A MAJOR new housing development is on the cards for Chippenham but building may have to wait until the town's new playing fields are up and running.

Wiltshire County Council has applied for planning permission to develop the site of the former Allington School, off Allington Way.

North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee will consider on Wednesday the outline plans for the 3.84 hectare site, which could accommodate nearly 200 houses.

But planning officers have recommended a condition requiring the new playing fields at Wedmore Farm be available for use before the development can begin.

The town council, which had been concerned over progress on the new playing fields, has welcomed the news.

The new housing development would accommodate between 30 and 50 homes per hectare and the district council will insist a suitable proportion of affordable housing is included.

The estate would be reached from the Bristol Road, and plans include a T-junction and a widening of Bristol Road for a right-turning lane. But planners were concerned at noise from Bumpers Farm industrial estate and recommended a noise assessment.