Page 8 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • February 2009
8
Pressure builds to expand West Swindon as Mead

Moredon Bridge planning appeal could open up West development
A planning enquiry which recommences in the week beginning 16 February in Chippenham will determine whether 200 houses are added
to West Swindon, and it could open the floodgates for a further 1,000 in North Wilts, but on Swindon's doorstep.
Because of a quirk in the way yet to be approved and Swindon
district boundaries were redrawn Council still has not finalised its
in the 1980s, the land between Spar- Core Strategy.
cells and the River Ray, adjacent to "We question whether there is
the Moredon Road railway bridge enough water supply available
lies within North Wiltshire District, in the Upper Thames region and
although surrounded on three sides whether there will be major prob-
by Swindon. lems with waste removal, flooding,
North Wilts rejected an ap- traffic congestion, school places
plication by Wain Homes for the and adequate health support for
second time to build 200 houses The River Ray after 15 hours rain on 15/16 March 2008. Houses at Sparcells can another 3,000 houses added to West
he seen just hei,'ond where new homes are proposed
on the site on the grounds that it Swindon."
is outside the agreed framework enquiry that they could quickly worse as 2,000 homes are still to Coun Peter Greenhalgh, Swindon
plan for housing development, the satisfy government house building be completed in Priory Vale. The Council cabinet member for strate-
impact on the road network and targets for the Swindon area if given Moredon Bridge site is not a good gic planning, said, "the council does
the increased flood risk upstream permission to develop land to the position to build houses; it will be not have as much influence as we
on the River Ray. north of West Swindon, beyond bad foreverybody inWestSwindon want to ensure planned expansion.
Despite the credit crunch de- Peatmoor at Ridgeway Farm (1,000 if developers get their hands on Decisions on housing provision are
velopers are lining up planning houses). Ridgeway Farm." being made at central government
applications in readiness for an Ironically the land was originally Richard Pagett of environmental level, and the detail of these urban
economic upturn and are lodging part of the Swindon western expan- action group Purton Ps & Qs said extensions will be decided upon by
appeals to every rejection. sion master plan in the early 1980s the pressure from developers is North Wilts District Council.
A planning inspector in 2004 but was excluded by a planning severe. "Prior to the first three days "New housing will impose
required North Wilts to find land inspector when plans for Shaw, of the enquiry in mid December, considerable strain on Swindon's
for 1,000 homes as urban extensions Peatmoor and Sparcells were given Taylor Wimpey lodged their objec- infrastructure."
to Swindon, but this was raised the go ahead. tions to Moredon Bridge because, See possible development sites:
to 3,000 by a Regional Planning Sparcells resident Pete Wilson one suspects, of their interest in www.swindon.gov.uk > search for
Inspector. has objected to the Moredon Bridge Ridgeway Farm where 1,000 houses Core Strategy
Last year a consortium of build- proposal. "The congestion on Mead could be built.
ers argued at a regional planning Way is huge and is going to get "Swindon Borough Council may Growth points
also be taking this longer term view
as they too objected to the Moredon - after the recession
Bridge application. Overall 3,000 new homes are pro-
"The Regional Spatial Strat- posed in the Regional Spatial Strat-
egy demands more houses but egyas urban extensions to Swindon,
the economic recession and com- but within North Wiltshire.
mon sense now question whether A further 2,000 are being con-
building more and more houses is sidered forTadpole Farm, adjoining
sustainable. Developers should, North Swindon, as part of the overall
in any event, wait for the proper 35,000 houses to be built within
planning process to take place. Swindon by 2026 as required by
The Regional Spatial Strategy has central government.
Coate enquiry gets going in February
Developers Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes have forced a planning
enquiry on their proposal to build 2,000 homes and a university campus
between Coate Water Country Park and Great Western Hospital.
Over the last five years well over 50,000 people have signed a petition
against the plan and Swindon Council, having supported a university at
Coate, is now keen to see it built in the town centre.
The three week enquiry starts on 10 February at the Marriott Hotel.
www.savecoate.org.uk

Speedway plan goes to the dogs
A £6 million proposal to
build 450 homes, offices
and a new speedway and
dog stadium at St Andrew's
Ridge has been suspended
pending an upturn in
the economy and an im-
provement in the housing
market.
The scheme has planning
permission to proceed but
the investment in the new
facility on an adjacent site
to the existing stadium is
dependent on house sales.