PERMISSION for more than 50 homes near the Abbey Stadium has this week been given the go-ahead.

Developers Fairhurst UK submitted an application to build 52 homes on grassland off Lady Lane, Blunsdon, known to residents as ‘the triangle.’

And Swindon Borough Council planning officers have given it the thumbs up.

But yesterday a spokesman from Fairhurst told the Adver they have subsequently sold the land to GreenSquare Group, based in Chippenham, who will now take the site on and develop the units.

It could mean the plans are redesigned.

Laurence Clarke, land acquisition manager at GreenSquare, said: “We are planning to build 52 new homes at the site off Lady Lane, which will be a mixture of two, three and four bedroom properties, for sale and shared ownership, to help meet the housing needs of the area.

“We are hoping to be able to start on site next summer, depending on planning permissions being granted.”

The current approved development plans include ten bungalows and seven detached homes, as well as 9 three-bed, 16 four-bed and seven two-bed homes. There will also be 108 parking spaces.

When the application was first lodged last year, Blunsdon Parish Council recommended it was refused. Their concerns included whether the roads could handle the extra traffic.

In their comments on the application they added: “There is no provision to ensure adequate medical provision (local surgeries, clinics and hospital care) for residents of this and other new developments.

“This development is not necessary to meet housing requirements and the negative impact would far outweigh any benefits.”

Speaking to the Adver yesterday, Ian Jankinson, chairman of Blunsdon Parish Council said: “We fought against it in the past and the planning committee approved.

“I understand the main reason it was approved was because it offers lifetime homes on the site and this was a strong case put forward by members of the planning committee, as they say there is a need for more lifetime homes in North Swindon.

“But it’s outside the settlement boundary and not in the core plan so initially we didn’t feel we had to defend it but we ended up having to.”

Coun Jankinson also said that they had worked with the Abbey Farm developers, which will see more than 350 homes built nearby, to include a link so the new 52 home development has some facilities.

He added: “We had a long discussion to ensure there was a link between the sites as Abbey Farm is the only place nearby which will have facilities for the older people.”

The approved plans are the second application for the site put forward by Fairhurst after a similar application for 57 homes was rejected last year.

Shortly afterwards the developers submitted an appeal but it was later withdrawn. They also received planning permission in 2013 to build homes nearby in Ermin Street.