Residents who are concerned about Taylor Wimpey’s proposed Ambrose Field Development, are being asked to meet at 10:30am on Saturday 8th July at the Ambrose Road entrance to the field for a photo call, to show continued opposition to this development.
Old Town Councillors Nadine Watts and Jane Milner-Barry, as well as 2017 Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Sarah Church, have organised this campaign rally to object to Taylor Wimpey’s planning application to build 62 homes off Croft Road, Old Town, Swindon. They share the concerns of many local residents who are also opposed to this.
The Ambrose Field site is not allocated for housing in the Swindon Borough Local Plan, as agreed by Central Government. The Local Plan is the principal planning policy document for Swindon Borough, providing the development strategy to deliver sustainable growth to the year 2026. It identifies where, when, and how developments around the town will take place.
Therefore, it is expected that Swindon could meet its housing needs and obligations without building on the Ambrose Field site.
However, because developers are not meeting the housing completion numbers set in the Local Plan, the Planning Inspectorate will consider planning applications for land not identified for housing in the Local Plan. This is what happened in the case of Berkeley Farm in Wroughton, where Swindon rejected the application but the Planning Inspector passed it on appeal. This leaves the fate of Ambrose Fields in jeopardy.
Although the statutory period of consultation has finished, comments will still be accepted until it goes to Planning Committee which won’t be before August. Objections to the planning application can be sent to sbcdc@swindon.gov.uk, quoting reference S/OUT/17/0882 and giving your name and address.
Old Town Councillor, Nadine Watts, said: “I would welcome all residents who are concerned about this planning application to join us for a rally at the entrance to Ambrose Fields.
We object to the proposals as building on Ambrose Field is outside the Local Plan and this land should act as a rural buffer between Old Town and Wichelstowe. Access to the development from Croft Road, negative impact on wildlife, increased risk of flooding, and drainage issues are all problems resulting from this development.
We are also concerned about the local water supply. Thames Water state that the existing water supply infrastructure currently has insufficient capacity to meet the additional demands for the proposed development. What improvements are planned and will they be adequate?
Both Jane and I are also concerned about the safety of the access to the development from Croft Road, and the impact of up to 120 more vehicles a day entering and leaving the site. This is likely to cause traffic jams on Croft Road which is already very busy.
It would be great to see as many people as possible to send a strong message to the developer, Taylor Wimpey.”
