There are fears a 3,500-home new town off the A417 town in Gloucestershire will ruin the Malvern Hills forever as new analysis suggests it will “fundamentally alter” the beautiful landscape.

Glynchbrook, a new town included in Green-led Forest of Dean District Council’s blueprint for development, is earmarked for land on the edge of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, north of the historic villages of Redmarley d’Abitot and Lowbands.

Interim analysis from consultancy Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments found the new town off the M50 would have a “severe” impact on the local surroundings.

“The site reads as a well-preserved rural landscape with limited capacity to absorb large-scale change without fundamentally altering its character,” it said

And that “landscape offers low potential for a new settlement due to a lack of robust green infrastructure to connect with the site”.

The analysis went on to say that the Glynchbrook was “fundamentally incompatible” with the rural setting it would be forced into.

Residents echoed the concerns of the analysis, warning that, in particular, the Malvern Hills would be irreparably damaged by the new town.

Bluebell Barling, 18, a student from Lowbands, who described herself as a natural Green Party supporter, warned that the Glynchbrook plans risked undermining the party’s environmental credentials.

“Nobody in the Forest of Dean or wider Gloucestershire wants houses built at the expense of the natural landscape that makes this area so special,” she said.

“I implore the council to remember who they are, and what they stand for. Glynchbrook will not keep Gloucestershire green, it will make it grey.”

And Phil Waring, 66, from Lowband, believes the thousands of new homes will ruin the area forever.

“The Malvern Hills are a precious natural resource. Build a massive car-based town in the area around it and it’ll be ruined forever,” he said.

“I’m all for new homes,” he said. “In fact, we desperately need them – so the council has my support there.

“But you can’t convince me the only option is to stick a massive new town on the edge of the Malvern Hills. It’s tragic, absolutely tragic.”

Council leaders said previously that they recognise the concerns raised by residents during the Local Plan process and have raised concerns over the housing targets which have been imposed on the district.

The Local Plan consultation is running a public consultation on Glynchbrook until March 18 and they urge people to have their say.

“No decisions have been made on any individual site at this stage,” a council spokesperson previously said.

“All potential locations are being assessed against a range of evidence, including flood risk, transport and access to services, landscape and environmental impacts, and sustainability considerations.

“This work is ongoing, and councillors will continue to consider the evidence alongside public feedback before any proposals are finalised.

“If sites are taken forward, they would be subject to further detailed assessment and consultation, and any future development would be expected to meet all relevant national and local planning standards, as assessed through the examination process.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

People can take part in the draft local plan consulation by emailing [email protected].