COUNCILLORS have given their unanimous backing to a development of 450 houses and 10 hectares of employment land in north east Cam.

The majority of the site was identified in Stroud District Council’s Local Plan, which was adopted last year, as being amongst the most suitable for development in the district.

Outline planning permission was granted by the council’s development control committee on Tuesday with the addition of provision for controversial plans to install traffic lights near Dursley Police Station to be reviewed at a later date.

Bathurst Ltd submitted its plans at the end of last year for the development of 450 homes – 30 per cent of which will be affordable, 10.7 hectares of employment land as well as a new park and cycling route.

Road infrastructure improvements to mitigate the impact of the increased population will be made including a new, traffic light-signalled, access on the A4135 at Draycott and alterations to the mini roundabout at the junction of Dursley Road and A4135.

Concern about the proposals for the roundabout to be also be changed to traffic lights were raised by the public and Dursley Town Council due to concerns about the impact it would have on traffic flow.

County councillor for Dursley and leader of Stroud District Council Steve Lydon had called for a decision on the junction to be delayed. At the meeting on Tuesday he reiterated his calls.

He said: “There has been a lot of discussion and controversy about the issue of what is being proposed here [at the junction].

“I think we’re basing this very much on supposition – the survey doesn’t necessary conclude that there’s a need for traffic lights at the junction.

“I suggest we review it in three years – having more time would help to meet the actual needs rather than what is thought may be needed.”

In its approval, the development control committee agreed to amend one of 43 conditions to include the opportunity for an improved roundabout to be installed rather than the traffic lights, so long as it does not cost anything extra.

The potential issue of parking by users of Cam & Dursley Station was also discussed and it was agreed that that the issue would be carefully looked at before full planning permission is granted.

Stroud District Council development control manager John Longmuir said: “Parking at the station is a potential problem.

“We will have to be very canny in regards to this and perhaps ensure that parking on the development is behind the homes.”

Committee member and Cam parish councillor Miranda Clifton cautiously added her vote in favour of granting outline planning permission stressing that the parish council had some concerns about the plans and asking for input into the final details before full permission is decided.

Cllr Clifton said: “We’re not happy in Cam with this development, it’s more resignation that it is going to happen and so we want to get the most from it.

“I’m slightly concerned that we are granting outline permission – I hope the level of detail that comes back to us is more accurate than what has been provided so far.

“There are various issues with this and I hope we will get to consider it later. I want assurance that reserved matters will be coming back to this committee.”

Included in outline permission is £389,309 in funding for pre-school education, £1,390.388 for primary education, an £88,200 contribution to library services, £10,000 for travel plan monitoring, £3,000 for cycle parking at the railway station, £23,319.60 for the installation of digital passenger information at four bus stations, £20,000 for car park surfacing at Jubilee playing fields and £130,000 for a skate park or similar project.

Reserved matters, the final details of the plans including landscape and layout, will now have to be agreed before full permission is granted and work can start.

Speaking after the meeting, Phil Staddon, the agent representing Bathurst Ltd, said:

“We’ve probably got a month or so now tying up the agreement and so we should be picking up the next stage around the new year.

“We are hoping that in 2017 we will be having serious conversations about starting the first phases of development.”