what is the future for coate water?

Green groups have reacted with fury to the latest plans for the area.

Yesterday, the Evening Advertiser revealed the developers' full wish list for the first time.

As well as the controversial university campus, there will be a primary school with extensive playing fields, 1,800 houses and a business park.

In addition, developers working under the umbrella of The Swindon Gateway Partnership hope to build a 'local centre.'

This would include a range of stores, including a supermarket.

As reported in yesterday's later edition of the Adver, developers had hoped to take the sting out of the £500 million scheme by setting land aside for an extension to the park.

The move hasn't worked

Save Coate a coalition of local green groups formed in 2003 immediately went on the offensive.

Under plans, which are now before Swindon Council, a 100 metre buffer zone will be provided around the north eastern side of the country park.

An extract from the developers' information pack says this will "protect its habitat from intrusion by the new built form."

But Jean Saunders, spokeswoman for Save Coate, says it is doesn't go far enough.

In February 2004, the group launched a petition calling for a one kilometre buffer zone around the whole of the nature reserve designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

So far, more than 16,000 signatures have been collected.

The Swindon Gateway Partnership said concerns have been listened to.

Mrs Saunders disagrees.

"These plans are much worse than we expected," she said. "We thought the buildings would be a mixture of one or two storeys.

"I have seen the masterplan and the university accommodation block will be 21 metres high that's only a few metres smaller than Great Western Hospital.

"This will completely blight the landscape and have a disastrous effect on local wildlife.

"This will reduce Coate Water to a glorified duck pond."

Mrs Saunders said a 100-metre buffer zone would do little to protect the many species living in the nature reserve.

"In Victorian times otters were a common sight around Coate," she said. "Now they are slowly making a return. These plans could put a stop to that.

"Coate is also home to a number of badgers. This development will either kill them or force them to build their sets beneath the homes.

"People will complain but the badgers and other wildlife were there first."

Mark Satinet, county mammal recorder for the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, expects big problems.

He said: "If you concrete over badgers' territory they will dig.

"People could well find that their gardens are dug up and fences damaged by these animals.

"There is also a potential for structural damage to foundations if badgers are forced to build their sets under houses."

Mr Satinet reckons otters are breeding in the nature reserve.

Although stressing that he would need to examine proposals in more detail, he said a 100-metre buffer zone would not be sufficient.

"Otters are very shy animals and the reason why they are breeding there is because it's so quiet," he said.

"Water voles have also been spotted at Coate. With the people will come cats they don't mix.

"It's far from an ideal situation but we'll have to look at the plans in more detail. Often the devil is in the detail."

Les Durrant, planning consultant for the project, said the university and the extras that come with it are crucial for Swindon's growth.

"If we get this university it will be the biggest inward investment this town has seen for many years," he said.

"Most employers are well aware that recruitment of skilled labour is very difficult.

"This university presents a massive opportunity to improve the labour market."

In response to the 1km buffer zone around Coate Water, he said: "The ecologists advising on this matter are satisfied that the buffer zone, as proposed, is more than adequate to safeguard the ecology and biodiversity of the Coate Water Site of Special Scientific Interest and have advised us that there is no justification for anything in excess of 100 metres."

He also pointed out regarding the heights of the buildings and their appearance: "The master plan has been sensitively designed to respect the natural environment and complies with central government advice on density to ensure the best use of land. The university buildings around Coate Water have been carefully sited to ensure that they graduate upwards in height as they move away from the country park and provide space around them and views between."

He said the project would protect the wildlife.

"All existing protected species habitats have been respected and steps taken to provide for continuity of habitats where there is a possibility of these becoming affected by development. We do not envisage any long-term damage to the future prospect of the badgers.

"Research carried out over the last few years has identified otters re-emerging on this site. We have therefore, in conjunction with English Nature, incorporated an 'otter corridor' along one of the streams leading from the land to the south of the M4 through to Coate Water lake, enabling these creatures to thrive."

The Swindon Gateway Partnership comprises:

University of Bath in Swindon

Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust (responsible for Great Western Hospital)

Persimmon Homes

Redrow Homes

What happens now

BULLDOZERS could move on to the site in spring 2007, say developers.

On Wednesday, the Local Plan inquiry, charged at looking at Swindon's future, will examine the pros and cons of the Coate development.

The man in charge, David Fenton, is likely to deliver his verdict in the autumn.

A two-month consultation period is imminent sparked by the submission of plans to Swindon Council.

The proposal will go to Swindon Council's planning committee which will decide whether to grant or refuse permission.

Depending on its decision, the Swindon Gateway Partnership may then be asked to make changes.

Revised plans could be submitted some time later this year or early next spring.

Before work gets underway however, it seems likely that permission will have to be granted from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister due to size of the development.

Kevin Shoesmith