Cotswold District Council to reconvene to make decision on Bathurst plan for 2,350 homes in Cirencester

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 12, from 10am, at Cirencester Baptist Church.

A decision on the controversial plans had originally been expected at a special full council meeting on September 26, however, it was delayed for three months to seek clarity on several issues at the site.

In response to issues raised at the meeting, Bathurst Development Ltd (BDL) will be relocating a bus gate to enable residents from the east to be able to access the central facilities easily by car.

The bus gate is a bus-only road which links the east of the development to the west. There is no through road.

The relocation of the bus gate is also anticipated to improve the setting of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

During the special meeting, BDL will also be addressing drainage and flood risk and other issues raised from the first meeting.

BDL wrote in a statement: “An all traffic route would likely encourage through traffic along the main street through the centre of the development, therefore creating the potential for ‘rat-running’, which BDL wishes to prevent.

“The road will terminate in a car park of approximately 30 spaces close to the Neighbourhood Centre.”

Graeme Phillips, partner at JTP and lead architect for the development, said: “We welcomed the lengthy debate and scrutiny of our plans by full council and we have reflected and taken on board their concern over the ability of people living and working in the eastern part of the site needing to drive to the services and facilities offered in the neighbourhood centre.

“This solution enables vehicular access from the eastern part of the site to the new school, health centre and other community facilities whilst maintaining the no-through road to avoid rat running.”

Cirencester Town Council’s chairman of planning Stuart Tarr said: “Assurances were received that revised plans will mean residents in the smaller eastern part will be able to access those services by car.

“The design of the development means we don’t want to bring pedestrians and cyclists into unnecessary conflict with traffic.

“If there was a complete through route, then it is likely other other road users, including commercial users, will begin to use that route rather than other routes to access Tetbury Road.”

Save Our Cirencester has campaigned against the plans and member Patrick Moylan was unsatisfied with the updates.

“This looks as though it will create a worse problem and increase the traffic numbers going east onto Spratsgate Lane to the point where the flows will be unmanageable.”

The council is currently consulting on amendments relating to the relocation of the bus gate. The consultation period ends onDecember 8. To view the application, go to publicaccess.cotswold.gov.uk/online-applications and search for 16/00054/OUT.

The application comprises employment land, a primary school, a neighbourhood centre, community facilities including a health care facility, public open space, allotments and playing fields.