PLANS for housing on the site of an old electricity substation may be decided by Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee next week.

The plan to build 18 houses on the levelled site in a corner of Langton Park south of Wroughton was deferred at the committee’s December meeting.

Concerns had been raised by both residents and councillors about access to the development on a former MOD site more than a mile from the main village.

The scheme would see 14 semi-detached houses and a block of four one-bed flats put up.

The plan was shelved for a month to request the developer to “consider revising the scheme to alter the mix and reduce the number of smaller - one and two bed - units.”

Now borough council planning officers are recommending to members of the committee that they give the scheme the go ahead.

Their report says the request of the committee for revisions has been passed to the developer and an update will be made at the committee meeting.

But locals say their objections will remain the same.

Borough councillor for the ward, Coun Cathy Martyn said the development was not near the village and the only access to it was via Prior’s Hill, which is a narrow, unlit and very steep road without a separate footpath.

There were also objections on the grounds that the hill is unsuitable for construction traffic and the only other access is via a private road, with permission to use it not yet sought.

The report says: “This is an existing junction that currently serves Thorney and Langton Parks (175 houses) with no changes proposed.

“There is nothing to suggest the junction is in any way dangerous and there are no recorded accidents at it.”

The planners’ report concludes the development will provide “much needed housing, including affordable housing and the tidying up of a currently, largely unattractive site.”

It acknowledges the drawbacks of transport and access, but says those issues are not enough to reject the plan.

The original application was referred to the committee by Wroughton Parish Council.

Its chairman, Coun John Hewer said: “Our objections to the scheme remain the same as before and we shall be making those representations to the committee next week.”

However planners say the bus service to the area, with a stop a short walk from the development site gives “reasonable” access to and from Wroughton and Swindon.

The committee meeting begins at 6pm on Tuesday January 8 .