A HOUSING developer which saw its building plans for fields in Highworth thrown out will be back with a bigger and more imposing proposal.

The agent for Wilcon Homes, Barton Willmore Planning, has become em-broiled in a row with Swindon Borough Council's planning committee after it refused to grant permission to build 54 houses off Pentylands Lane.

Barton Willmore partner Ian Mellor hit out at councillors, claiming the scheme was within planning guide-lines and should have been approved.

He says the firm will return to the drawing board to map out a scheme for many more houses, which he hopes stands a better chance of approval.

The committee last month ruled they were minded to refuse permission for the controversial scheme, but brought it back to the latest meeting to outline technical reasons for the decision.

A letter to the committee from Mr Mellor stated: "In good faith they (Wilcon) submitted an application for full planning permission for 54 dwellings in the expectation that your committee would grant permission."

The letter went on to request that the committee should withhold a decision on the application until it could consider it alongside a new application for a greater number of homes.

Coun Lisa Hawkes (Con, Highworth) said: "This committee took this decision three weeks ago to refuse. As far as this letter from Barton Willmore is concerned, I find it appalling.

"This is pure speculative development how could they possibly ask us to decide one way or another? It is blackmail and intimidation."

The committee ruled that, although the site is allocated for development in the Local Plan, the proposal contradicts planning guidelines set out by central government.

These say that greenfield sites should only be used if no suitable brownfield sites are available.

The committee was also concerned that the development would irrevocably change the rural character of the area.

Mr Mellor said: "To describe our actions as blackmail is ridiculous all we asked them to do was wait a few weeks."

Norman Edwards, of the Pentylands Preservation Group residents who have opposed the bid said he was confident the new bid would fail.

He said: "I don't think councillors will be intimidated by this company producing proposals even more unacceptable in the hope that they will accept the least damaging proposal."