A DATE has been set for the decision on an application to build 2,350 homes in Cirencester.

Cotswold District Council has confirmed the special meeting to consider the outline planning application for a new estate in Chesterton will take place on Tuesday, September 26.

The meeting, to be held at Cirencester Baptist Church on Chesterton Lane, will begin a 1pm and is open to the public.

The application, submitted by Bathurst Development Ltd last January, will be discussed and voted on by all members of Cotswold District Council (CDC), as opposed to just the planning committee.

Plans for the proposed estate on Chesterton Farm have been developed to coincide with CDC's Local Plan as a strategic site to take much of the government’s housing allocation for the district in one area.

On Tuesday (July 18), CDC confirmed it had submitted its Local Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy drafts to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on July 7.

This has paved the way for the appointment of a planning inspectorate to examine both drafts.

It is anticipated that the hearings in relation to those drafts will take place during October and November, and could possibly spill over into early December if necessary.

In January, the town council urged CDC to adopt the Local Plan before voting on the Chesterton Farm outline planning application, which was submitted by Bathurst Development Ltd last January.

Speaking in May, a CDC spokesman said it was expected that the council decision would be “in advance of the Local Plan Examination in Public (EiP)”.

“If the application is approved by full council, there will be a period of time in which a legal agreement securing infrastructure contributions will be finalised.”

He said if, before a decision notice is issued, anything arises from the EiP that is considered to be “material” to the consideration of the outline planning application, the application will be referred back to full council.

“If a decision is ready to be issued in advance of the adoption of the new Local Plan, CDC will have to refer the application to Secretary of State (SoS) in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009,” the spokesman added.

The SoS will then have 21 days to decide whether the application is to be called in or not.

If more time is needed, the SoS can issue a holding direction under Article 25 of the Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010.

The call-in process would result in the application being considered at a public inquiry and a planning inspector would make recommendations to the SoS, who would make the final decision.

The BDL application comprises the erection of residential dwellings, and provision of employment land, a primary school, a neighbourhood centre, community facilities (including a health care facility), public open space, allotments, and playing fields.

Speaking at a Cirencester Town Council meeting on Tuesday (July 18), deputy mayor and district councillor Patrick Coleman announced September 26 as the provisional date for the special meeting, prior to its official confirmation.

Also at the meeting, town and district councillor Mark Harris said that earlier that day district councillors had visited Chesterton Farm for a site inspection briefing.

"It was pretty useful for all of us," he said.

"There will be another one for those who couldn’t attend, such as the mayor. I think it’s useful to actually stand there and see what is being proposed.

"I would encourage any members who are curious about the application to have a look for yourself,” he added.