MORE than 20 new homes could still be built in Fairford after members of the district council’s planning committee voted to visit the prospective site before making a final decision.

The application for 22 new homes on land close to Saxon Way generated a heated discussion with several members drawing attention to Fairford’s already over-capacity sewage system.

Cllr Barry Fenby, of Fairford Town Council, urged the committee to refuse the application and reminded members that, while this application was only for a small number of homes, it must be considered in conjunction with other recently approved plans.

Last month the committee granted planning permission for 120 homes to be built in Fairford despite refusing it earlier in the year.

It was also heard during the meeting that Cotswold District Council had received 35 letters of objection the Fairford Preservation Trust, the majority of which focussed on the issue of flooding in the town.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou drew parallels with his argument from the previous planning meeting and said that Fairford’s sewage system is at breaking point.

He said: “The whole infrastructure needs to be addressed before new houses are permitted. This type of saturation building is putting places in Fairford under immense strain.”

An objection against the homes was submitted by Quenington Parish Council which said that amenities in Fairford such as schools, parking and the doctors’ surgery, which are used by people in the surrounding villages, would be oversubscribed.

Members went against the officer’s recommendation to permit and chose to hold out on making a final decision until after they had a chance to view the suitability of the location.