THE Swindon area must find space for almost 7,500 new homes by 2011.

That is the verdict of the latest Swindon Local Plan.

The plan includes the borough's strategy for accommodating population growth.

Local councils are legally obliged to draw up and act on the plans, which are subject to a lengthy process of public consultation and debate.

Of the projected 7,465 new homes needed in the Swindon area within nine years, up to 4,500 are expected to be built on the Front Garden.

The previous decision to use this site, which lies between the current southern boundary of the town and the M4, was the subject of often bitter debate, with protesters fighting and losing a High Court battle against Swindon Council's plans.

But with some 3,000 of the projected 7,500 new homes not being built on the Front Garden, other sites must be considered.

Possibilities include areas which came under consideration before the Front Garden was selected, such as Wootton Bassett and land to the North and East of Swindon.

Already, the draft plan has provoked one Wootton Bassett Council member to warn of encroachment of the countryside.

Peter Doyle, who also represents the town on North Wiltshire District Council, complains that far too little attention is paid to the needs and concerns of his ward when it comes to deciding on possible expansion of the Swindon area. He insists that there has, in fact, been no consultation.

He said: "Communities must be able to decide whether they wish to be included in this particular process, as it may determine whether they are eventually moved to fall within the future boundary of Swindon borough.

"I have no democratic mandate to support the inclusion of my constituency in the Swindon urban area quite the reverse, in fact.

"I will not and cannot support this process unless and until such time as North Wiltshire District Council and Wootton Bassett Town Council decide that Wootton Bassett parish should be included in the study and under what terms."

The Local Plan is currently at the start of a consultation process which will include a number of public meetings. It will later be adopted and form the basis of planning policy in the area.