Bosses behind the controversial Buckover Garden Village have asked those concerned about the plans to take ‘a leap of faith’.

Representatives of the Tortworth Estate, who own the land, and developer St. Modwen, who hope to build 3,000 homes on land east of Thornbury, addressed the town council at a meeting of its development committee last Tuesday.

Despite describing the recently rejected Joint Spatial Plan, of which Buckover Garden Village was a part, as ‘probably dead now’ developers are pushing ahead with the plans.

During a presentation, project representatives explained their commitment to the ‘garden village principles’. This includes starting work with the ‘village heart’ rather than building houses first and the infrastructure later.

A stewardship body made up of developers, residents, councillors and businesses was also promised.

The themes of health and nature were also promoted, as well as the desire for an ‘all electric solution’ with the village being made walkable and cycleable.

Chairman of the development committee Maggie Tyrrell said: “Most people still use their cars to do their weekly shop. They don’t do it on their bike and the don’t do it on the bus.

“In Thornbury we have two big supermarkets which are pretty much at capacity. You have got to provide big enough facilities for that number of people.”

A farm shop and other food outlets would be built in the village but there are currently no plans for a larger supermarket.

Plans to manage traffic on the A38, including the building of several roundabouts on the road and making improvements to junction 14 of the M5, were also queried.

Deputy mayor Jayne Stansfield said: “The 8,000 people will all have cars. I am really struggling to see how a pretty picture with three roundabouts ameliorates that.”

In response it was explained that Highways England engineers would have to be satisfied that the plans could work before any work is carried out.

Cllr Stansfield also expressed other concerns.

“Our health facilities are stretched to the absolute limit. Thornbury cannot cope with an extra 8,000 people,” she said.

In response, claims were made that the additional patients Buckover brings could pave the way for the improve health facility the town has been seeking for years.

Cllr Clive Parkinson remained sceptical and said: “I cannot see anything other than Thornbury being required to provide the health facilities that your so-called garden village is going to impose on the area.”

Colin Gardner, co-founder of TRAPP’D (Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Development) who have campaigned against the Buckover plans for years, asked about the future of the plans following the rejection of the Joint Spatial Plan.

In July planning inspectors advised the local authorities for Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset to take the plan back to the drawing board.

In response, Mr Gardner was told the developers were waiting to hear Weca’s (West of England Combined Authority) response to the setback.

Despite preferring to be plan-led, they did not rule out the possibility of a speculative development, saying they could not ‘wait indefinitely’.

More information on the revival of the JSP is expected by December.