Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard
·Aug 2026
Concerns over how the A417 and A419 will cope with 8,000 new homes
Cotswold District Council is developing a local plan through 2043 that identifies sites for 18,900 homes, including nearly 8,000 in and around Cirencester. Residents and councillors questioned whether the A417 and A419 corridor can handle the increased traffic, particularly because the transport assessment for Driffield models 1,090 homes while the longer-term allocation could exceed 2,200. Council planning official Andrew Maxted said the assessment covers only the homes allocated through 2043 and that National Highways has mainly engaged on that basis. The council’s overview and scrutiny committee called for the proposed transport infrastructure to be reconsidered before further consultation.