabling more people to own their homes. These revised targ... download the app to read more