Plans to build 68 homes on land earmarked for employment in Royal Wootton Bassett have been approved despite objections.

Wiltshire Council’s northern area planning committee gave the green light to plans to build the houses and outline permission for a care home near the old railway, with six votes to four.

The land is to the south of the Interface Business Park off Bincknoll Lane and had been ringfenced as employment land as a condition of the Wainhomes residential development in Brynards Hill.

Paul Heaphy, chairman of Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council’s planning committee, which opposed the plan, said: “It’s disappointing. People want to work near their community and we need places for businesses to build and develop. We also do not need any more housing, we’ve already fulfilled our obligations for housing under the core strategy and this will add more pressure on our existing infrastructure.”

Coun Chris Hurst (Lib, Royal Wootton Bassett South), said: “I have a number of concerns with the application. Indeed, I share the frustration of a number of local residents who have fought to prevent the development of houses at Brynards Hill.

“My principle areas of concern are the failure of the developer to honour their commitment to provide employment space at Interface, the siting of the residential care facility, the lack of general site management and further delays to providing the country park.

“The development would also continue to erode the rural buffer between Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon. The character and landscape of the town is therefore threatened.”

A number of conditions have been placed on the application, which he hopes will go some way to minimising disruption.

The developer will pay for a review and the implementation of a speed limit reduction along Bincknoll Lane, which is currently 60mph.

The country park will be placed under a management company for its continued maintenance and funding has been secured for its upkeep for the next 20 years. There will also be contributions towards education and leisure facilities.

James Gregory, partner at Alder King, who provided a marketing report for the land in May 2010 at the request of developers Wainhomes, said: “The employment development land has been widely marketed through Whitmarsh Lockhart for a period in excess of three years.

“Their appointment was confirmed in mid-2010 but to date no transactions have taken place for any of the land on either a freehold or leasehold basis.

“Having identified alternative uses that will provide significant elements of employment, these uses should be wholeheartedly embraced.”

To see the plans, visit wiltshire .gov.uk/planning and search for reference 14/03343/FUL.