DEVELOPERS of a large development planned at Kingshill Lane in Cirencester have clarified that they propose to build up to 375 houses or up to 130 houses, not 505.

Initial plans in August stated that there were plans for up to 400 houses on land west of Kingshill Lane.

More recently, developers Robert Hitchins Ltd submitted two planning applications for the site: one proposing to build up to 375 homes and one proposing to build up to 130 homes. 

According to them, the applications have been submitted as an alternative to the other. 

A spokesperson for the developers said: "Robert Hitchins Ltd has submitted two applications for planning permission so as to give Cotswold District Council the opportunity to grant permission for the smaller applicaiton should it consider the larger unacceptable for whatever reason.

"That said, we don't consider there to be any sound planning reasons for refusing the larger scheme."

The planning application was brought to the attention of Cirencester Town Council on Thursday, January 12 but it was thought that both applications meant that more than 500 houses were proposed on the land.

The town council presents comments and recommendations on planning applications to the deciding authority Cotswold District Council.

Due to the large number of proposed houses in the application, members of the town council's planning group last week decided to pass the consideration of the application to its corporate and planning group, which was set up to consider the 2,350 home Chesterton development.

Councillor Roly Hughes suggested that the proposed Kingshill development should be offset against the Chesterton development.

The planning group also recommended exploring the idea of including the development within the draft local plan.

Stuart Tarr, chair of the town council’s planning group, later said after clarification that the two proposals were alternatives to one another: “The larger of the proposals is still a very significant proposal in terms of size. It will have an impact on roads and infrastructure.

“A development of that size will take away the buffer zone which separates Preston as a rural village from Cirencester.

“130 houses would be very much less significant. It might be possible for the buffer zone to be maintained.

“But the underlying message is that they’re very strongly drawn towards the larger application. So if approval is given to the smaller application, it might be a trojan horse to a larger application.

“Other reasons is that Cirencester has met its five year housing supply. Our position, given the likelihood of the Chesterton application being approved at some point of the future, is that that is enough.”

Cllr Hughes maintained that the application should be considered by the town council’s corporate and planning committee. He added: “130 is a better figure but 375 is a ridiculous figure. They will be encroaching into Preston.”

Cllr Joe Harris said: “They’re hedging their bets. At the moment, we need a local plan in place. I think people wouldn’t mind so much if it was housing that was going to benefit local people.

“I don’t think the reduction is good enough. We’ve got a situation in Cirencester where we have 2,350 in the pipeline. We need to sort that issue first.”

What do you think about the proposed development for up to 375 houses? Get in touch: email ann.yip@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk or call 01285 627319.

You should also submit a comment to Cotswold District Council, which will be considered alongside the application.

To make a formal comment, visit publicaccess.cotswold.gov.uk/online-applications and search for reference numbers 16/05245/OUT and 16/05246/OUT.

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