The Planning Committee of Tewkesbury Borough Council met on Tuesday 17 February 2026 to consider several planning applications. The committee received updates on development control applications and current appeals.

Development Control - Applications to the Borough Council

The committee considered three planning applications.

Highfield Farm House, Tewkesbury Road, Deerhurst (25/00955/FUL)

This application sought retrospective planning permission for a change of use of agricultural land to Use Class B8 (storage and distribution) for the temporary storage of new vehicles associated with an adjacent vehicle import, sale, and service business. The officer's recommendation was to refuse the application. The report detailed that the proposal was contrary to several policies within the Tewkesbury Borough Plan (TBLP) and the Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Joint Core Strategy (JCS), including those relating to rural business centres, appropriate rural development, and respecting rural character. Officers argued that the proposed use was not a traditional rural-based use and that the rural location had not been justified. Furthermore, the visual impact of storing cars on agricultural land was considered to be an intrusive and urbanising form of development, contrary to policies protecting landscape character and visual amenity. While economic benefits, such as safeguarding existing jobs and potential new positions, were acknowledged, these were deemed insufficient to outweigh the identified harms. The recommendation to refuse was based on conflicts with development plan policies and the adverse impact on the rural landscape.

Cleeve Hill Golf Club, Cleeve Hill, Southam (25/00582/FUL)

This application proposed the redevelopment of Cleeve Hill Golf Club, including a replacement clubhouse, new parking, and associated works. The officer's recommendation was for delegated permission. The proposal was considered to be acceptable in principle, aligning with policies supporting rural tourism and leisure development, and the provision of recreational facilities. The redevelopment was seen as a necessary investment to ensure the long-term viability of the golf club and provide enhanced facilities for members and the wider community.

However, concerns were raised regarding the impact on the Cotswolds National Landscape¹. The Cotswolds National Landscape Board maintained a holding objection due to potential light spill from the proposed building's extensive glazing, which could adversely affect the dark sky quality of the area. The applicant had agreed to address these concerns and explore mitigation options. The proposal also involved the demolition of the existing clubhouse, a non-designated heritage asset of moderate local interest. While this represented a high level of harm, it was considered to be outweighed by the public benefits of the overall redevelopment, subject to archaeological recording.

Ecological assessments identified active bat roosts within the existing building, necessitating a mitigation and compensation strategy to ensure the favourable conservation status of bats. The proposal also aimed to deliver a net gain in biodiversity, with some on-site enhancements and the potential for off-site contributions to meet the required 10% gain. Conditions were recommended to secure detailed landscaping, construction management, drainage strategies, and ecological mitigation. The recommendation to permit the application was subject to satisfactory proposals to mitigate light spill and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement to secure biodiversity net gain enhancements.

Cleeve Hill Golf Club, Cleeve Hill, Southam (25/00582/FUL) - Additional Information

Further details were provided regarding the ongoing discussions with the applicant concerning the mitigation of light spill from the proposed building's glazing. The Cotswolds National Landscape Board's concerns about the impact on dark skies were being addressed, with the applicant considering options for suitable mitigation in line with the Cotswolds National Landscape Lighting Technical Guidance. An update on these discussions was to be provided at the Planning Committee meeting.

Additionally, the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement to secure Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)² enhancements was pending. The proposal aimed to achieve a 10% net gain through a mix of on-site and off-site measures, with significant on-site enhancements requiring a 30-year Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan to be secured via the legal agreement.

Current Appeals and Appeal Decisions Update

The committee received an update on current planning and enforcement appeals and appeal decisions issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This included a list of appeals received between 29 November 2025 and 30 January 2026, and appeals decided within the same period. Notable decisions included the allowance of an appeal for the replacement of an agricultural barn and the dismissal of an appeal for a car dealership.