The proposed new design guidelines for the expansion of South Marston- under Swindon Borough Council's New Eastern Villages project has been adopted.

Councillors on the authority's planning committee voted unanimously to endorse the design guide- which would see fields currently to the south of the existing village become a central space around which the new community would coalesce.

Councillor Peter Watts was concerned about road access, saying that the road from Keypoint to the existing village was already dangerous, but was reassured that a second access to the new village would be improved.

Coun Jane Milner-Barry did not have an objection to the design guide itself but said that the government guidelines on new developments, particularly on energy use, heating and cooling and insulation were soon expected.

She said: "I wouldn't want us to build hundreds of houses that will be out of date almost as soon as they are built and will need upgrading very quickly. I hope we will be building to forthcoming government guidelines."

The guide will now become policy.