Chippenham is going to expand by 2,500 homes being built over the next 11 years
Plans to build 2,500 homes by 2026 in Chippenham have gone through despite concerns over the loss of greenfield land.
Wiltshire Council approved the plans saying growth is necessary to cope with the forecasted population increase.
The main opposition is over 850 homes planned for the east of the town on greenfield land, which protesters say is an "environmental tragedy".
The plans now need planning inspector approval before being formally adopted.
Cabinet member for Strategic Planning Toby Sturgis said: "The importance of these plans is difficult to underestimate."
He added that without a formal plan, Chippenham would be left to the "whim" of developers, with little legal justification for turning plans down.
Independent councillor for Chippenham Monkton, Chris Caswill, made a final appeal before the decision was taken.
He said: "If we do this, we create an environmental tragedy".
Steve Perry, the lead campaigner for CAUSE 2015 (Campaign Against Urban Sprawl to the East), said: "The council has always used the threat of developers but from our side of the fence it appears to us that a lot of the council's decisions have been developer-led."
A public meeting is now planned for September by the council to address concerns over flooding and roads where the homes are going to be built.
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