In the Adver this morning
Three hundred houses will be built on land in south Swindon originally earmarked for a business park. 7 comments
And the homes to be built by developers Redrow Homes and Persimmon Homes will become an extension to the hundreds of houses already built, or being built at the Badbury Park development.But while borough councillors, who voted to approve the scheme, and parish councillors were not in opposition, there are concerns about noise for residents near the M4 and A419The agent for the plsn James Walker of Pegasus Planning which has an office in Cirencester, told the planning committee. Thjis land was orginally approved for a business park, but it is clear there is no reasonable prospect of the plot vbeing developed for employment use after four years on the amrket.Mr Waloker sais thaqt reports showed that useing the land for 300 houses instead would actually cut traffic to the site compared to the expected tarffic if it had vbecome an uindustrail site.Coun Fionuala Foley, who sits on the committee and is also a ward councillor for the area said: "|I went to thge entireety of the public consultation session when this plan was first prtoposed, and spoke to all the residenmts whjo attended. Many of them didn't know the site had approval for a business park, which was disappointying. But Iasked them all which they'd prefer, the park or housing and the overwheklming majority wanted the housing - they felt it would be less disruptive."But noise form the roads is a concern to South Swindon Parish Council.
It's deputy chairman of planning, Coun Patrick Herring told the committee: "We are not against this development bin prinicple but we don have some concerns."
Coun Herring saidd it was important that proposed noise-defelcting piles of eart, or bunds, were effective., and said noise studies showe4d the areas of the development area , bounded by the motorway and dual carriageway, received noise equivalent to a washing machine on a full spin cycle.
He said the council was also concerend about children xcrossing Day Hall lane to get to play areas and sports pictches, and corssing should be built to seve the "desire paths" of people going to those facilities.
Coun Foley praised the developers for planning extensive play facilities, including a games area, a proper sports pitch, a "teenage shelter" and a walking and fitness trail with outdoors gym equpment such as pull-up bars wraooing around the south of thre site.
But, she said: "EResidents in the existing estate are still waiting for their play areas - there isn't enough room to have a kickabout. So please get on with that."
