Work has started clearing what was called a ‘largely unattractive’ site in Blunsdon for five more self-build houses.

And they will form what is essentially a new single development with five already nearing completion.

Developer Nick Sandhu is making good progress with the building of five large family homes at Lindsey’s Yard accessed from a narrow lane off Turnpike Road, near the junction with Kingsdown Lane.

And now he has been given permission for another five self-build houses to be put up in the triangular plot of land formed by the junctions of Turnpike Road, the lane to the original site, and Kingsdown Lane.

That site had previously been approved for five houses under another applicant, but that consent has recently lapsed.

Workers are already on site beginning work on knocking down the house and the agricultural buildings

Mr Sandhu’s plans show that four of the large detached houses will face in a northerly direction, fronting the Lindsey’s Yard Lane from Turnpike Road with the fifth house facing south onto a separate driveway from Kingsdown Lane.

All the houses are set to have four bedrooms, with all of the houses featuring two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a family bathroom as well.

They all have kitchen diners and a family room and lounge downstairs.

The four houses facing the access lane will have attached double garages with two car parking spaces, while the south-facing houses will have their own parking but no garage.

Originally Blunsdon Parish Council objected to the proposal and asked for it to called into the planning committee, particularly on the grounds of highways safety, but later dropped its objection and request after a revision to the plans.

(Image: Aled Thomas)

In approving Mr Sandhu’s plans, Swindon Borough Council’s planning officers had to weigh up several factors

The report says: “The application site is located outside of any settlement boundary and is therefore in open countryside and thus the development conflicts with the council’s planning policy.

 "However, it must also be considered that the site sits adjacent to existing residential development with further development approved immediately adjoining the site which also located near the Kingsdown Strategic Allocation.

“In reality therefore the site is not truly in the open countryside. A material consideration also is that consents for the erection of five dwellings at the site lapsed earlier this year.”

The report adds: “The benefits of the development in terms of the social dimension of sustainable development have been identified to be the provision of much-needed housing with these being self-build and the tidying up of a currently largely unattractive site.

“The additional population created would also be likely to assist the local economy in terms of utilising local services.”

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