A TUDOR deerpark is set to be turned into a major housing estate after contentious plans to build 500 properties to the north of Thornbury were given the green light.

Members of South Gloucestershire Council’s development west committee unanimously approved the scheme at Park Farm last Thursday despite pleas from local councillors and residents to shelve Barratt Homes’ "ridiculous" project once and for all.

During the three-and-a-half hour meeting they heard objections and concerns from independent Thornbury town councillors, who unlike the majority of their colleagues strongly objected to a development, near listed medieval fishponds, members of action group Save Thornbury’s Green Heritage (STGH) and residents.

Independent Cllr Rob Hudson urged the committee to face the facts and question why Park Farm was chosen regardless of the harm to its fishponds and historic legacy.

He said: "Why was this site chosen against local public opinion, the views of English Heritage, the Council for British Archaeology, the Garden History Society, the Avon Gardens Trust, Thornbury and District Trust and its own conservation officer?"

Two other sites, both off Morton Way, were in contention with Park Farm but the latter was eventually picked by South Gloucestershire Council, backed by a majority of Thornbury leaders, and included in its core strategy. The choice was later approved by a planning inspector following a month-long public examination in the summer.

Chairman of STGH and fellow independent councillor Gareth Davies added that residents were baffled by the choice of Park Farm in the first instance.

He said: "We are very upset with South Gloucestershire planners. You could make a better choice for Thornbury. Can we find a site that does not damage listed buildings and concrete over a deerpark?"

Other residents also raised the issue of creating two entrances to the site in the middle of an S-bend, as proposed by Barratt Homes.

But their claims were dismissed by officers and councillors decided, without debate, to back town leaders and vote in favour of the development.

Town Cllr Maggie Tyrrell had defended the choice of Park Farm at the meeting, explaining the thought process behind it.

She said: "The town council has taken the view that Thornbury would benefit from a development of this size. While 500 houses might not be the whole solution to revitalise the town centre it can certainly support it.

"The council has listened to many people on the subject of where these house should be and we decided that the "least worst" place was Park Farm."

Opponents to the plans called the decision "scandalous".

Cllr Hudson said: "They didn't even bother to discuss it. Councillors just let it go through. It's clearly disappointing. We have to decide now if we want to do anything further about it."

No one from Barratt Homes was available for comment this week.