AN AMBITIOUS new housing development in Marlborough Park has been given the go-ahead.

 

Planning permission for the construction of hundreds of properties on the edge of Old Town was granted this week.

 

A total of 147 flats and 293 houses will be built as part of the second phase of development at the site near Marlborough Lane.

 

Fully detailed plans for the 74 retirement homes and 91 of the other homes were first submitted in December 2015, along with an outline for the rest of the accommodation which will surround a new play area and an open public space.

 

Construction will begin in the summer and the first residents will move in next spring.

 

A spokesman for developer Places For People said: “We are delighted that the latest phase of development at Marlborough Park has received planning permission.

 

“We have carefully tailored the mix of homes to cater for specific local demand. The early stages of development have received an extremely positive response in the area and we very much look forward to delivering the next new homes.”

 

“Further detailed proposals for the site will be submitted in due course.”

 

Two-bedroomed, three-bedroomed and four-bedroomed houses will be built alongside a selection of apartments and coach houses

 

Dozens of the flats and homes to be built at the site will also be affordable housing.

 

Coun Claire Ellis, who is the chairman of the housing overview and scrutiny committee is cautiously optimistic about the new development.

 

She said: “Swindon does need housing but with any development, we’ve got to be fair to existing homeowners.

 

“They’ve raised concerns about traffic congestion on Piper’s Way so we must ensure that it won’t be a problem.”

 

The second phase was originally given the green light in June but the approval was conditional subject to certain adjustments which had to be made.

 

Councillors okayed the revised plans on Monday but the issue of GP access doesn’t appear to have been resolved.

 

Colin Doubleday, co-chairman of the Pipers Area Residents’ Association, said: “The doctors' surgery was removed from this development, which is a concern. Provision of doctors across Old Town is already stretched.”