PLANS have been revealed for a new neighbourhood with up to 350 homes in Thornbury.

The 70-acre Cleve Park development, on fields adjoining Morton Way and Grovesend Road, would include two to four bedroom houses, self-build plots and bungalows, as well as the potential for community facilities.

A joint venture between Welbeck Land and Landform along with architects JTP, the proposals were presented to Thornbury Town Council’s development committee on Tuesday.

This neighbourhood would add to the other new housing projects at Post Farm, Park Farm and Thornbury Fields on the north side of the town, which already total a combined 925 homes.

As a result, there are concerns that there is too much development taking place in the town.

The proposed site includes two "ancient woodlands", Crossways Wood and Cleve Wood, whch the team have said will be unaffected by the development.

The Cleve Park developers will host a public exhibition and workshops at the Armstrong Hall on Saturday, February 6 so the community can help shape the plans for the site.Following this, the group will deliver a presentation on February 17 to report back on the feedback from the workshops and present the conceptual masterplan for the new neighbourhood.

“At this point we have no masterplan for the site but we are very aware of the technical constraints,” said Charles Campion, one of the architects.

“Every site is unique as is every plan. What we want to do with this site in Thornbury is tease out the purpose that would best suit the town.

“We want to have an adult conversation with the town to see how it can be the best it can be, something that is integrated with the rest of the community.”

Erik Pagano, from Landform, added: “We can’t expect everyone will endorse it and walk away smiling but we hope to win the middle ground.

“At the end of the workshops, we hope to have someone stand up and explain what was discussed in each group, giving a chance to show the diversity of views.”

Following Tuesday’s presentation, councillors and members of the public expressed their opinions and questioned the Cleve Park team.

Resident Colin Pickering asked if the proposals included plans to change the roundabout junction between Morton Way and Grovesend Road, to which the Cleve Park team answered no.

Cllr Clare Fardell said: “I am sure that despite the fact we don’t want it, we are going to have it – this has been shown from the Post Farm development.

“This planning day will be good, however, as we can sit down and talk about how it could benefit Thornbury.”

Resident Ray Pioli said: “My challenge to you (the team) is to pose the question during the exhibition asking whether Thornbury requires this development, yes or no, to have an honest record of what the public really think.”

Referring to the community engagement on the project, Thornbury mayor Guy Rawlinson said: “It is an incredibly limited amount of time to contribute or react. In reality it fits your timetable but does it fit everyone else’s?”