A MAJOR development for the town centre has been put on hold.

Plans were unanimously passed for the long-awaited Phoenix Gate in Fleming Way on Tuesday but the premises have since been sold on. Now it is uncertain what will happen to the former post office site.

Coun Lisa Hawkes (Con, High-worth), who chairs the council's planning committee, said: "The people who applied for planning permission, Crosby Homes, have now sold the premises on to English Partner-ships. They are a very admirable organisation who work with the New Swindon Company.

"Between the two of them they will apply for a new set of plans for the building.

"It's quite exciting news because we have already been working with the New Swindon Company. We were hoping they would help us regenerate the town centre. Hopefully that is what will happen."

Coun Hawkes is not certain what English Partnerships has planned for the site, but she expects it will be similar to Crosby Homes' plan.

Those plans were for 160 up-market apartments with nearly 100 parking spaces.

About 280sq m of the ground floor was to be used for shops, restaurants or offices.

If the plans are different to Crosby Homes' blueprint, it will have to go through the planning process, which could take up to three months.