PERMISSION has been granted to build 57 houses between Ermin Street and the A419 close to Blunsdon.

The Parish Council say while they accept this decision and have worked with developers, it is the latest step in the rapidly increasing encroachment of the main town into the village.

When built by developers Fairhurst UK there will be a mixture of three and four bedroom properties alongside some smaller affordable houses. A handful of objections were put forward by residents but the council accepted the application.

Ian Jankinson, the chairman of the pParish council, says it is a proposal they have been in talks with Fairhurst over.

He said: “A number of years ago when the A419 was built we were asked to identify pockets of land for development. “We decided that would be a suitable piece and have been working with the developers to make sure we can get the best out of it for Blunsdon.”

There is currently nothing on the land, although it has previously been used for quadbiking. While this development may have been accepted by the parish, there are many others which have been proposed which are raising serious concerns that soon the village of Blunsdon will be engulfed.

Adjacent to this latest successful application is one for a further 60 houses, while permission has been granted for almost 500 homes close to the Abbey Stadium. A further consultation has taken place by developers for 300 homes to be built at Abbey Farm, although no application has been put forward. However, the biggest cause for concern is an area of land at Kingsdown, south of the village, which has been assigned for housing in the council’s local plan. If this were to go ahead then it would virtually join North Swindon with the village.

Ian said: “This is the biggest concern among the residents.

“We are putting together a neighbourhood plan and we carried out a survey and more than 90 per cent were worried by the plans.

“As the parish council we are taking these results and looking where to go with them. “We have shown we are not against all development and understand some needs to take place but on the issue of Kingsdown we would urge the borough council to listen to the residents of Blunsdon.”