The landowner who sold fields which are now the site of a proposal to build 190 houses has written to object to the scheme.

Developer Castlewood Commercial properties has applied to build the homes, a convenience store, playground, picnic area, allotments and a 'trim trail'.

It wants to put them on land north and west of the roundabout junction Kingsdown Road and Highworth Road.

But the former owner of the land Eric Barnes is objecting.

He thinks units would be a more appropriate use as the land is just across from the South Marston industrial estate which includes the Honda plant.

Mr Barnes wrote: “Several years ago Castlewood was granted planning permission for a petrol station and other industrial uses on the site. There is no sign of any development taking place.

“I sold my remaining land to Castlewood in 2014 when it said it would be for industrial use, but now it is going to apply for a housing development.”

Mr Barnes urges planners to turn down the housing application but says an application for industrial use should be approved, adding: “The proposed housing development would spoil the beautiful environment.”

The developer has been told by the council’s planning department that it will have to include an environmental impact assessment in its planning application.

The borough council’s consultant ecologist wrote to planners, saying: “My greatest concern is the impact on the ancient woodland at Stanton Park. The new houses will be approximately 50m from ancient woodland at the closest point and directly connected to it by a public right of way.

“The proposals may have a materially adverse effect on natural resources in the area by significantly affecting the biodiversity of the ancient woodland.”

The council’s highways department has objected to the scheme on the grounds that there has been no plan for sustainable transport links from the site to the main urban area of Swindon. That objection has been endorsed by Stratton Parish Council’s planning committee.

And Highways England has objected on the grounds that more work is needed in the application’s transport assessment and plan

The application from Castlewood says the scheme would deliver “much-needed housing” but adds “a key element is the retention of the landscape character with a real emphasis on green infrastructure.”

Castlewood Commercial Property’s planning agent Cat White of Turley based in Reading declined to comment by the time the Adver went to press.