Bibury village rejects new retail plans due to overtourism

Cotswold District Council has unanimously rejected a proposal to convert existing barns into a café and retail space in Bibury, England. The application, submitted by Bibury Trout Farm, faced significant opposition from more than 100 local residents and the Bibury Parish Council.

Critics of the development argued that the village is already struggling with the pressures of overtourism. Residents reported that tourist coaches and cars frequently cause traffic gridlock on the village's narrow country roads, creating safety concerns for pedestrians. The council noted that the site failed to demonstrate that safe and suitable access could be achieved for all users, particularly given the lack of dedicated pedestrian infrastructure on Ablington Lane.

While the developers intended for the project to bring the buildings “fully back into use,” the council concluded that the high volume of visitors was having a “negative impact on the local environment.”