A COMMUNITY centre plus a hotel/conference centre are planned for the former Lister Petter site in Dursley as well as the business and housing developments, it was revealed this week.

An outline application from St Modwen Developments and the South West Regional Development Agency has been submitted to Stroud District Council but no decision is expected for several months.

Dursley's county councillor Geoff Wheeler (Lab) said the project, known as Littlecombe, would help bring prosperity back to the town.

"It is a major step forward," he said. "After the decline of the industry in the town it is good to see the site on the up again."

The outline application is for a mixed-use development comprising up to 600 homes, a business park, offices, a community centre and a hotel/conference centre.

A spine road through the site will be constructed to link Kingshill Road and Long Street.

"Hopefully, we will not only retain existing jobs but provide additional jobs for people in and around Dursley so that more money can be brought into the town," Cllr Wheeler added.

"The new houses should give the shopping areas a welcome boost, helping to make it a more thriving market town."

The plans also involves the creation of open spaces and the opening up of the River Cam for the town's residents to enjoy.

Cllr Wheeler stressed that residents would not be forgotten as the planning application proceeded.

He said: "There has been a huge amount of public consultation so far involving local people. Together with Vale Vision the people of Dursley will continue to be involved with this project."

Stroud planners are expected to take several months to study the application before eventually putting it before the development control committee.

Planning officer Andrew Case said: "Because it is such an extensive application it is unlikely to go before the committee until the middle of the year at the earliest."