ANOTHER developer is scanning land for major plans – around 3,000 homes – ahead of Swindon adopting its Local Plan.

The first steps for a scheme which will see 3,000 houses being built at Lotmead Farmstead have been put into motion.

An environmental impact assessment looking at whether there is the potential for a mixed use scheme, which includes a primary school and a local centre built on 160 hectares land east of the A419 and south of the A420, has been carried out.

This is the second proposal for a large-scale housing project in as many months.

In November an application for a 2,380-home development, near South Marston, was submitted to Swindon Council.

It is feared that housebuilders are cashing in on Swindon being without a Local Plan which is expected to go out for an examination in public in April.

Government-appointed planning inspector Mike Fox raised a number of concerns with the council about the provision of infrastructure in its Local Plan at an exploratory meeting at the Steam Museum, at the beginning of November.

The intention for the latest scheme is to submit an outline planning application in spring for the development which could see the farm and surrounding buildings demolished.

Ainscough Strategic Land, the company behind the potential application, would build the thousands of homes as part of the Eastern Villages.

Proposed access routes to the project include Wanborough Road and Merlin Way.

Chair of Wanborough Parish Council Gary Sumner said the effect on his village could be disastrous.

“We would have serious concern about that area of land being developed so soon,” said Mr Sumner.

“It was always the intention it would be built as part of the second or third phases of the masterplan –we are talking 15 to 20 years in the future.

“The impact of the traffic on Wanborough Road having to cater for 3,000 cars would be disastrous. It is an ancient Roman road and is not designed for that usage. It is inappropriate for such large scale schemes to be submitted ahead of the Local Plan. It would look like they are trying to take advantage of Swindon’s uncertainty in its planning systems.”

The Adver was unable to contact Ainscough Strategic Land before it went to print.