A controversial housing development that has left residents 'living in fear of being poisoned' for six years has been permitted to go ahead. 

The authority’s planning committee members decided to allow company One Swindon to build more than 250 houses on the strip of embanked land between the railway line and the backs of the houses in Dean Street between Park Lane and Wootton Baset Road, nearly a kilometre in length

The committee gave outline permission for the development - known as Newburn Sidings.

Everything else but the access to the site will need to be approved in a fully detailed planning application.

(Image: Anderson + Prescott) Read More: Revised plans for new Rodbourne estate still raise concerns

However, the submitted plans are a decent guide and show houses built linearly along the back of the Dean Street houses, interspersed with parks.

The development continues along the boundary of Westcott Recreation Grounds, where three large blocks of flats would be sited among green open space and parks stretching as far as Wootton Bassett Road.

But while the developer’s agent, planning officers, and some committee members thought the site, called Newburn Sidings, was ideal for the 262 proposed homes and the regeneration of central Swindon, those nearby had real concerns.

Read More: Objections to plans for hundreds of new Swindon homes

Former councillor for the area, Bob Wright spoke against the proposal and was particularly concerned about the loss of the trees along the railway siding, which has become something of an urban wildlife reserve.

He said: “Hundreds of mature trees, over 50 years old will have to be cut down. Replacing them with new trees will not be sufficient – that will not support the otters, the bats, the badgers and reptiles, all protected species.

“The air quality in the centre of town depends on these types of trees.”

(Image: Turley) Another objector,  Graham Woodward, representing residents raised the possibility of asbestos contaminating the air. He said the land on which the homes will be built is badly contaminated with asbestos, arsenic, lead and other noxious chemicals.

He said: “Asbestosis is known as ‘The Swindon disease’ – I’ve known people lost to it through working in the railway works.

“The residents have lived with the fear of being poisoned in their homes by the disturbance of the ground and the release of asbestos.”

That was an issue for members of the committee but planning officers told them that the highest levels of protection and prevention of asbestos release would be needed to be approved before any work could start.

Earlier, One Swindon’s agent  Peter Lawson told the committee that the site was sustainable, and would provide much-needed housing on a brownfield site. He added: “It’s a £40million investment into Swindon’s central area” which would create jobs, bring in revenue to the council and attract extra investment.

He added: “The detailed application will show the development is of the highest quality.”

Read More: Councillors query comments in support of Sidings development

With government targets mandating increasing rates of housebuilding, and planning law in favour of development if the proper standards are met, committee member Gary Sumner said: “This couldn’t be more sustainable in terms of its location. Most of the growth of the borough for the next 20 years is on greenfield sites.

“There is a clear direction from the government on the need for more houses.”

(Image: Turley)

After the committee agreed to his proposal to approve the plan by 11 votes to one, residents were unhappy, with one woman saying: “And you’ll be the ones living down there, will you?”

The permission can still be revoked if a legal agreement on developer contributions to the borough, including measures to increase biodiversity even after the loss of the existing habitat, is not finalised within six months.

Then a full application showing the final layout and design of the buildings, landscaping and public facilities will be submitted.

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