CONTROVERSIAL plans for a cinema, new shops and student accommodation in Cirencester town centre have been approved.

Cotswold District Council (CDC) has given Wildmoor Properties Ltd permission for the £48 million development in Brewery Court, despite objections from some local traders and residents.

There will be a four-screen cinema run by Everyman, six large shops, four restaurants, accommodation for 106 students from the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and a facelift for the pedestrian area.

The entire scheme is expected to create 150 new jobs, with about 50 of those full-time, and Wildmoor believes the development will put an extra £10 million into the economy over the first five years. CDC's planning committee voted in favour of the scheme yesterday morning, with 13 councillors saying yes and two abstentions.

This was despite officers recommending it be refused because it would be too big and out of keeping with the surrounding conservation area. The development will result in the loss of existing parking spaces and there are concerns that this will result in town centre car parks being overwhelmed.

Wildmoor said it would have a 'no car' policy for students moving into the flats, but residents believe it would be impossible to enforce this.

The developer is working with RAU on introducing a shuttle bus between Brewery Court and the university.

Residents also fear that the influx of students will cause more noise and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Cllr Joe Harris, the councillor for the area, spoke against the plans, saying: "I've had a lot of objections to this but it isn’t trivial nimbyism – there are concerns about parking and living conditions. This isn’t the right scheme, its too big, its too ugly."

However, Cllr Margaret Rickman was in favour, saying: "Yes, it's a tricky application. Nothing is perfect, the design could be better. I would like a condition on parking, but I do really support this. This is the sort of thing that will save Cirencester not destroy it."

Independent shops currently based in Brewery Court will have to close to make way for the project and this has angered traders there, with no firm plans to find alternative space in the town centre for them.

Before the planning meeting, more than 50 local businesses had handed the councillors an open letter urging them to approve the development. But there were objections from Cirencester Bowling Club, New Brewery Arts and English Heritage.

There is not yet a date for when work on the scheme will begin.