THE first documents regarding the proposed developments at the Northern United site near Steam Mills, Cinderford, have been posted on the District Council's Planning Department website.

They give a tantalising glimpse at the sheer size and scope of the new scheme.

In a broadly rectangular area between Hawkwell Inclosure, the A4136 cross-Forest road, Steam Mills iself and the top of the current industrial estate, the plans for the new development suggest that a wide mix of different types of buildings for the site.

These include category B1, Business, B2, General Industrial, B8, Storage and Distribution and, significantly, D1, Non Residential – a category that includes Educational uses, and which may well point to the proposal to build the new college complex for the Forest within this area.

The documents published on the site suggest that the development agenda is increasing momentum, fuelling worries held by some that the Five Acres college site and leisure centre are to be redeveloped in favour of the Northern United location.

The Northern United development plans have been put forward by the Homes and Communities Agency of the Government.

This agency was also a major player in the change of control of the Five Acres complex to Gloucester College.

Northern United will have a new spine road linking the Steam Mills road to the A4136, emerging around the entrance to the old brickworks.

Although not precisely marked as the proposded new college complex, one area on the plans has an adjacent car park and straddles one of the two small lakes at the centre of the site.

This, it is claimed, will be the location for the successor to Five Acres, whose ageing buildings present an increasing problem for maintenance.

The planning site reference is P1449/12/OUT.

•A full-day meeting to debate the proposed changes to Five Acres was held at Lakers School last Thursday, and featured extensive pleas from members of the public, former students and teaching staff, to maintain the old college buildings and leisure facilities as they are at present.

The Scrutiny Committee of the Forest of Dean District Council will be examining the findings of that meeting at the Council Offices in Coleford this coming Thursday (November 1) when they will be addressed by Cllr Patrick Molyneux. The meeting starts at 6pm.