A DECISION on a controversial planning application in Wroughton has been delayed until July by the Secretary of State as a result of the general election being called.

Plans to build over 100 homes off land in Marlborough Road were first submitted back in 2015.

At the time, Swindon Borough Council and Wroughton Parish Council both rejected the proposals as well as residents living in the area and permission was turned down due to the plans falling outside land set aside for housing in the Local Plan.

On appeal, developers Hannick Homes argued that permission should be granted as the council had fallen short of the five-year housing supply.

A planning inquiry was held by the Planning Inspectorate at the Civic Offices in January where both the council and developers Hannick Homes put their cases forward and inspector, Neil Pope, heard how under the scheme, 30 per cent of the houses would be affordable but in order to gain access to the fields behind Marlborough Road, homes in The Old Bakery would have to be demolished.

He then wrote a report to the Secretary of State who was due to decide on the application before May 17.

However, over the weekend Wroughton Parish Councillor Steve Harcout updated residents on Facebook about the latest development.

He wrote: “The parish council has now been told by SBC that Department for Communities and Local Government has notified the council that the Secretary of State will not now be in a position to reach a decision on the appeal by May 17 due to the General Election to be held on June 8, as by convention the Secretary of State does not issue planning decisions in the run-up to elections.

“The letter advises that the Secretary of State has varied the timetable previously issued and that he will now issue his decision on or before July 6. Disappointing but one of the consequences of the election I guess.”