FOLLOWING a public inquiry, permission has been granted to Reland Ltd to build up to 368 new homes on a former RAF base at Upper Rissington.

Developers Reland Ltd appealed against Cotswold District Council’s non-determination of its scheme to build the homes and a two-week inquiry was held last month.

It claimed the local authority took too long to consider its outline planning application which meant CDC's planning committee could only make a recommendation to the Secretary of State.

However, it emphatically decided, by 14-0 votes, to be 'minded to refuse', following planning officer Mike Napper’s recommendation that it was an unsustainable location.

Now that the Planning Inspectorate has granted permission, Reland can build a primary school, village hall, central park, pub, health facilities, sports pitches and shops.

The permission could see the doubling of the 1,000-strong population of the village.

At the inquiry, Jeremy Cahill, for Reland, said: "It is quite frankly perverse not to consider carefully the opportunity to carry out redevelopment of the Upper Rissington site which is highly likely to save development on a greenfield site elsewhere in the AONB.

"Is it right to expect existing residents to suffer 19th century infrastructure provision in the 21st century?

"CDC has a deep rooted objection to this scheme which is completely impervious to any form of contrary argument."

The Inspectorate said the proposal would preserve the natural beauty of the landscape.

For more, see next week's Standard.