A couple have been left horrified after they discovered their dream farm cottage is set to be surrounded by a modern 700 house estate.

Cheryle Walton, 56, and her partner Paul Jones, 50, were completely unaware of plans to build the mini town - insisting that at no point were they consulted.

It was only when they were speaking with passer-by who mentioned the development that they found out that the 507,500 square metre estate in Chippenham, Wiltshire, is set to completely encompass their detached cottage, which currently sits in miles of green fields.

The devastated couple's house - which they bought for £310,000 and is now estimated to be worth £500,000 - doesn't even appear on the submitted aerial drawings of the proposed new estate - despite being right in the middle.

Cheryle Walton, 56, and her partner Paul Jones, 50, were completely unaware of plans to build a mini town around their £300,000 country home - insisting that at no point were they consulted

It was only when they were speaking with passer-by who mentioned the development that they found out that the 507,500 square metre development in Chippenham, Wiltshire, is set to completely encompass their detached home (circle), which currently sits in miles of green fields

If it goes ahead, they will be totally swallowed by the estate, joining up their currently rural home with the rest of the town.

Development company KBC Developments LLP submitted plans to Wiltshire Council but did not invite Paul and Cheryle to register their objections.

Devastated Ms Walton said: 'It's just soul destroying. We have lived here for five years and we worked so hard to buy it and get everything done, like extensions.

'It's our dream home and this has happened behind our backs. They are just developing is around us and we've never had anyone come to us.

'I heard about it from a lad when we were walking our dogs. We had no notification, we have no letter, but we are the only cottage there. Our cottage isn't even on the plans.'

Ms Walton, a regional sales manager, and builder Mr Jones, her partner of 17-years, bought Rawlings Farm Cottage around five years ago for £310,000, forking out for extensive renovations ever since.

They moved to 'get away from neighbours, noise and street lighting', and share the home with their six dogs.

But the pair had no idea consultants Framptons had submitted an application for outline planning permission on behalf of KBC Developments LLP, last month.

Ms Walton (pictured, outside the propert) and Mr Jones, her partner of 17-years, bought Rawlings Farm Cottage around five years ago for approximately £300,000, forking out for extensive renovations ever since

The plans propose erecting 700 homes on the 50 hectares site to the north east of Chippenham.

It also includes 4.5 hectares of 'employment space', 10 hectares of public open space, cycle paths, 'retirement living', a primary school and a nursery.

The application for outline approval was submitted to Wiltshire Council on January 6, with comments invited until March 4, before a decision set to be made in April.

Ms Walton said she only found out about the plans around Christmas, when a friend asked her why she had not attended any of the meetings held by the developer.

Speaking from her home today, the mother-of-one said: 'We are right in the middle of these 700 homes and the school and the retirement living and the rest of it.

The plans propose erecting 700 homes on the 50 hectares site to the north east of Chippenham. It also includes 4.5 hectares of 'employment space', 10 hectares of public open space, cycle paths, 'retirement living', a primary school and a nursery. This is the area as it is now

Angry: Ms Walton, who has just found out that 700 houses will be built around her country dream home

'We moved here because we wanted to live away from neighbours, away from noise and away from street lighting. We wanted to live in the middle of fields. We love being out here on our own. It's our dream house.'

She added: 'I only found out around Christmas. Someone we know saw us and said 'Why haven't you been at the meetings?' and we said 'What meetings?' He brought over his pack of information about it and I couldn't believe it.

'I have no idea how our house is supposed to fit amongst all this - nobody will talk to me.

'I'm devastated. I'm not sleeping and it has ruined my life. We worked really hard to build this life. It is a beautiful cottage and it is what we have always wanted.'

Framptons claim it held a public exhibition on the plans in December 2014 - but admitted Miss Walton should have been informed.

It's our dream home and this has happened behind our backs. They are just developing is around us and we've never had anyone come to us Cheryle Walton, homeowner

Director Peter Frampton said: 'When a planning application is submitted to the local planning authority normal protocol would be that they [Wiltshire Council] would normally send them a notification.

'We did hold a public exhibition in December 2014 and notified a lot of people and put an advert in the Gazette and Herald.

'Miss Walton should have been informed and if that didn't happen, I apologise.

'The planning application has a long way to go. It's in, she's now aware of it, and has sufficient time to send in her comments.'

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council added: 'The developers carried out public consultation events on these planning proposals and should have ensured all residents were told.

'We understand from Miss Walton that she was not informed and was only made aware when she received a letter from us in January stating a planning application has been submitted by the developers.