Residents worried about plans to build hundreds of homes on railway sidings say building on the land could cause a disaster CAMPAIGNERS fighting a bid to build hundreds of homes on a former railway sidings site, say if the plan went ahead it could cause a disaster of contamination and flooding. Developer One Swindon has lodged an application to build 368 flats and houses on land running alongside the railway line between Rodbourne Road and Wootton Bassett Road. But nearby residents say the site is simply not suitable. A leaflet produced by them, called Sidings Objector, says: “The site is built up ground to take the rail line over the Wootton Bassett Road Bridge. A range of waste railway materials are buried below the porous permanent way ground cover.
THIS is the first look a how a controversial bid for hundreds of homes in Swindon could look. Property developer One Swindon has put in a formal application to build 368 flats and houses the Sidings site running alongside the railway line between Rodbourne Road and Wootton Bassett Road. But nearby residents say they will fight the bid. They say the land is not suitable for housing as it is contaminated and is now an urban nature reserve – habitat to deer, badgers, otters, bats and a host of smaller animals like slow worms. One Swindon’s plans would see a series of low-rise blocks put up along the south side of the railway line behind Dean Street, Newburn Crescent, and the park alongside. The development would be a mix of flats and houses with car access from Wootton Bassett Road and the plans include a shop and café.
Fences put up in a nature reserve which could be used for a new housing development have worried neighbours. But the owner of the land said it’s purely a safety measure and nothing to do with proposals to build hundreds of flats and houses on railway sidings running from Rodbourne Road to Wootton Bassett Road. When workers for Housing England were putting up railings around a culvert which carries the River Ray under the railway line behind Newburn Crescent and Dean Street, people living nearby were fearful this could be the first step towards using the land for flats and houses, and driving away the wildlife.
Developers who want to build more than 350 houses and flats on a wildlife reserve along the railway say they are ready to make an application – but local people are preparing to oppose them. One Swindon wants to build a strip development of 368 houses along the southern edge of the railway, on land between Wootton Bassett Road and Park Lane. After consultation in January, and meetings with South Swindon Parish Council the company announced: “We have finalised our plans and are looking to submit an outline planning application to Swindon Borough Council.” But ward councillor Bob Wright said people were concerned about traffic and the impact on wildlife. “We have been waiting to see One Swindon produce a full highways plan and transport assessment but they haven’t done that. The company says it will wait until it has approval in principal and then show everyone how the access will work.