North Wiltshire MP James Gray has today condemned the Planning Inspector's decision to allow up to 700 new houses on the Ridgeway Farm site near Purton.

Describing it as an unwelcome invasion of the countryside, he said: "There is no proven need for more housing in this area on this scale, and this new piece of Swindon urban sprawl further invades the vital green lung between Swindon and the villages of Purton and Lydiard Millicent.

"It also has consequences for traffic management and water and sewerage, particularly in Swindon.

 

"I deeply regret this disappointing decision and have done all I could to try prevent it from happening."