Details of a controversial new housing estate in Wroughton which has previously caused dismay among neighbours have been lodged with Swindon Borough Council.

And ward councillors and MP Robert Buckland are not impressed.

Hills already has outline permission to build 104 houses on a site behind Woodland View in the village. At the end of 2020 the waste management company was given the go-ahead for the layout of the estate, which would see the houses arranged to the east and south of the rectangular plot, with a cricket pitch and pavilion in the centre.

Now the company has put in details of the landscaping and appearance of the development.

Its application to planners says the development of 74 houses for sale and 30 affordable rented homes "seeks to promote character and quality in design with 13 different house types along with an apartment building and cricket pavilion. The house types have been designed with sensitivity to the site constraints and all exhibit a contemporary aesthetic.”

Grey roof tiles and cream bricks are used throughout the development to limit the colour palette in a way Hills say is in relation to traditional architecture in Wroughton.

The site will be edged with trees and greenery.

But borough councillors Cathy Martyn and Brian Ford are not pleased. They spoke against the company’s plans at the last planning meeting, particularly because they and residents felt the new houses would overlook and infringe the privacy of residents in Clyde Cottages – a small strip of houses backing directly onto the site.

Their joint letter to the council’s planning department says: “The landscape treatment at the rear of Clyde Cottages appears to be non-existent and is not sympathetic to the local character.

"We are very disappointed and concerned that none of our previous comments, nor those of existing residents, have been acted upon in relation to the separation distance between the rear boundary of Clyde Cottages and the boundary of the rear garden.

They also want promises on retaining trees and hedges, adding: “As a very minimum, we seek confirmation that the existing trees and shrubs residents have tended at the rear of the existing green area behind the gardens of Clyde Cottages will be left in situ, otherwise there is nothing to mitigate the impact of this development upon the residents who live in those historic cottages.”

The councillors’ views have been endorsed by South Swindon MP and justice secretary Mr Buckland

But they are not entirely critical.

They say: “We appreciate the variety of trees and plants chosen for landscaping.

"We would like to see fruit trees incorporated into the landscaping and planting scheme, particularly any heritage varieties which used to be grown in this area.

"We would also like to see wildflower planting on roadside verges and public open space where possible, both to improve biodiversity in the local area and to assist with wildlife corridors.”

The application is available on swindon.gov.uk using reference S/RES/20/0555,

Comments should be made to the council by Friday March 5