PLANS to redevelop the site of a former car repair works in Stratton could be scrapped at a meeting tonight.

Developers David Wilson Homes and Swindon Council have failed to reach an agreement over how much affordable housing should be provided and how much money the developer should contribute for public works, known as Section 106 agreements.

The former Bampton Brothers Works site, in Stratton Road, has been vacant for about 10 years.

Coun Raymond Fisher (Con, St Margaret) said local people had been anxious to see the site redeveloped and were disappointed over the lack of agreement.

“They wanted it to be redeveloped but they have been disappointed, for instance the section 106 agreement money was going to go outside the immediate locality and there were complaints from neighbours of the site about that,” he said.

“The last time the application came up there were all sorts of problems but since then the site has been levelled and cleared and there is a better relationship between the developer and neighbours at the moment.”

The application, which was submitted by Kingsoak Homes who were later bought out by David Wilson, was to build 71 homes on the site. It was originally granted permission in January 2008, pending the outcome of the Section 106 agreements. The council had asked that 30 per cent of the homes be ‘affordable’ and for contributions totalling £257,044 to be paid.

These included £25,000 for public art, £82,000 for education, £62,000 for highways and £59,000 for public open space. Planning officers said the developer had had enough time to decide whether or not to proceed with the scheme.

The council has the power to ‘dispose’ of applications if more than six months has lapsed since they were approved and officers have now recommended that if no agreement is reached by December 1 that the scheme should be scrapped.

No-one from David Wilson Homes was available to comment.

The application will be considered by Swindon Council’s planning committee later today.