The Bishop of Gloucester has written to the housing secretary accusing him of personally blocking a 350-home development on Church land.

The Rt Rev Rachel Treweek has written to Michael Gove to explain her “frustration and confusion” at the “recovery” of a planning application for 350 homes in Leckhampton, Gloucestershire, for his own determination. 

The Bishop said neither the Church nor the housing developer beyond the project, Miller Homes, had been given any explanation for what she described as an “incomprehensible” move to call the application in.

The housing site belongs to the Gloucester Diocesan Board of Finance, the main Church of England charity for the Diocese of Gloucester and 140 of the planned homes are affordable, with others for social rent.