The company which hoped to use a large family house in Swindon as a home for six people needing care has pulled out of the deal.

The White Horse Care Trust had been given prior approval by planners at Swindon Borough Council to use the house in Okebourne Park in Liden for those purposes – but residents and councillors and a former Swindon mayor opposed the move, saying the house was not suitable and there is a covenant preventing use of the building for a business.

Now the trust has withdrawn from the plan and is looking for a property elsewhere.

The trust’s chief clinical operations executive Erica Pryce said: “We identified the property in Okebourne Park as being an appropriately sized and delightful property in an ideal location in what we hoped would have been an appropriate neighbourhood for five older individuals with learning disabilities.

“When our solicitors advised there was a covenant on the property preventing business use, we sought legal advice and were advised we would need to apply to have a waiver of said covenant by the borough council who were the identified beneficiaries.

“The proposed service was one that would be supported by three care staff on duty and the vehicles in use would have been no more so than an average family home. The visitors from professionals would not exceed that of other older aged residents in the area and no larger delivery vehicles as suggested than any other household.

“Shortly before completion of contract the trust received a letter from a solicitor representing a number of residents adjacent to the property threatening our charity with legal action. It was accompanied by a 90-person petition of Okebourne Park residents. We then read the comments on the application. Some of the comments expressed in both documents in this we found very disappointing considering that our aim was to provide a home for five individuals to live within the community.

“The trust was advised by a barrister it was highly unlikely that any challenge to the residents’ case would be successful.

"As a result, we are not buying the property. In addition to the legal issues the trust had also come to the conclusion that this was not an area where our residents would be made welcome due to the adverse comments expressed by some local residents in Okebourne Park.”