THE first stages of the Coate Water housing development have been submitted to the council by developers.

Outline planning permission was given last year for the controversial development which will eventually see 900 homes built on the site, along with a village centre and primary school.

The opening stages are for two separate developments of 56 houses and 17 houses. A further application to develop landscape and open space has also been put to the council.

The whole development has been put forward as a joint venture between Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes.

The initial plan was rejected by the council’s planning committee following a 50,000 signature petition against the proposal, arguing that it would damage one of the town’s beauty spots.

However, the developers appealed to the Planning Inspectorate which gave the scheme the go ahead.

The most significant of these first stages will see 56 houses built if it gets the go ahead, of which 22 will be affordable homes.

Of the other 34 houses, there will be 20 three-bedroom houses and 14 four-bedroom houses. Included in this plan are related roads, which will come off Marlborough Road.

The application for a further 17 houses will be located to the west of the development space but will also be accessed by Marlborough Road.

When the final development is completed it will stretch from Junction 15, along the A419, around the hospital grounds and along Marlborough Road.

Coun Mike Bawden (Con, Chiseldon and Lawn) has been working with other councillors, the parish council and the developers to help shape the development in the best way possible.

He said: “The decision to go ahead with the development was made and so there is no point in addressing past issues.

“What we must do now is to work with the developers to get the best possible outcome for the residents and in fairness to them they have listened to what people have said. Redrow have put their proposal to the council and we are waiting for Persimmon Homes.

“I am satisfied that the plans they have put forward are in the spirit of the decision the Inspector made last year.”

Coun Bawden believes the decision will go before the planning committee around February.