WORK on a scheme which outraged people when it was first proposed two years ago has got underway on the outskirts of Chippenham close to the M4.

Developer St Mowden has started the first phase of building St Mowden Park. which was originally known as Chippenham Gateway.

The first phase is a 106,000 sq ft speculative unit and the developer has plans to complete a second phase in 2020.

More than 400 people objected to the development on green field land in 2017. They were also concerned about traffic, and drainage issues which led to a number of revisions from the developer.

This led to the developers got planning for the 79 acre site from Wiltshire Council in August, 2018.

Once completed, the whole site is expected to create around 1,300 jobs as well as skills, training and apprenticeship opportunities through a planned partnership with Wiltshire College.

Peter Davies, development director at St. Modwen Industrial & Logistics, said: “We have already had a significant amount of interest due to the site’s excellent location. It is a key industrial and logistics site.”