MORE than 50 homes will be built on the site of the former R&K Wise bakery.

Bellwinch Homes has bought the 2.4-acre site, lying off Headlands Grove, Stratton, for £2.4m. Its detailed plans for the site will be discussed by tonight's planning committee.

The bakery closed last year with the loss of 540 jobs and debts of £5 million. Founded in 1938, the firm had come to specialise in making cakes for high street shops, including Marks & Spencer.

Redundancies were spread between the Headlands Grove site and the bakery's other location on the Groundwell industrial estate.

Bellwinch wants to build 52 homes, including flats and two, three and four-bedroom homes. There would also be a play area and open space.

Outline permission was granted by Swindon Council earlier this year.