A NEW village with more than 2,000 homes could be built at Cotswold Airport, Kemble, instead of a huge development in Cirencester, it has been suggested.

Commercial Estates Group (CEG) has put the proposal to Cotswold District Council (CDC) in response to its Local Plan which sets out where a total of 7,500 homes will be built in the region by 2031.

CDC’s Local Plan includes a controversial proposal for 2,350-homes in the Chesterton area of Cirencester, but CEG has suggested moving that development to the airfield at Kemble.

Cotswold Airport bosses have given CEG permission to explore the potential of building homes on its site, but it is not clear whether the airport would close if a housing development goes ahead.

CEG’s proposal took the form of a comment as part of the public consultation on the Local Plan.

The developer suggests a sustainable village with homes, shops and community and educational facilities at the airport, which is a brownfield site.

An alternative option is also put forward, which would see just 1,000 of the proposed 2,350 homes at Chesterton, with the rest at the airport site.

CEG said the redevelopment of the airport would be a “wholly sustainable, suitable and deliverable alternative to the south of Chesterton site and other potential greenfield developments around other settlements in the district."

Matthew Tunley, of CEG, said the village could deliver a wide range of benefits including parking for Kemble railway station and improve broadband facilities in surrounding communities.

He said the development could also benefit Wiltshire as the site straddles the boundary between the two counties and sits next to Kemble Enterprise Park.

CDC said it would consider CEG’s proposal as part of the consultation on the Local Plan.

Cllr Nick Parsons, cabinet member for forward planning, said: “The representation relating to development at Kemble airfield was only submitted formally to the council at 9.30am on the morning of February 13.

“However, it is not unusual for large alternative proposals to come forward as part of Local Plan consultations - that is what the consultation process is there for.

"We will consider this representation and any other suggestions put forward by the public once the consultation period closes.”

Mark Pratley, of the Save Our Cirencester group which is opposing the Chesterton development, said: “This stands to be a feasible option which will ease the pressure on Cirencester.”

Cllr Joe Harris, the mayor of Cirencester, described the proposal as “a potentially exciting opportunity.”

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