Housebuilders are celebrating news that plans to construct 4,115 homes near Cheltenham have been approved.
The blueprint for Elms Park, a sprawling development covering over 530 acres north of Tewkesbury Road near Uckington, has received the green light from planning authorities.
Both Tewkesbury and Cheltenham Borough Council's planning committees considered the two-decade phased development at their respective meetings on Thursday.
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The scheme near junction 10 of the M5 has been called a "massive satellite dormitory" and was facing stiff resistance from locals with over 110 objections lodged. But the site was given the nod by planning officers from both councils.
The Elms Park Consortium, spearheaded by developers Bloor Homes and Persimmon Homes, said it was very happy with the committees' verdicts.
Its members said this decision comes on the back of more than 12 years of consultation and in-depth discussions, and will deliver much-needed housing for the region, with a special emphasis on affordable homes.
"There is no question that the region needs more houses and Elms Park will not only provide more than 4,000 new homes but also more than 1,000 of these will be affordable houses, many of which will become available for rent," a spokesperson said.
"But Elms Park is so much more than new homes: the new business park will lead to the creation of 4,000 jobs and will contribute £300 million a year to the sub-regional economy.
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"Sustainability is also integral to Elms Park, with the homes being built to the 2025 Future Homes Standard, ensuring they are zero carbon ready so that no further modifications will be required as the electricity grid becomes fully decarbonised.
"There will be no gas supplied to the development; instead, a combination of air sourced heat pumps and solar panels will be used throughout the development to provide renewable energy and low carbon heating. More than 250 acres of public open green space will be made available, including community allotments, a large park with footpaths and cycle tracks available to the wider community.
"A new transport hub will offer links into central Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Furthermore, the development will incorporate a new sports hub complete with a 3G sports pitch, a new six-GP doctor's surgery and dedicated community and healthcare facilities. In essence, Elms Park will deliver a significant contribution to much-needed housing, local economic growth and sustainable community living."
First proposed in 2012, the Elms Park development became a key part of the area's Joint Core Strategy in 2017.
The Elms Park project will also boast a contemporary 10-hectare business park, three new schools (one secondary and two primary) and improvements to off-site cycling routes.
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