A hugely controversial plan to knock down a large bungalow on sizeable grounds and build five houses on the site has been turned down.

Mrs E Hall’s plan, lodged in late 2019, was to knock down the bungalow at 276 Ermin Street in Stratton St Margaret, just off the White Hart Roundabout, and put up eight houses and apartments and garages to go with the homes on the land.

That drew several objections and the plans were revised down to five houses several times over four years, with the final revision being a proposal for three two-bedroom houses fronting on to Ermin Street in a short terrace, and two semi-detached three-bed homes at the rear of the site, with two parking spaces per home between the two blocks, but no garages.

The submitted application said: “An opportunity exists to layout the buildings in a fashion that will retain and reflect the character of the street and the grain of the surrounding urban area.

“Even though there will be an intensification of use of the site this is not considered to be significant enough to result in any unacceptable impact to residential amenity. It is considered that the redevelopment of the site properly maximises its development potential, taking account of the general character of surrounding redevelopment, the scale of buildings.”

But neighbours and local parish and ward councillors were not happy at any of the revisions.

Council ward members Russell Holland and Pam Adams had both asked that the matter be 'called in' to the planning committee for discussion if planning officers were minded to approve the scheme.

Stratton St Margaret Parish Council was also against the plans citing: “Loss of daylight and privacy, drainage issues, loss of trees and wildlife, parking and congestion with 16 additional vehicles and  Local Flood Authority concerns.”

Objections had also been sent in by 17 neighbours and nearby residents saying the development was out of character with the area, was over-development and that neighbouring houses would suffer a loss of privacy and daylight.

Swindon Borough Council’s urban design officer found the design and layout of the houses “uncharacteristic of the area” and not compliant with local planning policies.

The authority’s planning officers have turned down the plan saying: “Safe access can be achieved and adequate car parking provision can be provided. However, the design of the proposed development would be out of character with the local area and harmful to the amenities of existing and future residents in terms of overshadowing, outlook, noise, disturbance and space.

“The development and surrounding land would also be at risk of surface water flooding. Therefore, the proposed development is in conflict with the development plan.”