New homes could be built on derelict land

Swindon Borough Council wants to build 16 new homes on the former Oakfield campus

A multi-million pound development has been earmarked for a derelict portion of land in Wiltshire.

Swindon Borough Council plans to build 10 flats and six three-bedroom houses on the corner of the former Oakfield campus in Marlowe Avenue.

If approved, the £4.4m development will see 16 zero carbon accessible homes built adjacent to Nationwide's 239-home community housing development.

To allow the development to go ahead, the former Oakfield Project community building, which has been empty since 2020, will now be demolished.

The site, which the developer says will include space for trees and landscaping, will include a large area of public open space, electric vehicle charging points, car parking and bike storage.

Renewable energy systems such as air source heat pumps, solar panels and rainwater harvesting also form part of the plans, which will be formally submitted later this year.

The new development is the latest investment in the local area, following confirmation last month that more than £300,000 will be spent on local sports facilities.

Councillor Emma Bushell, deputy leader of Swindon Borough Council and cabinet member for organisational oversight, said: "The regeneration of the Oakfield Project building and surrounding land has been in the pipeline for some time.

"My fellow ward councillors and I realise some members of the local community will be sad to see the demolition of the community building, but we hope that delivering much-needed accessible housing on the empty site will be welcomed by local residents."