DEVELOPER Barratt Bristol is ready to build about 170 houses on the site of the Flowers Scrapyard in Chippenham.

The firm, which got outline planning permission for the development in October 2002, says detailed plans will be submitted within the next six weeks.

The controversial housing estate on the brownfield site off Wood Lane will be called Saxon Gate and Barratt says it intends to include some employment sites.

But a spokesman could not say how much land would be allocated.

"Proposals for employment use will also be incorporated in the application, the details of which will be finalised when an appropriate end-user is secured," he said.

Chippenham Town Council leader Sandie Webb has always spoken out against filling prime town centre sites with houses instead advocating using the land to extend the town centre's retail, leisure and employment facilities.

Coun Webb said yesterday she was alarmed at the high number of new homes proposed for the site. "How will there be room for open space and gardens?" she said.

"We're going to have 180 houses on Allington as well.

"That's an awful lot of people coming into the town. We are turning into a dormer town and that is a real danger."

Barratt intends to start building work within two weeks of receiving permission for the detailed plans and the project is likely to take three years to complete.

The development will include a selection of apartments and houses and Barratt believes the new homes will attract people looking for homes with excellent links to Bath and the M4.

House hunters wanting to register their interest should telephone the sales office hotline on 01454 616111.