Flats could soon be rising on a site in north-east Swindon which has been eyed by developers for nearly a decade.

Swindon-based Smiths Holdings has been granted planning permission to build 19 apartments on the levelled former Hertz car hire site on Ermin Street in Stratton St Margaret.

But the proposals put forward have caused nearby residents and local parish councillors some concern.

Plans submitted by Smiths show the company wants to build the 19 houses in three separate blocks.

Two will run down the western edge of the roughly rectangular site on the southern side of Ermin Street, opposite Windbrook Meadow.

Another will be built on the other side of the entrance to the site.

In total, the developers want to construct 14 two-bed flats and five with one bedroom.

Along the eastern side of the plot, and outside the most southerly block of flats, 34 parking spaces are proposed, two each for the two-bed flats, one for the smaller apartments and two visitor spaces.

That has been deemed acceptable by planners despite an objection over access and parking raised by Stratton St Margaret Parish Council and by neighbours.

Michael James, who lives in Oak Garden, across Ermin Street from the site wrote: “This is patently unacceptable. The area is already blighted by inconsiderate parking from visitors to the shops and takeaways.

"Therefore the new estate cannot be permitted to exacerbate the existing serious problem."

And Mr James was concerned about the junction of the site with Ermin Street and its nearness to Windbrook Meadow, adding: “The junction of Windbrook Meadow and Ermin Street has already suffered a series of road traffic accidents, including fatal accidents.

"The proposal shows the exit from the proposed estate to be opposite, but not directly, from Windbrook Meadow. Therefore having a staggered crossroads on a busy road in the same location as an existing accident blackspot is surely something that cannot be countenanced.”

Mr James said the developers should be asked to build a raised roundabout in the centre of the junction to slow traffic down.

One of the conditions is that a right-turn lane must be created in the southbound carriage way of Ermin Street to allow traffic flows.

Smiths Holdings previously proposed building 12, then 14 flats on the site.