Lord Bathurst's Cirencester land development bid approved

A "community hub" including GP surgery and sports hall is part of the plans by Bathurst Development Ltd

An aristocrat's bid to build 2,350 homes on the edge of Cirencester has been given the go-ahead by Cotswold District Council.

The outline plan for the land at Chesterton, owned by Lord Bathurst, includes a school and community centre.

Councillors voted in favour of the plan despite hundreds of objections lodged about the scale of the development.

It is estimated the development will increase the size of the town by as much as 40%.

Bathurst Development said it would "help meet the urgent need for new homes in the area".

It is estimated the development will increase the size of the town by as much as 40%

Councillor Joe Harris expressed dismay that Chesterton will only deliver 70 houses for social rent when "there is demand of 1,500 across the district".

The decision to approve the application was made at a day-long meeting at Cirencester Baptist Church where councillors carried out a "rigorous examination" of the plans.

In the vote, 17 members of the council were in favour of the development and nine were against, with three abstentions.

Cirencester is the main centre of the Cotswolds with a population of about 20,000.