Councillors have been asked their opinions on plans to build a huge housing estate on land to the east of Chippenham.

Pegasus Planning Group has submitted images of a potential development on behalf of Barratt Homes including up to 700 homes, as well as two primary schools and a secondary school on land behind Hardens Mead.

Wiltshire Councillor Bill Douglas, who represents the Hardens and England ward, said the proposals were not well received at a presentation to town councillors last week.

“These latest manoeuveres are an attempt by Barratt to position themselves to be able to force through an application when the Government and Wiltshire Council release their hold on large scale development.

“Following their recent presentation to Chippenham Town Council there was no indication of support for the plans.”

The image submitted by developers shows open land suitable for allotments or a community farm development, play areas with a riverside trim trail, and new footpaths and cycle links over the River Avon, all surrounded by hundreds of new homes.

This is not the first time Barratt Homes has shown an interest in the site, and previously submitted a proposal to the former North Wiltshire District Council for 3,600 homes as well as shops, schools, health facilities and a pub.

It raised the possibility of a new multi-million-pound ring road from London Road to the A350 dual carriageway, funded by thousands of homes. However, the latest images show no sign of a bypass.

Coun Douglas said: “They intend to create a community on the outskirts of Chippenham with no indication of how the many people living there will get easy access to the town.

“The bypass was some justification to the development. Without this bypass there is no justification for the plans at all.

“The Government has said the voices of the communities will be heard, let’s hope Wiltshire Council support that view.”

The application is a scoping opinion, which means the developer has asked councillors what factors should be considered under the environment impact assessment process including noise, traffic and drainage when concrete plans are drawn up.