The enviable notion of living next to water, and in walking distance of a Waitrose supermarket, has come one step closer.

And even frogs and toads should be happy.

Detailed designs and layout plans for another part of the Wichelstowe development in south west Swindon have been put forward for sign-off by Bristol builder David Wilson Homes.

The company has already got permission to build 109 houses on a site bounded by a section of the Wilts and Berks canal to the west, Mill Lane to the east and the superstore's car park to the north, in the part of the development called Canalside which developer says "will be the most attractive area of Wichelstowe."

Whereas most of the homes will be traditional semi-detached or detached suburban houses, units fronting the canal will be significantly different.

The report to Swindon Borough Council's planning department says there will be "a bold composition of buildings facing the canal.

"They are set back behind an ecological corridor and landscaped amenity areas."

The canalside blocks will be four-storeys high, if approved, with balconies for some lucky residents.

Behind the waterside blocks the more traditional houses will be arranged round a road forming a reversed E shape, with one access point put to Mill Lane.

The report says this "provides a visual connection with the canal and is tree-lined to emphasise a green connection."

One bed flats will be allocated one parking space, and two bed flats and all the houses, between two and four bedrooms will get two spaces each.

Much is made in the application of protection for the environment and wildlife on the site, with the area closest to the canal itself being designated a wildlife corridor.

Even the roads will be constructed to benefit animals - the report says: "measures will include installation of amphibian friendly gully pot system e.g. offset gully pots or wildlife kerbs and dropped kerbs at regular intervals to allow amphibians to exit the roads."

Fifteen per cent of the homes will be for "affordable" rent in one block on nine flats and six semi-detached houses sites at the far south of the site next to a major road, which runs east west and crosses the canal, which has yet to be built.

While this is the first of several major housing applications for the Canalside site, work is already progressing in the area: a pub restaurant is near completion directly across the water from the supermarket and a new secondary school, to be called the Deanery is being completed, and will open for one year group of pupils next September, and work will immediately start on a primary school next door.

Comments on the plans should be made by December 10.