AFTER years of planning and months waiting for a decision to be made, it is hard to believe that a decision has finally been made on the Chesterton development.

Councillors on Cotswold District Council (CDC) voted on Tuesday to approve the Bathurst Development Ltd outline application for 2,350 homes in Cirencester.

The decision, however, is not exactly surprising. CDC made clear that it risks losing S106 agreements and losing an appeal if a decision was deferred for too long, and a refusal could mean having to start over on the Local Plan.

Notwithstanding the disappointment that many may be feeling, Tuesday’s decision is just the ‘start of a beginning’, said Lord Bathurst after the meeting.

Moving forward, residents, whether against or for the scheme, should now strive to make sure the scheme is the best it can be: that it can integrate with the rest of the town and benefit the people of Cirencester.