A MOMENTOUS decision to permit a highly controversial housing project in Cirencester, has been made by Cotswold District Council (CDC) members, after eight hours of deliberation.

Campaigners against the plans Save Our Cirencester (SOC), had gathered at the special planning meeting at Cirencester Baptist Church on Tuesday to protest.

But their presence and heartfelt calls for the application to be turned down, failed to convince CDC councillors, as members voted to approve Bathurst Development Ltd’s (BDL) outline planning application for 2,350 homes in Chesterton.

A total of 17 councillors voted in favour of CDC officers’ recommendation to approve the plans, nine voted against and three abstained.

SOC member Patrick Moylan said: “We are disappointed that the councillors were not able to own up to a mistake that was made 10 years ago when they firmed up the local plan.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

(Save Our Cirencester members. Patrick Moyland is picture at the centre)

“Since then, all sorts of problems have emerged.

“There is a growing feeling that Cirencester people have got to look out for themselves and make sure these sorts of decisions are not made behind closed doors. The bright side is that we have shown that the debate we had could shine light on things that otherwise would not have come out.”

However, Lord Bathurst (pictured below), who is behind the plans, said Tuesday’s decision represented a new beginning.

He said: “We are able to see where we are going but there is a huge amount of work to get to where we want to be.

“We want to make sure that it is a quality development and something people in Cirencester can enjoy.

“I know there are a lot of people against it but there are also a lot of people in this town who are desperate for housing.”

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

There was an early break in Tuesday’s meeting after CDC received a letter from Inspector William Fieldhouse, outlining proposed changes to the Local Plan.

The letter included a suggestion that the Chesterton development should only deliver 1,800 homes during the plan period (until 2031), with the remainder being built on the site after 2031.

When councillors later asked what their decision on Chesterton would mean to the Local Plan, CDC officers said refusing the application would mean making a decision that was “inconsistent” with the Plan, so they may be asked to start again.

As part of the Chesterton scheme, 30 per cent of homes (705) built will be affordable, 65 per cent will be rented accommodation and 35 per cent will be low cost ownership.

Proposed S106 agreements include a £100,000 contribution for town centre improvements, £500,000 for town centre parking and a new primary school for 630 pupils.

Spokesperson for applicants BDL, Jeremy Handel, said: “This is an important day for the project both in terms of the Local Plan inspector’s letter and the council’s decision, both of which are welcome. 

“Whilst both confirm the principle of development, there are significant further measures that still need to be undertaken before a planning consent can be issued - not least, the signing of the S106 legal agreement which could take up to six months.

“The decision brings us a significant step closer to delivering a sensitively designed expansion of the town through a complementary, integrated new neighbourhood that helps deliver new housing and jobs in an attractive and green environment and unlocks £100m worth of investment in new infrastructure.

“We remain committed to engaging with the local community and all relevant stakeholders over the coming months as we begin to consult on the Design Codes for the site and to deliver the very best scheme possible.”

How CDC councillors voted:

For: Stephen Andrews, Mark Annett, Julian Beale, Tony Berry, Sue Coakley, Alison Coggins, Robert Dutton, David Fowles, Chris Hancock, Maggie Heaven, Stephen Hirst, Robin Hughes, Mark McKenzie-Charrington, Richard Morgan, Shaun Parsons, Ray Theodoulou, Len Wilkins

Against: Ray Brassington, Tatyan Cheung, Patrick Coleman, Jenny Forde, Jenny Hincks, Roly Hughes, Juliet Layton, Nigel Robbins, Joe Harris

Abstain: Andrew Doherty, Dilys Neil, Tina Stevenson

Not present: Mark Harris, Sue Jepson, Richard Keeling, Nicholas Parsons, Lynden Stowe