The first owners are settling in at a new housing development on the site of the South Marston Hotel four years after it closed down.

Construction work is progressing on 70 new homes at Vicarage Gardens with the first completed homes now being filled.

Developer Bellway is building a range of two, three and four-bedroom houses at the site, including terraced, semi-detached and detached designs.

The first properties were released for sale in February this year, and the development has since been attracting visitors locally and from the wider area.

Sales manager for Bellway South West, Christel Hawkins, said: “It has been very exciting for the sales team to see a brand-new community begin to form here at Vicarage Gardens.

“The residents who have moved here have praised the development for its good commuter links, as it is less than five miles from the centre of Swindon. The new homes also neighbour the village recreation ground and there’s a primary school and a church just up the road to add to the community feel.

“We’ve carefully designed the development, which includes the creation of a traditional-style new home to replace the former vicarage, to complement its village surroundings, while there’s a wide range of homes to meet the needs of local people including first-time buyers and growing families.

“Providing excellent customer service to make moving as easy as possible is a priority for us as a company and we are looking forward to helping more people find their dream home here.”

As part of the planning agreement for Vicarage Gardens, Bellway is set to make financial contributions of more than £600,000 towards local infrastructure, including primary school provision and facilities for outdoor sports and children’s play as well as allotments, bus services, footpaths, and the enhancement of Nightingale Wood.

The original hotel that stood on the new housing development site closed down in July 2016 and a short while later fire tore through the 60-bed complex the following year stopping any hope of it reopening.