PLANS to build 125 new homes in Thornbury have been met with outrage by residents and councillors who are fighting to protect the town from more housing developments.


Linden Homes has applied to South Gloucestershire Council for permission to build 125 houses on land at Post Farm, saying the development would create new green public spaces and meet the area’s housing need.


But Thornbury Town Council has objected, arguing that the area has had its fair share of new housing and that any more would cause infrastructure problems.


Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, chairman of the town development committee, said: “Housing numbers were set by a government inspector in South Gloucestershire’s main planning document, the Core Strategy, after extensive and heated debate, yet now developers are expecting us to accept ever more houses with no regard for its impact on the town.


“Thornbury has accepted more and more housing, and this development would bring more pressure onto our services and our community. This is not strategic planning at all.”


Linden’s application comes after Bloor Homes applied to increase the number of houses in its development in Morton Way.


After receiving outline planning permission in 2013, Bloor has now applied to increase the number of houses from 300 to 340.


Cllr Tyrrell added: “Clever timing helped Bloor Homes when pushing through their original plan because it came just before the Core Strategy was agreed. But we now have a Core Strategy that does not include more building in the fields around Thornbury.


“If more housing is needed, the government should put together a better process and look around South Gloucestershire for where it is actually needed.”


Resident Charles Eardley-Wilmott, who is also objecting to the Post Farm proposal, said: “This land was not designated for housing in the local plan, and so should not have developments there.


“The increase of traffic at the Butt Lane junction would also not be good if this went ahead.”


The Post Farm plans, which were formed after a public consultation in October last year, include a new children’s play area for all residents.


Gaynor Parkinson, strategic land and planning manager at Linden Homes, said: “We have worked very hard to formulate the best possible proposals at Post Farm.
“We have also worked very hard to address other issues that were raised during the consultation.


“For example, we responded to comments from local residents about the density of previous plans by reducing the total number of new homes. This took the plans from a maximum of 175 new homes to 125 new homes, a reduction of almost 30 per cent.”