THORNBURY and Yate MP Luke Hall has said a developer’s plan to submit a planning application for a 3,000-home garden village near Thornbury later this year is “rushed”.

The reaction from the Conservative MP, who has opposed the development from the outset, follows the announcement that the developer St Modwen had signed a long-term agreement with land owners, the Tortworth Estate, to begin work on an application for the controversial development.

Mr Hall said: “The suggestion by the land promoters of a ‘done deal’  as well as the intention to gather a rushed application together for what is simply a huge town extension will be met with justified disappointment and anger from residents, and rightly so.”

“Since these proposals have been announced our community has waged a huge campaign pointing out and highlighting the serious flaws in the plan, so any suggestion that this will go ahead is very premature. It does seem that this rush to get permission just further demonstrates their fears that this may not stand up under independent scrutiny.

“I will be continuing to work alongside the community in fighting these proposals in the remaining phases, including in the examination in public, and as our MPI will continue to work in building on the existing awareness of its flaws at the highest levels of Government.”

Colin Gardner, co-chairman of residents’ action group TRAPP’D, said: “These lawyers and developers are so excited about the money they think they’re going to make on Buckover that they just can’t help themselves shouting about it to the world.

“They obviously also think they’ve got South Gloucestershire so deeply committed to Buckover that they can take the whole planning process approvals for granted.”

Rupert Joseland, West and Wales property director for St. Modwen said: “As a regional and national developer with expertise in creating new communities, we continually strive to change places to create better futures.”

He added that as Tortworth Estate’s development partner, they would implement the infrastructure works associated with the project and would deliver up-to 3,000 new homes, designed to complement the existing area.