THE FRONT Garden Action Group has renewed its bid to derail the southern expansion of Swindon.

It claims the 4,500-home development will never be built because the area is too prone to flooding.

But developer Bryant Homes says it has consulted with the Environment Agency and is happy that the flood risk is manageable.

After spending weeks sifting through the 4,000-page Front Garden planning application, FRAG leader Terry King believes flood-risk provides his best chance of stopping the development.

He said: "It has flooded three times in the last five years and I'm certain it will flood again unless some very, very extensive flood alleviation measures are taken.

"We've issued another 24 practical objections.

"There are so many things which are wrong about it. The council stands to get a couple of million pounds out of this when it sells off that land off.

"That's the driving force behind all this."

FRAG also lists concerns about archaeology, wildlife habitat and ancient hedgerows.

But its main concern is a more general environmental one which stems from its belief that the homes are not needed.

Mr King said: "It would ruin the aspect of Okus ridge and the area of outstanding natural beauty to the south.

"If this development has to go ahead we would argue that the number of houses should be reduced otherwise it will turn the whole Southern Development Area into a huge concrete jungle."

Bryant Homes spokesman Charles St George responded to his concerns.

He said: "There are parts of the site which are on the flood plain.

"But we've been in detailed discussions with the Environment Agency over the last two years and agreed with them over exactly what parts of the site the flood plain covers.

"There will be no housing development on the flood plain.

"Swindon has not had enough housing built in the last 10 years so this will help alleviate that shortfall.

"This development will provide the homes Swindon needs and enable people to live near their place of work.

"The way the site has been designed means nearly 50 per cent of it will be green. There will be a major country park and lots of open spaces.

"We are keeping the housing development very high density in order to make the best use of the land."

The application is expected to go before full council next summer.

Building is scheduled to start in 2005-6 and the entire development could take 16 years to complete

The Front Garden Action Group has organised a public meeting on October 16 at Commonweal School from 7pm.

In November 2001 the group lost a High Court legal action aimed at getting the development stopped.

Bryant Homes said at the time that this gave it the green light to continue.

Although Swindon Council has yet to grant formal planning permission for the Front Garden it has agreed in principle to the area being built upon.