DEVELOPERS say plans for a new university campus at Coate are still on track.

Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes say there is strong emerging interest from other universities who are willing to take the place of the University of Bath.

But Swindon Council leader Roderick Bluh says a deal to bring a university partner to the town is still some way off and that funding for such a development was still in the balance.

A public exhibition is being held this morning where Persimmon and Redrow will unveil a revised plan for the Commonhead Gateway site featuring an increase in the proposed extension to Coate Water.

And a planning application for a university campus, land for an extension to the Great Western Hospital, new homes and a business park will be submitted to the council following public consultation.

The existing undetermined planning applications, submitted in 2005, will be withdrawn.

Paul Davis, strategic land director for Persimmon Homes, said: "By submitting a planning application now we can demonstrate the viability and deliverability of this site and encourage a university to come forward publicly before the application is determined."

Developers have also included proposals to protect additional areas of archaeological interest and to increase the amount of land set aside for school playing fields.

In addition, the revamped masterplan will also feature a reduction in the areas identified for housing and the business park.

But Coun Bluh said the plan would only be determined on a number of factors.

He said: "The land cannot be developed without a university presence because the planning application was given on the basis of no university, no development'.

"At the moment the council is working with its stakeholders to decide what it feels we need in terms of higher education provision and that will be published shortly.

"We are very interested in finding a university partner, but there is nothing concrete.

"At the end of the day it does not matter who comes along, the money used to fund it comes from the Government and it has said it is moving away from funding university campuses at the moment."

The Swindon campaign co-ordinator for Friends Of The Earth, Jean Saunders, said: "The trouble is no one has seen their latest proposals so we are in the dark.

"If it is anything based on what they were suggesting in November it is barely different to the original proposal.

"Our current concern is that while they say in their press release that there is interest from other universities, they don't name a university and we think they are jumping the gun in putting forward a planning application when they have not got a university partner involved.

"In the original planning application the whole development couldn't go ahead without the university presence there."

Public exhibitions on the revised plans are being held in the Pilgrim Centre, Regent Circus, from 11am to 5pm on Friday and from 10am to 2pm on Saturday.