Inquiry into housing development

Land between Quedgeley and the M5 is earmarked for the scheme

A public inquiry is due to begin into a proposed housing development on the border of Stroud and Gloucester.

Planning permission for the Hunts Grove estate near Quedgeley had already been granted by Stroud District Council.

But two local Labour MPs - Gloucester's Parmjit Dhanda and Stroud's David Drew - intervened after objections by a number of residents.

The controversial scheme involves building more than 1,700 new homes on farmland between the M5 and Quedgeley.

Mr Drew said: "We should be looking at dispersal of these housing numbers.

"Our villages are dying because they don't have affordable housing."

Mr Dhanda added: "The services they will look towards will be in the city of Gloucester, yet the money will end up in the back pockets of Stroud Council."

But Stroud District Council leader Chas Fellowes said: "How can a responsible planning authority such as Stroud District Council continue to work under these circumstances?"

The public inquiry begins on Tuesday and is expected to last four weeks.