Scale of huge new housing estate off busy A46 clear in new pictures

The land is being prepared for a new development of hundreds of homes along one of the busiest stretches of the A46 in Gloucestershire. The Shurdington Road part of the A-road which links Cheltenham and Brockworth is regularly a crawl for vehicles during peak school and commuter times.

And the new estate off the road between Leckhampton and Warden Hill is to add 350 new homes, permission for which was only granted after a lengthy planning battle. Greenway Chase, from Mill Homes, began preparation work for the scheme earlier in September.

Road works to provide an access into the site has seen temporary traffic lights causing huge delays on the road between the junction for Woodlands Road at Warden Hill and Moorend Park Road, Leckhampton. Recent torrential rain has meant this work took longer than expected.

READ MORE:Cheltenham pub unveils exciting new look as venue reopens to customers

READ MORE:New restaurant eyes prime spot in heart of Cheltenham

New pictures show the access road off the Shurdington Road with the impressive sight of Leckhampton Hill in the background. The image at the top of this article also shows the muddy conditions work crews have had to deal with.

The image above shows some of the fencing in place along land off the Shurdington Road. The plans will also see a new mini-roundabout at the junction of Kidnappers Lane and Shurdington Road.

Miller Homes was granted permission for the development on the junction of Shurdington Road and Kidnappers Lane, near Warden Hill, earlier this year. It followed a long-running planning battle that ended with the green light being given by the Secretary of State on appeal.

The development will be a mix of two to five bedroom homes. All will have gardens and flexible spaces for home workings - some will have garages.

The homes will all have air source heat pumps and some of the homes will have solar panels. They are advertised as being on the "doorstep of the Cotswolds" and within easy reach of the town centre.

It was concerns over the environmental impact of the original scheme that prompted borough councillors to reject the scheme - which had been recommended for approval by planning officers as it would help meet local housing needs. The full scheme will include cycleway, footpaths, landscaping and access roads, a community orchard and allotments.

The junction of Kidnappers Lane and Shurdington Road can be a busy one at peak times. Plans released as part of the application process appear to show a mini-roundabout will be installed at the junction.