Ref. 22898Swindon will see 14,000 new homes springing up over the next eight years. But because Front Garden properties may not be built in time, Coate could become another estate.

FARMLAND next to Coate Water is next on the list for development.

Swindon Council's local plan, which will be published in a fortnight's time, will show that 1,800 homes, a campus for the University of Bath and office space is allocated for the land between Coate's lakes, the A419, the M4 and Marlborough Road.

The area has also been named for development in Wiltshire's structure plan, which is now under consideration.

The council's plan has caused an outcry. Swindon Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Jean Saunders said: "We are totally outraged. I am not a tree-hugger but for this I would camp out to stop the bulldozers."

Swindon Council says it has to find more land to build on to keep pace with Government housing targets, which will see 4,500 homes on the Front Garden, 5,500 at Priory Vale in the north and 4,000 properties at Earlsgate on the east of the town.

But because it is believed some of the homes on the Front Garden will not be built in time to meet Government targets by 2011, more land has to be earmarked for building, according to the council.

And it is the Coate area which officials have decided will be the best place.

Although the Government's policy for aiuthorities is to utilise brownfield sites or land which has previously been built on Lisa Hawkes, the council planning committee chairman, told the Advertiser: said: "We have to keep making these pieces of land available.

"The council has to meet the targets agreed with the Government and Coate has been identified by the council planners as the best place for development."

The number of houses allocated for each region has already been agreed by the Government and local authorities.

Senior planner Phil Smith said: "We could go below those figures but we would have to make a good case, and the feeling is we do not have a good case.

Team leader for local policy Richard Bell said: "Swindon has been designated a principal urban area and most of the region's growth has to be pushed towards it.

"The Government is trying to make sure development takes place in the biggest towns."

Christian Cubitt , a spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, said: "The figures are not statutory because they are not enshrined in law but they have been through long discussions with between ourselves and local authorities.

"There is going to be a shortfall in the south west and south east and it makes sense to meet the targets."

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Tom Morton