Plans to build houses with an office and restaurant at the old Lucent Technologies site in Malmesbury have reluctantly been supported by town councillors.

Hunter Page Planning, the agent acting on behalf of landowner the Minton Group has pledged £150,000 to save the town hall as part of an part of an outline planning application for the Lucent site at Swindon Road in Malmesbury.

A further £50,000 has been promised to build a new youth centre and skate park in the town together with £25,000 to build a cycle route around Malmesbury.

But town councillors were split on the issue during a vote at the town council's planning committee on Tuesday night.

Newly elected chairman of the committee John Bowen had the casting vote, and his support means the application now has the town council's backing, when district councillors make a final decision on the proposal.

Town councillor Charles Vernon said: "The town council recognised the offer from the developer towards community funding. We feel extra residents will put extra pressure on community facilities and we welcome the developer's offer. We urge the district council to take the money."

Opposing the plan, town councillor Martin Snell said he voted against it because there is no concrete agreement regarding the cash injection between the developer and the district council.