A date has been set for a public inquiry into controversial plans for almost 600 homes on high-grade farmland on the outskirts of Thornbury. The planning appeal to decide whether to allow the huge development on fields west of Park Farm, Butt Lane, including a primary school, a retail and community hub, parkland, allotments and new roads, was initially scheduled for May as a virtual hearing.
Illness of a “key participant” forced its postponement but it has now been rearranged and will take place, in person, from 10am on Thursday, September 29, to Friday, October 14, at Turnberries Community Centre, Bath Road, Thornbury. Developers Barwood Development Securities appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after South Gloucestershire Council failed to determine their application in time.
That took the decision out of the local authority’s hands but the strategic sites delivery committee members agreed in January that they would have rejected the scheme if they still had the power to do so. They described the proposals for the site in open countryside outside the settlement boundary as “speculative” because it was contrary to the development plan and would have harmed the setting of Thornbury Castle and a church, both Grade I-listed.
Read more: Public inquiry to decide plans for 595 homes on high-quality farmland in Thornbury
The committee’s decision meant the council would fight the appeal, being overseen by a government inspector. The plans have sparked a wave of criticism with objections from 134 residents, Thornbury Town Council and Oldbury-on-Severn Parish Council.
A total of 208 – 35 per cent – of the 595 two- and three-storey houses would be classed as affordable. Councillors were told in January that the local road network could not take so many new homes at the 36-hectare site and that it would be a “tragedy” to lose agricultural land deemed to be “best and most versatile”.
The local authority also has a good supply of land for homes above the five-year threshold, which weighed against the proposals. Barwood said it would be a “high-quality development” and include “substantial areas of public open space”.
The public can attend the hearing starting next week and, at the inspector’s discretion, express views. More information is available by emailing Thornburyplanninginquiry@southglos.gov.uk or holly.dutton@planninginspectorate.gov.uk citing planning application PT18/6450/O.
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