THE Salvation Army wants to build nearly 60 affordable homes on the site of a former highways depot.

Plans have been lodged for the scheme, which includes a block of 25 flats and 10 two-bed houses, on the site off Marlborough Road in Royal Wootton Bassett.

In a statement supporting the bid the charity’s housing association said: “The neighbourhood plan identifies approximately 100 households that are seeking accommodation in the Royal Wootton Bassett area with affordability being a key issue for people. We will offer both shared ownership options as well as affordable rented housing.”

It pointed out the Wiltshire Core Strategy called for a 40 per cent affordable housing contribution where there was a demonstrable need for it, but the 57-home scheme was actually 100 per cent affordable.

The project would also meet the unitary authority’s policies by providing a high quality mixed development on a brown field site which had low environmental value.

But concern has been expressed by neighbours who have questioned whether it is in the best place for access to buses, schools, shops and doctors’ surgeries and said the town's infrastructure is already under strain.

Kevin Ockwell said he was shocked at the application. “As a parent of young children that currently attend Wootton Bassett Infants and Noremarsh Junior School I have seen first-hand how the schools are already struggling to cope with the numbers of children due to the developments such as the old dairy site, rugby club and Gerard Buxton sports ground on Rylands way. Not to mention the two Wainhomes developments at the top and bottom of Woodshaw,” he wrote in his objection on the council’s website.

“I know people need to have homes but Wootton Bassett does not have the infrastructure to cope with much more. Anyone who works in Swindon or needs to get to the motorway junction 16 will know how much traffic travels that route every morning sometimes taking up to an hour to do the six-mile journey into Swindon.

"Do we really need to add another 50 - or more likely nearer 100 cars - to that?”

Andrew Forster wanted to know: “What impact and what provisions have been considered in relations to the increase of people to the area.”

The plans can be seen and commented on through Wiltshire Council’s website and public consultation ends on August 9.

A target date for a decision has been set in September.