A CONTROVERSIAL 350-home housing development in North Swindon could be given the go-ahead next week after being recommended for approval by council planners.

Last year, an application for houses, a school and shop at Abbey Farm, just off Lady Lane, was submitted and is due to go before the council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

There have been a number of objections to the plan, with Blunsdon Parish Council being firmly against the application, arguing the land is not covered in the Local Plan, which is set to be approved later this month and should be left as it is.

Concerns have also been raised about the added traffic and extra development in an area already under siege from building sites.

Abbey Farm stands adjacent to the 1,700 home Tadpole Farm development while houses are also being put up close to the Abbey Stadium. There are also a number of smaller-scale builds around the village of Blunsdon.

However, the report put together by planning officers, while acknowledging the development is outside the area covered by the Local plan, says the benefits outweigh any costs.

The report which will go before the planning committee said: “Not withstanding the objections, including those from the Blunsdon Parish Council, local residents and others, it is considered that the perceived harm of the proposal is attributed to the fact that it is located outside the identified Swindon urban area boundary and therefore does not form part of proposals identified in the adopted or emerging Local Plan.

“However it is considered that this proposal will provide a sustainable mixed use that is located in a sustainable location at the edge of Swindon.

“In this way it is considered that the proposal is in general accordance with the established development strategy for the Borough.

“Finally the proposal will deliver a significant number of affordable homes and thereby assist to meet existing housing needs and will provide a site for a new two form-entry primary school that will make a significant contribution to meeting the education needs in North Swindon.”

The proposal was first mooted at a public consultation event in 2013 when it was just a residential proposal. The actual application, which was submitted in early 2014, included the primary school and shop.

If members give their approval, then developers could have to pay almost £2m in Section 106 funds which will go towards the community. The project would also provide just over 100 affordable homes.