Two detached homes at Land Adjacent To Happy Acre Kingsdown Lane Blunsdon, Swindon

The site and surroundings

The site was a greenfield parcel beside Happy Acre, with Kingsdown Lane to the north and agricultural fields to the west and south.

“The site and surroundings 7. The site is located on Kingsdown Lane that is a non-classified road to the south east of the main settlement of Blunsdon. The site comprises a long north-south rectangular greenfield parcel of land.”

“To the east side it adjoins detached residential bungalow known as Happy Acre. To the north is Kingsdown Lane where access will be gained from, and to the west and south are agricultural fields bounded by…”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

A previous three-home scheme was refused, while a later appeal allowed four homes nearby and addressed development and countryside concerns.

“Background and Relevant planning history 10. Previously application S/23/1341 was refused for the erection of 3no. dwellings at the same site as it was considered the development would constitute piecemeal development that would jeopardise the satisfactory delivery of the wider development scheme of the allocated Kingsdown Strategic site, constituted inappropriate development in the countryside, overdevelopment of the site, inadequate ecology details and lack of a Unilateral…”

“However, recent appeal decision APP/U3935/W/24/3339082 that granted permission for 4no. dwellings on the same Kingsdown Lane at Land north of Eden Field within the same allocated Kingsdown Strategic site is deemed to address refusal reasons to do with the impact on the delivery of the strategic site and development in the countryside.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because the site could come forward independently within the strategic allocation and the revised two-home scheme addressed earlier concerns.

“Under Local Plan (LP) Policy NC5, the application site forms part of a strategic mixed-use allocation which is located to the north of Swindon. This policy requires the development of housing, commercial units, primary school, sports, leisure, and community facilities along with highway and access improvements for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

“In the same appeal decision, the Inspector also addressed the issue regarding refusal reason on the basis the application site is located within the countryside outside of defined settlement boundaries and is not allocated by the Neighbourhood Plan. This view has been reiterated by the Parish Council in their objection to the proposals.”

Officer report

What consultees and residents said

No neighbour representations were received; the parish council objected, while Natural England and technical consultees raised no objection subject to mitigation or conditions.

“Blunsdon Parish Council: (04/02/2025) PC agreed to object - Very little change to original application. No response to consultees’ comments, no mitigation or explanation. Principle of development is not valid or proved through Policy NC5.”

“Consultees 14. Natural England: No objection subject to securing appropriate mitigation for the North Meadow and Clattinger Farm Special Area of Conservation (SAC).”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The applicant spoke in support and a Blunsdon Parish Council representative spoke for the objecting parish council.

The points made

Supporters cited the strategic allocation, housing shortfall, design, separation distances and appeal decision, while objections focused on character, accessibility and policy compliance.

“The proposal was not in accordance with the Swindon Residential Design Code and was out of character with the nearby linear development. • The site was only accessible via wider allocated land and didn’t contribute to infrastructure and should therefore be considered as unsustainable. • The application did not comply with Policy 2 of the Neighbourhood Plan.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee authorised planning permission subject to a unilateral undertaking securing conservation-site mitigation and biodiversity net gain, together with planning conditions.

“Resolved - That the Chief Planning Officer be authorised to grant planning permission subject to: (a) Unilateral Undertaking to secure the North Meadow and Clattinger Farm Special Area of Conservation and Biodiversity Net Gain; and (b) The planning conditions set out in this report.”

Minutes