CONCERNS have been raised by campaigners and Stroud District Council after the developer behind controversial plans to build in the Slad Valley was allowed to alter its proposals.

Gladman's application for 140 homes at Baxter's Field off Summer Street was unanimously rejected by SDC's planning committee in April.

However, the housing firm challenged the decision and now a planning inspector set to hear a forthcoming appeal has accepted an amendment to reduce the number of homes in the application to 112.

Slad Valley Action Group, which is opposing the scheme, has sent a six-page letter to the planning inspectorate contesting the decision to allow the change.

Stroud District Council has also objected to the amendment, which sees one field earmarked for development axed from the proposals.

SDC's head of planning Phil Skill said: "We feel very strongly that such a significantly revised application should have been submitted back to the council for consideration.

"With this in mind, the council solicitor is writing formally to the planning inspectorate to suggest that it reconsiders its decision to accept the amendment to this application and ask Gladman to submit their revisions for the council to decide through a fresh application."

SVAG spokesman Phil Coysh said campaigners believed Gladman had removed the extra field of houses to avoid objections based on heritage grounds.

He said the field in question was located close to Slade House, a Grade II listed building, which could lead to the application being rejected.

The appeal is due to be heard at a public inquiry starting at 10am on Tuesday, October 15 and is scheduled to last eight days.

Martyn Twigg, project director for Gladman, said: "We have prepared the amended layout to address concerns raised by consultees and the inspector has accepted that the appeal should be determined on the basis of the amendment."