A ‘dirty, smelly’ house with barns and equestrian facilities, ‘and goats’, will be knocked down and five houses constructed in its place.

Councillors on Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to allow the housing development of a small cul-de-sac of the houses all with a detached double garage at Longfield on the northern side Kingsdown Lane in Blunsdon.

The existing buildings on the site were given their unflattering description by local ward councillor for Blunsdon and Highworth , Coun Alan Bishop.

He added: “I’m clear this proposal would be an improvement.”

But others weren’t so sure.

The matter had been brought to the planning committee at the request of Blunsdon Parish Council, who said the development was outside the village’s settlement boundary and would be overdevelopment of the site.

Agent for the developer, Andrew Miles pointed out that there were several developments outside the settlement boundary, and added: “There is no landscape impact, trees at the front of the site would be retained. The traffic to the site would be cars and not horsebox lorries at present.”

Councillor Ian Jankinson of Blunsdon Parish Council rook issue with the last point, saying five houses with double garages would generate more traffic than “one car and a horse.”

Concerns were also raised about sewage and drainage - the current site is not connected to mains foul sewers, but in the end councillors voted unanimously to approve the scheme.