Politics & Council · Swindon
Plans submitted for 17 new homes on countryside land near Blunsdon
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A fresh planning application has been lodged for seventeen homes on undeveloped land near Blunsdon as developers look to address local housing needs.
A new planning application has been submitted to build 17 homes on a 2.16-hectare site of undeveloped countryside near Blunsdon. The proposed development, located off the B4019 south of Broad Bush, seeks full permission for a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom properties.
The current proposal includes four two-bedroom homes, eight three-bedroom units, and five four-bedroom houses. Most of the dwellings are designed to be detached, though the plans also feature a small terrace of houses. The site layout incorporates landscaping, amenity space, and a managed biodiversity area, with the applicant committing to retaining the majority of the mature trees currently bordering the land.
The land is identified in the emerging Swindon Local Plan 2023-2043 as part of the proposed Broad Blunsdon housing allocation. In their planning statement, the developers contend that the scheme can proceed independently of neighbouring sites already earmarked for future development.
This is not the first time the land has been the subject of development interest. Previous applications for six and eight homes on the site were refused by planners in 2017 and 2019, with officials citing concerns over archaeology, design, sustainability, and countryside preservation policies. However, the applicants argue that the regional planning landscape has shifted significantly since then, pointing to major housing schemes now progressing nearby at Kingsdown, Turnpike Road, and East Broad Blunsdon.
A key element of the developer's argument rests on Swindon Council's current housing land supply, which is reported to be at 4.9 years. As this falls slightly short of the mandatory five-year requirement, the application suggests that the proposal benefits from the National Planning Policy Framework presumption in favour of sustainable development.
Access to the site would be provided via an upgraded version of the existing field entrance on Broad Bush. The plans include a total of 56 parking spaces, with four allocated for visitors. The accompanying transport assessment indicates potential improvements to local infrastructure, including a new pedestrian crossing point and enhancements to existing bus stop facilities along the site frontage.
Ecological reports submitted alongside the application state that the build can proceed provided that specific mitigation measures are followed. The developer has proposed delivering at least 10 per cent biodiversity net gain through a combination of on-site planting and off-site measures. A flood risk assessment has also been carried out, which concluded that the site is at very low risk of flooding.
The proposal also includes an offer of affordable housing that complies with current council policy requirements.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original