The building society behind new housesin the town wants to make sure residents have equal access to gardens.

Nationwide is building 239 houses at Oakfield, partly on the site of the University of Bath's former campus in Marlowe Avenue.

And it has applied to be able to turn some unoccupied land into gardens for the houses being built.

The application to Swindon Borough Council says: “Nationwide want to ensure consistency with the provision of high-quality private amenity space across the site and accordingly have since acquired a small portion of land located at the western site boundary of the wider Oakfield site

“Nationwide seeks to utilise the newly acquired portion of land to increase the size of the impacted gardens located on the western site boundary, ensuring uniformity in the provision of private amenity space to the benefit of future occupants.

“This application pertains solely to two small portions of unoccupied and disused land, comprising hardstanding and disused storage facilities associated with the now derelict Oakfield Project building.

“The proposed development seeks planning permission for the change of use of unoccupied land to provide extended rear gardens of these residential properties.”

No decision has yet been made.