Plans for 135 edge-of-town homes to be decided

Another 135 new homes are expected to get the green light on farmland on the outskirts of Swindon.

Residents, councils and a campaign group have objected to the development north of Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, between the A3102 and the M4.

The site lies outside the town's settlement boundary, and there are concerns about the loss of countryside, traffic pressure on infrastructure and the cumulative impact of several large developments proposed around the town.

However, planning officers are recommending it be approved at a meeting on 14 October, as they said the benefits of new homes, including 54 affordable ones, outweigh the harms.

Hundreds of homes have been planned in the Royal Wootton Bassett area over the past couple of years.

Officers say national planning policy and the county's housing shortage weigh heavily in favour of approval of the plans from Gleeson Land.

Officers argue the development would make a significant contribution to meeting housing demand, with 81 open market properties alongside the affordable homes.

There would be other investment too, including more than £1.57m towards early years, primary and secondary school places, £135,000 for bus services, £45,000 for improvements at M4 Junction 16, sports facilities and recycling services.

A new junction on Swindon Road, a toucan crossing, upgraded pedestrian and cycle routes and a reduction in the speed limit near Stoneover Lane are also planned.

Alongside concerns from residents, the plans have attracted opposition from Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council, and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, which said the plans would result in "urban sprawl".

The development would also sit close to the nationally important Post Mill scheduled monument, the base of a medieval windmill.

Officers said there would be harm to the setting, but it would be mitigated with a 50m buffer zone, which has public open space.

Historic England has not objected, and neither has National Highways.

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