MEMBERS of Cam Parish Council hope that they can finalise the design of their mixed-use development in Chapel Street next month.

It is hoped that the lengthy project may finally be reaching the building stage after a productive meeting of the council's development committee.

Councillors met the site architect to discuss the preliminary designs and give their ideas to enable a finalised design to be produced.

They looked at two plans - the council building and the overall site.

Development committee chairman Cllr Margaret Nolder told the council that several alterations had been recommended to the architect.

She said: "The council office itself was smaller than what we have at the moment and there was a lack of storage space.

"There was also a waste of space because the kitchen and the toilets were too big."

The development as a whole now features five units for commercial use and 14 homes.

There are 11 houses planned for the site and a further three flats, which will be above the commercial units.

The architect has also met with development control officers from Stroud District Council and will consider their comments in addition to those of the parish council when revising the designs.

It is hoped that the new designs will be ready in time for a meeting between the parish council, the district council and developers Bathurst Ltd (formerly Cheltenham Builders) on February 8.

Should everyone be satisfied with the plans, the project may finally move onto the planning application stage.

Parish clerk Sue Hanman said: "It is hoped that there will be a broad agreement between the parties at that meeting."