PLANS to build 69 houses on the former site of the Mercure Swindon South Marston Hotel and Spa hotel have been put forward.

Developers Bellway Homes Ltd has submitted the plans for the residential houses on the site of former Victorian hotel, South-Marston, which closed in July 2016 before it was destroyed by a fire a year later.

The scheme includes a mixture of two-storey terraced houses and four-bedroom detached homes, individual parking or garages, and footpaths and green public space.

The Old Vicarage which sits on the South-West corner of the site on Vicarage Lane will be turned into a large family home by the developers.

The significant damage done by the fire could mean the foundations of the building will be raised and a new four-bed family house will be built adjacent to it.

Sylvia Brown, vice chair of South Marston Parish Council, commented to the Adver: “We are happy with most of the proposals and have made minor comments which could contribute to the relevant planning conditions if this application is granted by Swindon Borough Council.

“We wanted the vicarage building to be renovated but the developers have submitted a technical report to say that it is not sufficiently sound in structure, so demolition and replacement with a landmark 4-bedroom house which reflects the architecture of the original has been proposed.

“Swindon Borough Council has to judge the evidence in the technical report, but if a rebuild is inevitable, the Parish Council is happy with the design proposals provided the facing materials used are predominantly stone to reflect the original vicarage and other landmark buildings in South Marston built during the same era.

Developers have also managed to reduce the number of affordable houses in the original plans submitted, from providing 14 affordable units down to five.

The Affordable Housing Statement for Bellway Homes said: “During the application process at outline stage, an Affordable Homes Viability Assessment was submitted which calculated the proposed development would not be viable if this level of affordable homes was provided.”

The five affordable houses, equating to 7 per cent of the total homes proposed, will be 100 per cent Low Cost Home Ownership Units, consisting of two two-bedroom houses and 3 three-bedroom houses.

Tina Hiscock, of South Marston, commented on the application, saying: “Why are there only five affordable houses planned out of the total of 69? If you look at the Church Ground development opposite where I live the number is a much higher and fairer percentage. How are our young generation in the village going to get a step on the [ladder] of staying and living in the village.”

Swindon Borough Council’s Local Plan states that 30 per cent of affordable housing should normally be provided for developments over 15 houses.