JOBS at Cotswold Airport could be under threat if proposals to build thousands of homes on the site go ahead – but the planned village could create 2,000 new jobs.

Last week, Commercial Estates Group (CEG) proposed building a village of more than 2,000 homes at the airport instead of a planned site in Chesterton, Cirencester.

It is thought the airport would close if the development is given permission but the 150 workers at the airfield have been told their jobs would be safe for five years.

However, a CEG spokesman said around 2,000 jobs could be created by the development as there would be shops and other businesses in the village. CEG's proposal was made during consultation over Cotswold District Council’s (CDC) Local Plan for housing sites in the region up to 2031, and the new village would include homes, shops and community and educational facilities.

Dan Angell, a spokesman for CEG, said airport bosses have met with workers to explain how the plans would affect them.

“The planning process will evolve over a period of time," he said. "We will seek to give workers as much information as we can during this time. We will seek to continue to inform.”

He added that any development at the airport would be unlikely to happen in the next five years.

CDC's Local Plan is currently in the draft stage and will be finalised after public consultation ends tomorrow, and does not include Kemble airfield at present.

Matthew Tunley, development manager at CEG, said the Local Plan seeks to create new employment sites as well as homes, and so the airport proposal could work.

He added: “Presently we are looking at ideas and understanding them. This will be shaped by consultation and evidence based research."

CEG has also suggested that 1,000 homes could be constructed at Chesterton and 1,000 homes could be constructed at the airport.

More details will be included in CEG’s Vision Document which will be submitted to the council tomorrow.

Mr Angell said he expects CDC to respond to CEG's proposal in a few months and that, despite the Chesterton site already being in the Local Plan, there is still time for changes.