A hugely controversial proposal for more than 250 houses to be built alongside the railway line in the heart of Swindon will be discussed and decided next week.

And the planning officers’ report to members of Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee recommends approving the development of 260 homes at Newburn Sidings.

Development company One Swindon wants outline permission for up to 262 residential dwellings and 142 square metres of other uses such as a possible convenience store or a cycle hub and café on brownfield land between Rodbourne Road and Wootton Bassett Road.

Originally the plan was for up to 360 houses, but after a long period of consultation, the application lodged had revised the number of flats and houses down to 262.

One Swindon’s application says: “The site could have a positive impact upon the public realm of the town by not only providing a high-quality edge to Westcott recreation ground with potential links between the two but also improve pedestrian and cycle routes to the town centre and railway station from the west of the town. The site offers the opportunity to provide a striking contemporary Swindon gateway development when approached by railway.”

The plans show houses and flats arrayed in a narrow development to the south of the railway land, with houses to the northern end of the development, and three blocks of flats at the southern end, which are set amongst green open spaces and woodland.

More than 500 people wrote to the council about the plan, nearly all of them objecting. As well as fears about the increase of traffic into the nearby road system, and even the stability of the railway embankment, many people wrote about the wildlife that had made the woodland and scrubland along the railway something of a nature reserve, citing foxes, dear, bats and many birds living there.

But planning officers at Euclid Street have recommended that committee members give the scheme the green light: “Development should only be prevented or refused on highway grounds if there would be a significant unacceptable impact on highway safety.

“In this case, there is a new junction proposed with the Wootton Basset Road. This is considered to be an acceptable addition to the highway infrastructure on this important thoroughfare in and out of town.

“ The ability to create a more direct link for pedestrians and cyclists through the site is seen as a significant positive aspect of the development proposal.

The committee meeting starts at 6pm on Tuesday, October 8 at the Civic Offices in Euclid Street. Members of the public are entitled to attend.