Residents fear for future of green site (From Swindon Advertiser)

Residents fear for future of green site

6:33pm Sunday 5th February 2012 in News By Katie Bond

Residents are complaining about the possible development of houses at Pickards Field. Josie Lewis is pictured at the site

DEVELOPERS have moved to reassure residents that they will be consulted if plans to build on a former allotment site are approved.

Residents raised concerns last week after hearing rumours that GreenSquare could develop Pickards Small Fields in the heart of Gorse Hill.

Last month it announced it was planning to build nearly 100 new affordable homes in Swindon over the next four years.

Last week, ward councillors for the area attended a presentation by Haboakus, the housing provider which works in partnership with TV architect Kevin McCloud and in conjunction with GreenSquare.

During the meeting, they said it had become clear that the developers were still interested in the greenfield site, which caused concern among residents who said they felt they had been left in the dark.

Resident Josie Lewis said she was concerned the development would be ‘bulldozed through’ but welcomed news that a public meeting had been arranged.

Haboakus project director Colin Bloodworth has since reassured Josie and other residents that they will be kept up to date through ‘intense, extensive and regular consultation’.

He said: “We have submitted proposals to Swindon Borough Council to regenerate land at Gorse Hill in Swindon and understand that a report about these plans will be considered by their Cabinet meeting on February 15.

“These plans are at an early stage. And it’s important to stress that talking to, and learning from, local people is always a key part of any Haboakus project.

“This has been proven by what we’ve done previously in Stroud, Oxford and Swindon.

“So if the Cabinet approves the idea, we guarantee several months of intense, extensive and regular consultation before a formal development proposal is even submitted. Any scheme will then of course be subject to the planning process and the further opportunities for public engagement that it affords.”

Haboakus is a joint venture between GreenSquare and Hab Housing, and champions sustainable living and homes that are environmentally efficient to build and run.

The first development scheme was completed at The Triangle off Northern Road last year.

A public meeting to discuss the plans at Pickards Small Fields has been arranged and will be held at St Barnabus Church on Thursday at 6.30pm.