DEVELOPERS are pressing ahead with plans to build 500 new homes in Thornbury despite massive local opposition.

Barratt Homes has submitted an outline planning application to South Gloucestershire Council for 26 hectares of land at Park Farm, off Butt Lane. The firm has also made a separate outline application for a balancing pond and drainage system to support the large proposed housing estate.

In its application Barratt Homes said it would protect the nearby medieval fishponds and create a new bus route into the town. The estate would also include allotments, a community orchard and playing fields.

Park Farm was the preferred location for development in Thornbury chosen by South Gloucestershire Council in the authority’s Core Strategy, its planning blueprint for the next 20 years.

The site’s inclusion in the planning document received the support of Thornbury Town Council, despite more than 600 objections.

Christine Rickard, from Save Thornbury's Green Heritage, the campaign group set up to fight the Core Strategy, criticised the application.

She said: "Save Thornbury's Green Heritage consider the planning application grossly premature and we renew the fact we believe Park Farm is not a sustainable option for Thornbury."

The Core Strategy is currently with independent inspector Paul Crysell, appointed by the Secretary of State, who is due to start a public examination of the document later this month.

A spokesman for Barratt Homes said the company hoped its applications would be decided as soon as the Core Strategy was rubber stamped.

He said: "This will enable Barratt Developments to commence the development as soon as practically possible to meet local housing need and will enable South Gloucestershire Council to meet their requirement of maintaining at least a five year supply of available housing land.

"Barratt Developments will work with South Gloucestershire Council and stakeholders to design the detail of the development during this process with a view to submitting reserved matters details as soon as outline planning permission is secured."

Members of the public have until Friday, June 24 to comment on the balancing pond application, and Friday, July 8 to comment on the 500 homes application.

Both outline planning applications can be seen in full by visiting www.southglos.gov.uk