Councillors in Gloucester have joined the fight against the planned Investment Zones for Gloucestershire.

Liberal Democrats Jeremy Hilton and Declan Wilson have tabled a motion to the next full Gloucester City Council meeting on November 17 calling for a boycott of the proposals.

Gloucestershire County Council has put a bid forward for two Investment Zones in the county. They would allow the relaxing of planning rules to accelerate development.

Councillor Hilton, leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats, said: "We have real concerns about the ripping up of planning rules that will make it easier to ignore local people's concerns.

"The bonfire of red tape will also see environmental protections reduced and targets for delivering affordable homes relaxed."

The Gloucester politicians are the third set of local councillors to fight against the Shire Hall plans, with Stroud and Cheltenham bosses both rejecting them last month.

One zone comprises the Golden Valley Development, Elms Park, Tewkesbury Garden Town and Gloucestershire Airport.

Cllr Max Wilkinson, Cheltenham cabinet member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing, led a boycott of it and said it would lower standards of placemaking  and environmental performance.

Meanwhile Stroud District Council said  the 65-hectare Berkeley Investment Zone, which sits around a former nuclear power station, would be "damaging" to the area. They said it would allow developers to "ride roughshod" over environmental protections and local communities.

It was 'appalled" when county councillors went ahead with the Expression of Interest for the zones despite not having local backing.

If given the go-ahead by central government the zones would allow Conservative leaders at Gloucestershire County Council to bypass some planning laws and build 20,000 houses in the county.

There would also be cuts in business rates and stamp duty to entice developers to the county.

Cllr Hilton said: "Building even more homes on land between Gloucester and Cheltenham without the supporting infrastructure will not benefit either area. Creating low tax zones will create unfair competition to long established Gloucestershire businesses.

"It's a war on biodiversity, it's a war on our environment and it's a war on local democracy."

The Investment Zones were part of the September mini-budget by the-then chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. They immediately caused problems for Liz Truss' Conservative government with environmental groups concerned they do away with safeguards for wildlife, landscapes, and buildings.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has now said he is reviewing the plans alongside current chancellor Jeremy Hunt, prime minister Rishi Sunak and environment secretary Therese Coffey.

Gloucester councillor Declan Wilson, deputy group leader, said: "The Investment Zone plan is seen by the Conservative Government as a way of trying to save the country from the financial crisis it has created.

"Ditching long-established planning laws and giving tax breaks to wealthy developers is not the way to deliver economic stability.

"The way to deliver economic growth is by boosting trade with our nearest neighbours and that means re-joining the European Single Market and Customs Union."

The motion put forward by Cllr Hilton and Cllr Wilson asks the city council to agree that the creation of these investment zones could undermine the planning policies established in the Joint Core Strategy, which is currently under review.

It calls on the council not to support the county council's bid "whilst the full implications of creating these mini tax havens with watered down planning controls in Gloucestershire, are still unknown."