Green light to build houses in rural Gloucestershire's namesake of Winnie-the-Pooh's homeland

Plans for two homes in Hundred Acre Wood, the rural Gloucestershire namesake of the fictional land inhabited by Winnie-the-Pooh have been given the go-ahead. Forest of Dean District Councillors this week approved the plans which include a detached garage on the site off Whitehill Lane in Drybrook.

While introducing the proposals at the development management committee meeting on June 11, chairman Dave Wheeler (G, Newland and Sling) jokingly said he assumed it had nothing to do with Pooh Bear. The Hundred Acre Wood is a part of the fictional land inhabited by Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Winnie-the-Pooh series of children's stories by author AA Milne.

“Land adjoining Hundred Acre Wood, Whitehill Lane, Drybrook… I presume this has nothing to do with Pooh bear,” he said. Vicechairman Gill Moseley (LD, Newent and Taynton) said she was going to make the same comment.

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“I know my age, it’s demonstrable,” he told the committee which was received with laughter and smiles. Each of the planned homes is on an 'L' shaped formation and share similar design characteristics.

The first plot is the larger unit and comprises an open plan kitchen, dining, family room, study, utility room, lounge and WC at ground floor level. At first floor level there are four double bedrooms proposed, two with en-suites and a family bathroom.

The detached double garage has been designed to have a storage area within the loft space. While the second plot has a similar layout at ground floor level, with the exception of a study.

At first floor level there are four double bedrooms proposed (one with en-suite) and a family bathroom. The homes have been designed as 1.5 storey units, with dormer windows to the front and solar panels on the roof plane.

Officers recommended granting permission. Councillor Richard Burton (G, Newnham) proposed to move to the officer’s recommendation. This was seconded by Cllr Jacob Sanders (L, Cinderford West).

Councillor Julia Gooch (LD, Newent and Taynton) said: “Pleased to see the gardens are much larger than we’ve been seeing.”

“It all looks good.” The committee voted to approve the scheme by 10 votes in favour with one abstention.