350 new homes will be built in Thornbury after a legal challenge by the council proved unsuccessful.

South Gloucestershire Council refused planning permission for the 22-hectare Cleve Park site in March 2017, and then launched a judicial review when the Planning Inspectorate Clive Hughes overruled its decision.

He acknowledged that the scheme, produced by Landform and Welbeck Strategic Land, was contrary to South Gloucestershire Council’s development plan, but gave substantial weight to the benefit of much-needed housing, together with the economic benefits of jobs and an increased population.

The plans include 35 per cent affordable housing, a 70-bed care home and community and commercial facilities.

South Gloucestershire Council said allowing the scheme would prejudice the West of England’s joint spatial plan, which is currently being drawn up.

In the High Court, the council questioned why Mr Hughes gave 'little weight' to its argument that the application was premature and said his reasons were 'inadequate'

Judge Mrs Justice Lang DBE said: “There was not any real, as opposed to forensic, doubt as to what the inspector’s reasons were.

“In the course of [South Gloucestershire Council’s solicitor] Alexander Greaves’ oral submissions, it became clear that the council’s main challenge was to the substance of the inspector’s reasons, not their adequacy or intelligibility.”

Alistair Watson, senior partner at Welbeck, said: “I am delighted that we have, at last, and two and a half years after submitting our planning application, secured permission for 350 new homes.  

“The only disappointment is the time it has taken to secure this permission, and, bearing in mind our original application was supported by the council’s planning officers, I hope lessons can be learnt to avoid this situation recurring, particularly when the country is suffering from such a severe housing shortage."

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “We are committed to plan-led development so that South Gloucestershire can grow to meet the future demand for housing in a sustainable way and we will robustly challenge decisions that undermine this.

“We are disappointed that this particular decision has gone against us, however we will continue to work during this year on an updated Local Plan that will allow us to direct how and where our communities grow.

“Government analysis last year confirmed that we have an adequate supply of land for the growth we need, which will act as a protection against speculative development of this kind which is contrary to our plans for the future.”