FIFTEEN years in the making, the Cinderford Area Action Plan – based firmly on the Steam Mills spine road proposal – has finally won district council approval. It is, says mayor Max Coborn, a shot in the arm for the town.

Welcoming the outcome this week, Cllr Coborn said the development of that part of Cinderford was long overdue.

"Taken in conjunction with the Asda supermarket proposal, the Northern Quarter plans are being widely welcomed in the town. It is the last area we can develop," he said.

Cllr Coborn said he understood that finance for the project was "largely in place."

"Things are looking very positive but we have been so near on previous occasions. I don't think I will believe it is happening until the first tarmac is laid," he said.

Cllr Coborn said related matters such as a new college, a lakeside hotel and new houses still had to be resolved.

"They would all be welcomed locally. The existing college needs a lot of money spent on it to bring it up to standard and it may be cheaper in the long-term to build a new college. It was, after all, in Cinderford in the first place," he said.

The Cinderford Area Action Plan and the Core Strategy document were approved at last Thursday's full council meeting.

In a statement the council said: "The Core Strategy is the main planning policy document for the district and contains the broad principles for sustainable development until 2026. The Cinderford AAP is a document which form a blueprint for the regeneration of the Northern Quarter, an area to the North-West of the town.

"The Planning Inspector, appointed by central Government, carried out detailed public examination of the Core Strategy and AAP in October last year. The Inspector found that the council has sufficient evidence to support both the Core Strategy and the AAP and confirmed that both documents provide an appropriate basis for the planning in the area over the next 15 years."

The statement says the way is now open for the Cinderford Regeneration Board to construct the spine road "unlocking" the Northern Quarter for "a mix of new, high quality commercial and residential development."