A DISTRICT councillor has asked for transparency from developers over proposals to build on land in Moreton that could potentially accommodate 800 new homes.

Cllr Alison Coggins said she was keeping an open mind about the plans, but hoped if they did go ahead that positives could be drawn from them, including an opportunity to secure a secondary school to serve the area.

Representatives from Spitfire Homes gave a presentation at Moreton Town Council's planning committee on January 19 to express their intent to submit an application in early summer to develop the land at Dunstall Farm. The site lies to the south of the Fosseway Avenue estate and opposite the new hospital.

A short questions and answers session followed with Spitfire suggesting engaging the community in the pre-planning stage through workshops and public presentations.

The plan is to develop the 43 hectare site with anything from 150 homes to the site's full potential of 800 houses, although a representative from Spitfire suggested 600 homes would be the most they might be looking at building.

Cotswold District Councillor Alison Coggins, representing Moreton West Ward, gave her views on the proposed submission. She said: "At this stage it would be inappropriate to express an opinion until an application is received by the planning authority, however, the site lies outside the town's development boundary and is classified as Grade 2 arable. It hasn't been identified in the emerging Local Plan and the A429 suffers severe traffic stress around this point with several busy roads and entrances converging at the Southern end of town."

Cllr Coggins added: "If an application is submitted I look forward to hearing the potential positives of any proposed development. It would be beneficial all round if there was transparency as to any 'master plan' for the site as it is imperative for the the town to benefit from any development as a whole as opposed to several smaller piecemeal applications that could take place which could underestimate both impact and mitigation.

"Through a section 106 agreement we could do with a secondary school and all the associated benefits this brings to a community. Primary schools and GPs are already stressed. In addition some sort of Moreton Parkway Train Station might also be a consideration."

Spitfire said the town may see a planning application being submitted as early as June this year.

Cllr Coggins added that it was important for local people to be involved in potential future plans and reminded residents that there was a vacancy on the town council.

"It would be great to see a representative from the Fosseway Avenue estate come forward for consideration to ensure the people's needs in this part of town are being best served. It has been under represented for the last year or so."