Plans for 350 homes set for approval

Plans to build up to 350 homes, an elderly care facility and commercial space on a site north of Bristol are set to get the green light from councillors this week (9 March 2017).Welbeck Strategic Land, via Dominic Lawson Bespoke Planning, submitted an application in 2016 to develop a 54-acre site on the eastern edge of Thornbury in Gloucestershire.The outline plans for Cleve Park propose a development of up to 350 houses, including 14 self-build dwellings, with 35 per cent of the scheme affordable housing.The self-build plots are expected to be made available as a separate parcel of land to the north of the site.A 70-unit elderly care facility will also be built, together with up to 12,400 sq ft of space suitable for commercial and community uses.The development is expected to cost £52.5m to build and would create almost 250 jobs during construction. When complete, it is expected to house 900 residents, support the creation of 44 jobs and generate up to £1.12m of gross GVA per year.Thornbury is identi?ed as a suitable and sustainable location for new housing in the adopted local plan and there is said to be scope for more housing on top of the already-permitted development.The plans will go before South Gloucestershire Council’s development control (West) committee on 9 March 2016.A report prepared ahead of the meeting has recommended approval, subject the signing of a Section 106 agreement to secure affordable housing and public open space provision, as well as financial contributions towards transportation.The report said that while there would be some harm caused by the development, including increased traffic and loss of countryside, this didn’t outweigh the “environmental, social and economic benefits”.Despite the recommendation, 63 objections have been received from 52 nearby addresses, with concerns including potential harm to the existing town and countryside and impact on the nearby amenities and infrastructure.