Controversial Lydiark homes plans back on display for second chance (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Controversial Lydiark homes plans back on display for second chance
7:30pm Monday 23rd July 2012 in News By Matthew Edwards
Planning director Glenn Godwin at the Hook Street consultation today
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new scaled-down development near Lydiard Park went on display today.
Last year plans for 175 homes on land north of Hook Street, next to Grange Park, were thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal.
Pegasus Planning Group, on behalf of Persimmon Homes, is proposing to build 91 houses, 30 per cent of which is earmarked as affordable.
It marks a significant reduction in previous plans, with the consultants saying that they have listened to the inspectors’ criticism of the last plan and have adapted it accordingly.
Pegasus, the firm behind the successful Coate Water homes appeal, said that the plans no longer encroached over the ridge, which was a main argument of those opposed to the plan, and that it would not impose itself on Lydiard Park, with a landscaped edge of trees.
Glenn Godwin, planning consultant for Pegasus, said: “We have taken the points set out by the inspector and have worked on them.
“We had the report back and one of the reasons it was rejected was because of the site of the ridge and the development faced the park, so we have scaled it back and use the ridge as our line.
“There were over 200 objections before so we are not expecting everyone to be happy about this, but we are holding a consultation to answer peoples questions.
“That is why we have held it over two days as well to allow as many people to come as possible.”
Residents and councillors have said they are already preparing to fight the application, which also includes a purpose-built storm water run-off and new walking and cycling links.
Lydiard Fields Action Group convenor David Barnard described news of the proposal as extremely disappointing.
He said: “Despite the council’s and inspector’s refusal of last year’s application, it is disheartening to think that we have yet another battle on our hands so soon.”
Ward councillor Cindy Matthews said: “It’s concerning that it is the same firm that won the Coate Water appeal. “What I’m also worried about is that once they develop one half of the site they will just want to develop the rest.
“This land is outside the local plan and building on it should be out of the question.”
Pegasus will be hosting the second day of the public consultation tomorrow at Lydiard Park Academy between 4pm and 8pm.
Comments(29)
StillPav
says...
10:29pm Mon 23 Jul 12
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As for Wichelstowe, the reason those houses are not selling is becuase they are so **** close to the motorway. The "front garden" should have been used to build commercial properties, maybe a new football stadium and a southern Swindon equivalent to the Asda Walmart district centre with an attractive anchor such as Ikea, all uses that are not adverse effected by being next to the M4.
greenpacer
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1:15am Tue 24 Jul 12
LordAshOfTheBrake
says...
7:20am Tue 24 Jul 12
The front garden development is awful. Last time I took a look down there, it was all unattractive, tightly packed houses. Even 4 bedroom houses had tiny gardens and were small and cramped over 3 stories.
One of the reasons that they may not be selling is that there is still years of development work to carry out and no one wants to live on a building site for that length of time and pay a premium for the privilge.
StillPav
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8:07am Tue 24 Jul 12
LordAshOfTheBrake - where are these brownfield sites? Not being factitious, I am genuinely interested.
A.Baron-Cohen
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8:10am Tue 24 Jul 12
Yet Swindon can profit from substantial investments, building quality housing in "beauty Spots".
We want to attract hard working people and high earners and this is exactly the type of housing and location that we need to build on.
Too many times NIMBYS and party politics have damaged the prospects of this town, this has to stop! we need houses, we need jobs, we need investments NOW!
RichardR1
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8:24am Tue 24 Jul 12
Swindon Borough Council identified their 'wish list' for Executive type housing, but continues to approve smaller non executive type developments.
Councillors have completely lost touch with reality.
StillPav
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8:51am Tue 24 Jul 12
umpcah
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9:00am Tue 24 Jul 12
StillPav wrote:"One of these reasons is a lack of executive housing in premium locations.” I`m not too sure about that because many of them seem to seek homes outside of town e.g. Shrivenham or Cricklade.
RichardR1 - it's not really chicken and egg though, is it Richard? Local employers have been stating for years that they struggle to attract the highly skilled and experienced employees they require to "Swindon". One of these reasons is a lack of executive housing in premium locations.
RichardR1
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9:01am Tue 24 Jul 12
The Council should fund and build Social Housing and not expect private purchasers, and developers to subsidise them.
Even Angrier Monkey
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9:21am Tue 24 Jul 12
greenpacer wrote:No there isnt. STFC is in advanced negotiations with SBC about redeveloping the County Ground which will hopefully start at the end of the forthcoming football season
A new football stadium IS planned near the motorway or is at least being talked about going there. Swindon does'nt need more houses . It does'nt need a higher population. Expand Devizes or Chippenham instead !!
I Could Do That
says...
9:34am Tue 24 Jul 12
We already had good people in Swindon.
The tired principle of sprawl is not working.
The sprawl theory has not worked for decades.
More sprawl will not improve Swindon.
It is time to improve Swindons' future by changing the bliddy record
RichardR1
says...
9:51am Tue 24 Jul 12
The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man
says...
9:55am Tue 24 Jul 12
Unless there are some jobs in Swindon for people there's absolutely no point in building more houses. Doing that just adds even more commuter misery...
A.Baron-Cohen
says...
10:16am Tue 24 Jul 12
The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man wrote:Very true....Swindon is fast becoming a commuters town.
Swindon already has plenty of highly skilled workers, the trouble is, most of them work in Bath, Bristol, Chippenham, Cheltenham, Newbury, Reading etc.
Unless there are some jobs in Swindon for people there's absolutely no point in building more houses. Doing that just adds even more commuter misery...
We can all give up and remember the good old days, or we can work hard and improve Swindon, so that the next generations have a future here.
Why would a company relocate to Swindon?It is the answer to this question that we need to focus on.....
swindondad
says...
10:21am Tue 24 Jul 12
LordAshOfTheBrake wrote:There is very little of this island that is not a brown field site. Wherever they dig the foundations of a new building they come across signs of previous inhabitation. For example the Abbey to which Abbey Meads relates, the Roman Villa found when they put up the Motorola building at Turnpike (named after the ancient road).
There is plenty of brown field sites that should be developed first. The front garden development is awful. Last time I took a look down there, it was all unattractive, tightly packed houses. Even 4 bedroom houses had tiny gardens and were small and cramped over 3 stories. One of the reasons that they may not be selling is that there is still years of development work to carry out and no one wants to live on a building site for that length of time and pay a premium for the privilge.
Swindon is a great place to live and work. Mass migration from London and the south east has continued without break since the 1940's and I can understand why.
According to the results of the 2011 census the South West has the lowest levels of unemployment in the UK and Swindon is the fastest growing town in the South West. Housing (for purchase and rent) is the most affordable (compared to wages) of anywhere in the UK.
Surely it is time for the NIMBY's to let others share in the facilities that they take for granted.
Hammer5
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10:35am Tue 24 Jul 12
umpcah
says...
10:53am Tue 24 Jul 12
Hammer5 wrote:Not much chance of that mate !
Instead of keep building more houses tidy up this **** tatty scruffy town its disgraceful.
RichardR1
says...
10:59am Tue 24 Jul 12
Where are you seeing this growth you speak of. Many of the jobs have gone to migrant workers, who rent in multiple occupancy housing.
Even Angrier Monkey
says...
12:01pm Tue 24 Jul 12
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There are still plenty of unfinished developments in the town.
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The housing market is stagnant and is very much a buyers market - indicating low demand
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I think its fair to say its a fact that the total number of people employed within the town is significantly less than 5 years ago.
swindondad
says...
12:26pm Tue 24 Jul 12
Where are you seeing this growth you speak of. Many of the jobs have gone to migrant workers, who rent in multiple occupancy housing.”
Within the last year 800 new jobs at B&Q, extra investment at the Mini plant, return of the second shift at Honda. All sound like growth to me.
swindondad
says...
12:53pm Tue 24 Jul 12
12:01pm Tue 24 Jul 12
I simply dont understand where this alleged demand for housing in Swindon is coming from (Actually I dont belive it exists)
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There are still plenty of unfinished developments in the town.
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The housing market is stagnant and is very much a buyers market - indicating low demand
The low sales of new houses have very little to do with demand from potential buyers and a great deal to do with the lack of access to mortgages for first time buyers, The days when you could move in for £100 are long gone.
Even Angrier Monkey
says...
4:36pm Tue 24 Jul 12
swindondad wrote:What you are saying is correct in some ways, but the lack of funding and peoples reluctance to get a bigger / 1st mortgage in uncertain times is what is causing the low demand. If people are not buying houses in a market with plentiful supply then it is because of a lack of demand. You cant divorce the 2 things.
Even Angrier Monkey says... 12:01pm Tue 24 Jul 12 I simply dont understand where this alleged demand for housing in Swindon is coming from (Actually I dont belive it exists) . There are still plenty of unfinished developments in the town. . The housing market is stagnant and is very much a buyers market - indicating low demand The low sales of new houses have very little to do with demand from potential buyers and a great deal to do with the lack of access to mortgages for first time buyers, The days when you could move in for £100 are long gone.
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As to your comment above, yes the companies that you mention are some good news stories, and yes there may be growth in the Swindon job market this year. But you cant just ignore the last 3/4 years of bad news and the fact that there is currently significantly less job oportunities in the town than 5 years ago, whilst at the same time a decent number of new properties have been built (Witchelstowe and Moulden Hill developments to name but 2)
I Could Do That
says...
4:57pm Tue 24 Jul 12
Presumably the dominant number of properties will increase the population by 3 persons, not to mention the multiple occupancy conversions.
It is time to rethink Swindon's ugly failed development process.
Many of those jobs will be taken from people that do not live in Swindon
beaulieu
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7:11pm Tue 24 Jul 12
black-rat
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11:25pm Tue 24 Jul 12
itsamess3
says...
7:51pm Wed 25 Jul 12
What we do need is for Swindon people to have a wide choice of jobs and encourage business to Swindon-and i dont mean the pointless office jobs filled with folk from outside our town who come by bus/train and car from all over who do not use our shops and dont want to live here.
You cant fail to notice how our population has dramatically changed with the influx of immigrants from the EU and Goans who slip through the migration rules and can barely speak english with speciality agencied that advise them of all the cons to by-pass the employment rules and housing rules by purposely crowding houses.
The market in housing supports the buy to rent market for investors who capitalise on the quick income.
Until our govt opens it eyes to how this is allowed to happen and our trading estates are once again full up with companies to bring the pride back to Swindon--and give us a town centre that doesn't take an age to reach-only to find it full of low class shops--empty shops and a plethora of cheap and charity shops and visitors greeted by the many empty office blocks and crazy road schemes nothing will change.
louisa74
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4:26pm Fri 17 Aug 12
louisa74
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4:27pm Fri 17 Aug 12
villageoldman says...
7:59pm Mon 23 Jul 12