CAMPAIGNERS in Thornbury have welcomed the government’s decision to question the credibility of plans to build 500 homes in the town.

Independent inspector Paul Crysell has said he has concerns about South Gloucestershire Council’s Core Strategy, which proposes 21,500 be built in the district during the next 20 years.

Mr Crysell has called a special meeting at the end of the month to discuss his concerns with the local authority, before he decides whether or not to proceed in rubber stamping the document.

Included in the plan is the controversial scheme for a 500-home development at Park Farm in Thornbury.

The proposed housing estate has divided the town with many questioning the need for the development, and the suitability of the Park Farm site.

In response to the Core Strategy residents set up the campaign group Save Thornbury’s Green Heritage (STGH).

Tony Domaille, from STGH, said: "STGH is delighted but not surprised that the inspector is exploring concerns over the soundness of the Core Strategy and we have learned that there may be legal challenges to the Core Strategy from some quarters.

"We have always argued that, with regard to Thornbury, the Core Strategy was put together without real consultation and that raises questions about its validity.

"But bigger than that is the whole question of how sound it can be to select a site for development and then write a sustainability appraisal to fit that selection."

As well as residents, housing developers have strongly criticised the council’s favouritism of the Park Farm site, to be built by Barratt Homes.

Welbeck Strategic Land had hoped its proposals for 500 homes on land off Morton Way near the Grovesend roundabout would be included in the Core Strategy.

Erik Pagano, director in charge of the project for Welbeck, said the company welcomed the inspector’s intervention.

He said: "He will be asking 'Have the decisions that have been taken been informed by the correct evidence base, or is the evidence all ad hoc and just conveniently put together to justify the decision?'

"It has been our concern from the outset the council has not been interested in compiling a credible and robust evidence base."