The New Eastern Villages programme could see 8,000 homes built on land to the east of the A419 between the Commonhead roundabout and South Marston.

Roads and improved access are important to the success of the development, however the public inquiry is likely to delay work on the key southern connector road itself.

Five separate road schemes would be started before the houses were built in order to have them in place as soon as people start moving into the developments.

Here’s what you said on Facebook:

Martin Costello: “More glorious countryside being ripped up.”

Alex Robinson: “My trowels revved up and ready to lay some bricks.”

Sonia Adameke: “Council’s definitely enjoying the expansion.

“Means more council tax been paid into the system but obviously no town centre improvement plans. Hopefully Swindon doesn’t become the next London.”

Joanne Baskett: “What about the infrastructure to support these homes? Bigger hospital, more investment of staff at hospital and the rest of the resources an additional large community would need?

“I will say though, the council and government fail year upon year to build any decent homes or housing for the disabled especially in our borough.”

David Porter: "I have no objections to building new homes, however Swindon Borough Council should also consider re-development of the Honda site, before digging up green fields.

“Also why not add a third lane to the A419 and divert traffic onto this existing road?

“And the majority of the £30m should be funded by the developers, not the government. £30m of taxpayers money should be spent on our schools and hospitals, simple.”

Jeanette Gale: “Great news. There are so many in the community that needs a home. Well done. So glad they are being built there.”

Andy Hannath: “Part of the contract should be for the developers to pay to expand the hospital which is already full to bursting.”

James Oldring: “We don’t need any more new homes, tadpole is quite enough thank you.

“The market will be flooded and the values will go down of existing properties. Build elsewhere or invest the money to regenerate the rest of the town.”

Alan Battman: “Shame no one considers the current infrastructure of this town that can’t cope as it is. Crazy plans and irresponsible planning can’t say I’m surprised though.”

Liz Woodman: “Time to move out.”

Ellen McKelvey: “The reason I live where I do is because it looks and feels like the countryside. We also have lovely walks too.”

Terri Blackler: “More new houses, why not invest in a bigger hospital that can cope with the already growing population of Swindon?”

Janet Garlick: “A new doctors being built? One surgery to cover all these extra houses.”

Christine Whittaker: “It will just end up as an overflow for Oxford commuters.”

Mavis Hale: “And before that they are going to build another Hospital? To take care of the extra bodies that are going to live in these houses?”

Henry Locke-Wheaton: “And I thought it was flood land.”

Liam Coyle: “Hospital is a must if the town is going to grow in population.”

John Cousins: “8,000 homes is about 20,000 people and say 1,000 cars. Where is the infrastructure to support them all?”

Karen Edmonds: “No more housing, we simply don’t have the infrastructure.”