AFTER four days the public inquiry into proposals to build 100 homes at Berkeley Farm came to a close today.

Ainscough want to build 100 homes on the site but the Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee rejected the application last year.

However, the developer believes it has a good case so appealed the decision which will now be decided by a planning inspector.

Both sides have been making their cases over the last four days, with numerous issues being raised, such as the impact on the land and precedent for other development.

A key point has been the possible impact it would have on the Local Plan, a document approved earlier this year which outlines major where major housing developments will be located over the next ten years.

Berkeley Farm falls outside this plan and the council fear it could lead to other applications outside the designated land, a view shared by South Swindon MP Robert Buckland who was the last to give his submission to the inquiry.

He said: “The concern I have is that although this is not a major application in itself, it could represent a challenge to the Local Plan.

“It is a vital document and I ask that it be applied so.

“I would beg you (the inspector) to reject this application on the important principle that if this is allowed then it will undermine the integrity of the Local Plan.

“Last year it was put before a full inquiry where it was examined by a planning inspector and found to match the aspirations of the democratically elected council and the people of Swindon.”

One of the main points of the contention is the rate at which houses are being built in Swindon. Both parties accepted the existing five-year supply is behind but the council have argued, with many large scale projects coming online, over the next few years this is not an issue.

However, David Manley QC, speaking for the developer, issued a damming verdict on the rate of house building in Swindon.

He said houses are not likely to start being built on Wichelstowe until early 2018 if not longer and said the first work on the Eastern Villages is still a number of years away

Describing it as a “catastrophic shortfall” in housing supply, Mr Manley urged the inspector to accept the plan.

Speaking outside the meeting, Coun Wayne Crabbe (Con, Wroughton and Wichelstowe) said: “It’s been said by a lot of people that house building is in Swindon’s DNA and that is the case.

“We have a very good record with managing large scale projects quickly. Just look at North Swindon.”

The inspector, Gareth Jones, will now consider the evidence and issue a verdict next year.