A contentious proposal to construct 300 new homes on green belt land bordering Swindon has taken a significant step forward. The Hussey Family Trust, acting through planning consultants Turley, has formally requested Swindon Borough Council to determine if a full environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required for the scheme.
Details of the Proposed Development
The application for a screening opinion relates to land situated east of The Marsh, adjacent to Wanborough. This is the same site where the Wasdell Group previously sought permission for a major industrial and science park, a plan that was ultimately rejected following a fierce local backlash and a failed appeal in 2022.
Documents submitted reveal key specifications for the potential housing estate. The majority of the dwellings would be two to 2.5 storeys high, with some areas reaching a maximum of three storeys. Building heights are proposed to be predominantly 10 metres, potentially rising to 12 metres in key locations. The site sits a minimum distance of approximately 385 metres from the boundary of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
A masterplan indicates the main access would be from The Marsh on the western boundary, with most houses clustered in the northern part of the site near existing homes. An L-shaped green buffer zone is planned around the southern and eastern edges of the development.
Environmental Concerns and Precedent
The screening application argues the design has been informed by landscape, visual, and heritage constraints to avoid significant effects. It proposes retaining and strengthening boundary vegetation and reinstating historic hedgerows. However, the council's own ecology and archaeology officers have already advised that an Environmental Impact Assessment is necessary.
The site's history heavily influences the current controversy. Swindon Borough Council rejected the earlier industrial plan in 2020 primarily because the land lies within a designated area of non-coalescence—a zone intended to prevent Swindon from merging with Wanborough.
What Happens Next?
While a screening opinion request does not constitute a full planning application, it is widely seen as a strong indicator that a formal proposal is being actively prepared. No decision has been made on the EIA requirement yet, but the early advice from council officers suggests significant environmental scrutiny will be demanded.
The move sets the stage for a potential new planning battle, pitting housing needs against green belt protection and the policy of maintaining separation between Swindon and Wanborough.
