PERMISSION has been granted for 2,380 new homes as Swindon’s expansion to the east begins to take shape.

The New Eastern Villages will be one of the UK’s largest urban expansion projects when it is fully complete, but with so many parties involved - from landowners, to developers, to local councils and funding bodies - it has taken time to put concrete plans in place.

On Tuesday, the council’s planning committee gave the green light to what could become its first major housing block.

The application, submitted by Hannick Homes, Hallam Land and Taylor Wimpey, will see thousands of homes built on land to the south and east of South Marston and north of the A420 immediately beyond Gablecross.

A new village - to be called Rowborough after the farm at the site - will be built. Houses will also be added onto the existing South Marston footprint.

Clearly such a significant volume of houses will require infrastructure and the application also includes a local centre for retail and restaurant use, two primary schools, leisure facilities and landscaped open spaces.

Unlike another New Eastern Villages application which came forward last year for the Lotmead Farm area, the proposals given the go-ahead on Tuesday had the support of not only the council’s planning team but also the South Marston Parish Council.

Chairman, Colin McEwen, said: “This application will see the village more than doubling in size and this is not something that was wanted by the local community.

“We’ve been in negotiation now for over a decade in relation to this work. Those discussions have not been easy at times, but nonetheless they result in the position today where we feel able to support this plan.

“Our neighbourhood plan was developed in large part in response to, and in conjunction with, this application. It was passed with a 40 per cent turnout and a 95 per cent yes vote.

“This gives us confidence that we do properly speak for our community in this.”

Nick Freer, agent for the three firms involved, echoed the sentiments of the parish council: “The applicants are a mixture of local and national developers who can bring considerable experience of sensitive development of large scale schemes.

“The application was first made in 2013 so it is quite an important moment and a significant achievement that the proposals are being recommended for approval.

“This is a vital step forward for the New Eastern Villages and for Swindon.

“There has been considerable engagement with members of the public and other stakeholders. It’s unusual to see such a high level of alignment between these proposals and the local and neighbourhood plans.”

The committee’s decision to unanimously grant the outline permission was welcomed by the cabinet member for strategic planning, Toby Elliott.

Tweeting his support for the decision, Coun Elliott said: “I am thrilled that the TaylorWimpey - Hannick Homes - Hallam land application for 2,380 new homes for Swindon has gone through this evening.

“It is vital for the future of the town.”

An outline planning application for a further parcel of New Eastern Villages land, this time to the south of the A420, is expected to be submitted next month.