An unused plot of land in Redhouse village centre which has been a de facto public open space for a number of years will be formalised as such.

Members of Swindon Borough Council's planning committee agreed the authority's officers' suggestion to transfer the square of land to the north of Millgrove Street to St Andrews Parish Council to be kept for recreation purposes.

The cost of just over £330,000 will be met largely by the borough council, which has agreed to make money received from developers available, and the parish council has resolved to use £49,000 of its reserves.

The land has not been built on and a plan to build a block of 14 flats with shops on the ground floor was turned down by the borough council's planning committee in January 2016.

The committee also agreed to transfer open space in Stratton St Margaret, on the site of the former Headlands School site in Cricklade Road to the parish council direct form developers Bellway Homes. The council will maintain the playing fields.