Lydney will see a shift of business activity away from its town centre if planners approve a bid to replace 'underused' industrial units with 21 new homes.

If the plan, from Hampshire-based applicant Mr Paul Hughes goes ahead, 10 buildings on land off Templeway West and close to the High Street will be demolished and the site, to the rear of number 15 on Lydney's High Street, will see a mix of 21 brick and render-design homes with bedroom options ranging from two, three or four.

Site layout proposes a circular access design with the frontages of all properties giving onto a main access and all homes having rear garden space. The design and access statement added that "access is to be obtained directly from Newtown Road via a shared surface agreement."

The statement added: "The application site is an industrial site comprising of two corrugated buildings and a selection of natural stone buildings in desperate need of repair, together with a three-bedroomed bungalow, on a parcel of land situated North East of the road known as Templway West."

In November last year, Drybrook-based architect and surveyor David Williams, of DSW Design, requested a delay on the application due to difficulties in obtaining relevant client consultations, the proposal initially having been lodged the previous month.

Few remaining businesses trade at the site, which was historically a garden centre. Mincost Ltd, which has a staff of five and sells and repairs lawn movers and garden machinery, told Punchline that it will be taking its business to new premises, after being in trade on site since 1986.

A spokesman said: "We have found new premises in Cinderford and we will be taking our loyal customers to the new operation there."

Forest of Dean planners are still to make a decision on the bid, which is in the town's conservation boundary but contains no listed buildings. But the proposal, which should be decided on by October 30, is not without dissent among neighbouring residents. 

Claiming that photographs for the bid did not truly represent the ease of access to the site, one neighbour told planners: "I am perplexed how the access route is acceptable as the applicant came to see me in October 2021 and asked to acquire a portion of my garden as it was absolutely essential to allow proper access. I see that the plans only have a footpath on one side of the road and that one is very narrow near the entrance at its most dangerous point."