THE development of the Allington School site in Chippenham came one step closer when developers Redrow Homes last week applied to North Wiltshire District Council for approval of final details relating to the building of 134 new homes.

The former school and playing fields, which lie between Hungerdown Lane and the Bristol Road, will be used to build private homes, affordable housing and a new state of the art GP surgery.

The new Chippenham playing fields project, Stanley Park, will also benefit from the sale of the land to the tune of £100,000.

The 9.5-acre site, owned by Wiltshire County Council, will be carved up to provide three quarters of an acre for the surgery and 2.2 acres for affordable housing, leaving the rest for sale at full market value to the developer.

Westlea Housing Association has already gained planning permission to build affordable homes on the site and Matrix Medical is working with the Hathaway Surgery to create a new GP surgery, dentists' surgery and pharmacy.

Richard Sanders, spokesman from the Westlea Business Development Team said the housing association, with capital funding from North Wiltshire District Council, was planning to build forty homes, with a mix of one-bed flats through to four-bedroom homes. Approximately, thirty homes will be rented to local people and ten units are intended for shared ownership for first time buyers.

Mr Sanders said: "Shared ownership is a more affordable market option for families, allowing them to purchase a home in a property market rising out of the reach of many local families.

"Shared ownership buyers will be able to purchase a fifty per cent share in a property and move up the ladder. Homebuyers will be able to purchase a mortgage on the 50% share and pay rent on the remaining amount."

The first sales on the site are planned by late summer.