Fresh doubt has been cast over a hugely controversial proposal to build an enormous energy from waste plant in Swindon.

Rolton Kilbride was given the green light on appeal in 2019 to build the facility on open land at Key Point - angering neighbours who campaigned noisily against the development.

But now Legal & General Investment Management has also been given planning permission to construct a very large warehouse on the same plot of disused land in South Marston.

The site, off Thornhill Road, is just northeast of the A419 in the corner formed by the railway line and a branch spur, and is just to the south west of the former Honda plant, now being developed as a logistics and industrial complex called Panattoni Park after its developers.

The application says the site is ideal for another warehouse, as there are already several in the area: “The development site is reasonable in area and capable of accommodating a significant development.

"The established industrial nature of the surrounding area means that further commercial development is highly contextual.

"The scale and the massing of the existing neighbouring industrial  and commercial buildings means that new appropriately designed development can be accommodated easily and sensibly.”

The plan is for a single warehouse of 10,288 square metres for the main hall – about the size of 1.5 full-size football pitches.

There will be just over 100 car parking spaces, eight motorcycle spaces and 48 spaces to secure bicycles at the development.

After some revisions to the plan, Swindon Borough Council’s planning officers recommended approval of the scheme saying: “The development proposal is considered to have achieved the objective of sustainable development in relation to high-quality design and place-making principles.

“Considering the existing built form and site conditions, the proposed development would complement the current urban design, context, and character of the Key Point Industrial area.”

In a possible conflict, developer Rolton Kilbride already has permission for a huge energy waste plant to be built on exactly the same plot of land.

The plan to build the plant which produced gas by superheating domestic waste to such a temperature that it releases the gas, which is then used to generate electricity, and becomes safe inert waste without ever being incinerated, was initially turned down by Swindon Borough Council, which said there was no need for it.

Indeed, Rolton Kilbride’s application said rubbish would have to be imported into Swindon for the plant’s processing, and that was one reason it wanted to construct it near a spur of the railway line.

That decision was overturned by a government-appointed Planning Inspector in 2020.

Since then progress has been slow. There have been no additional documents submitted since the landscaping plan demanded by the permission put in in 2020.

Rolton Kilbride has not responded to a request for comment on whether it intends to continue with its plan.

Legal & General Investment Management owns the site.