The final details which need approval before work starts on five self-build houses in Blunsdon have been signed off.

When Swindon Borough Council gave permission in 2018 to PCH developments to knock down the commercial warehouse in Lindsey’s Yard off Turnpike Road in Blunsdon near the junction with Kingsdown Lane, and build five houses, the access to the small development and the layout of houses was agreed.

But other details, notably the finishes to the houses and the drainage system were reserved, meaning a new application setting out how those issues would be managed had to be made, and approved before work could start.

Fears over flooding and drainage were a real issue during the discussion of the initial application, with Blunsdon Parish Council objecting to the scheme.

It said: “With regard to this recent application if you are confident that this application, and its drainage plan and the disposal of run-off and effluent on this site will have no significant harmful effect on the Bydemill Brook watercourse, then we will withdraw our objection.

“You must consider the recent grant of planning for five large houses to the adjacent site, which will also discharge into the same watercourse.

"Both sites appear to have significant contamination to the land upon which they will be built.”

Five separate reserved matters applications – one for each house- were submitted by developer Nick Sandhu and all have been given approval.

According to the planning officer’s delegated report Blunsdon Parish Council” reluctantly withdrew its application”, but it clearly has concerns about sewage discharge from the houses and others p[planned or being built nearby.

The parish council said to planners: “Please add a condition regarding the safe disposal of foul sewage to prevent flooding/excess discharge into Bydemill Brook.

There are a further 5 houses consented that will discharge into this brook and a further 16 applications pending

Access to the site will be via a short paved single-lane track. And the houses will be set out in a T-shape, with two facing south east and three facing south west.

The site used to be used by concrete company Multi-Crete and was also t used by a car repair business.