Plan approved to build houses near busy junction

A proposal to build up to 80 houses close to a busy junction have been approved.

Swindon Borough Council's planning committee approved the outline plan to build the houses on Cold Harbour junction earlier this week.

National Highways recently lifted the holding objection they put on Hollins Strategic Land's proposal in 2019. They were initially concerned about the effect the housing scheme would have on the road network.

A number of other housing developments have been approved in the area causing concern amongst councillors and residents of even more traffic congestion.

The granted permission is in outline only. A fully-worked up proposal, including the design of the houses, will now need to be submitted in a new planning application.

It will need council approval before work can start on the junction, which lay almost dormant for more than six years the Local Democracy Service reports.

The applicant's agent, Stephen Harris, told the committee that the design of the estate would remove traffic from the often-congested roundabout.

Traffic heading west along Broad Bush would be able to access Turnpike Road in the reverse fashion.

But, according to the chairman of Blunsdon Parish Council, Ian Jankinson, that could cause a new problem.

Mr Jankinson said: "Turnpike Road is a cul-de-sac with 57 Heavy Goods Vehicle licences to use it."

He added: "They could be turning into the housing development to avoid the junction and continue into Broad Bush."

Member of the committee Councillor Gary Sumner echoed that a large number of lorries using roads with houses on either side would leave him "aghast".

The committee voted seven against two to approve the proposal.

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