THE COUNTRY’S biggest building society are still waiting to submit planning for their £50m regeneration housing project in Swindon.

Nationwide’s developers will be asking for people’s feedback which they will take onboard and put towards their plan before submitting a planning application.

The first designs of the project will be released for residents of the town to come and view for three days on June 10, 11 and 12.

A community news letter has been sent out to 1,000 local people in the area to update them on the development plans.

Deborah Isac-Taylor, media relations for Nationwide, said: “We have spent the last six months engaging with the residents around the project and also the council.

“The blueprint of how development was done needed to be changed with the community at the centre of the project, so they can have their opinion aired before we submit any form.

“We strongly believe that the process was come together naturally once the community backing is in place, and this is why it is essential that people who live in the area come to see those first designs.”

It will be structured so the first two days the 10th and 11th are at the Oakfield project, Sunday will be from 12 to 4pm and Monday 5 to 8pm. Tuesday’s one will be held at Nythe Community Centre and will be between 4 and 7pm.

Community organiser Keith Brown has been knocking doors in the area to gain feedback from residents.

There has been a focus placed on younger people as they want the development to be a place where youngsters can engage, facilities to help with this have been included in the plans.

Nationwide are in partnership with Swindon Borough Council to redevelop the Oakfield Campus site, which could result in 200 new homes, including affordable properties.

It follows feedback from its 15m members asking for a practical approach to the housing shortage and it is starting in its home town.

Thirty percent of homes on the site will meet the criteria definition of affordable housing.

The site, which was used by Oakfield School and then the University of Bath, was put forward as a brownfield development site over two years ago when the council began its search for a partner.

This is the first time Nationwide have done something like this and they want the Oakfield project to be a catalyst in building a community.

Planning permission is expected to be submitted for late autumn this year, but they want to have everything in place with the communities backing.