AN extensive new housing development in Upper Rissington is moving closer to fruition after fresh plans were submitted to Cotswold District Council (CDC).

Outline permission for up to 368 homes, non-residential buildings and leisure facilities, shops and office space was granted in February 2010 but finer details will now go before the planning committee on Wednesday, December 12.

Bovis Homes and Linden Homes have been working together to develop plans for the former RAF base in the village near Bourton-on-the- Water after holding a public consultation in July.

However, at a public meeting held by the parish council on Monday, residents voiced concerns about road access, traffic flow on the site of the officers’ mess and the new houses’ appearance.

Chairman David Harrison said about 30 villagers and CDC case officer Deborah Smith attended the village hall on Monday to discuss the plans.

“It was a good meeting,” he said. “The parish council supports the outline plan but there are issues with these reserved matters that people want to tweak and get right as we have to live with it once it’s finished.”

The outline planning permission also includes provision to convert many of the old RAF buildings as well as the provision of public open space and road improvements.

A primary school and community hall could also be be paid for by developers as part of a so-called ‘section 106’ agreement.

The initial scheme was thrown out by CDC over fears that such a large development in a remote rural area would be unsustainable.

But former site owner Reland (Rissington) Ltd won on appeal in February 2010 and the site was taken over by Linden and Bovis.

A spokesman for the developers said: “We’ve taken all of the comments on board and have made appropriate changes to our original proposals within the constraints of the outline planning consent.

“All being well, we will look to start work on site early next year and look forward to being able to deliver new facilities and infrastructure improvements for Upper Rissington soon.”

To view the plans, visit cotswold.gov.uk.